65 vista cruiser frame

[beach-boy60]

i'm new to the gm thing(mopar guy). always wanted a vista cruiser. the frame on the one i got is junk. what frames will work under a 65 vista cruiser. thanks

[J-(Chicago)]

Hmm...
I dunno.

I do however know a guy with a 1967 Chrysler Town and country wagon that needs a frame off resto. I'm not sure if he is ready to dump it yet, but he got married a couple yrs ago, and it has been in pieces since he and his wife met

[J-(Chicago)]

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by beach-boy60

i'm new to the gm thing(mopar guy). always wanted a vista cruiser. the frame on the one i got is junk. what frames will work under a 65 vista cruiser. thanks

64-67 Vista Cruiser or 64-67 Buick Sport Wagon.

[beach-boy60]

Originally Posted by J-(Chicago)

Hmm...
I dunno.

I do however know a guy with a 1967 Chrysler Town and country wagon that needs a frame off resto. I'm not sure if he is ready to dump it yet, but he got married a couple yrs ago, and it has been in pieces since he and his wife met

thanks, but i still have my 63 mopar too. besides those chryslers are huge, guess im not that BIG into a mopar sled

[beach-boy60]

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

64-67 Vista Cruiser or 64-67 Buick Sport Wagon.

thanks. can i take a sedan frame and make a frame that will work? where can i find dimensions for the frames so i can search for a fix? thanks again

[waynestevens]

Hi, the '64-67 Vista Cruiser wheelbase is 120". The 4 dr sedan (cutlass/ F85) and non vista wagon wheelbase is 116" (or 115"?) The added length on the Vista frame is for the rear doors. Your best bet would be to find a '64-67 Vista or Buick Sportwagon frame. Good Luck, Wayne

P.S... Is your new wagon the white 3 seater that was for sale in Iowa? You should be able to find replacement quarters/ spare tire well off of any '64-65 Olds midsize wagon. One site that might help would be: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VistaCruiser/

[beach-boy60]

Originally Posted by waynestevens

Hi, the '64-67 Vista Cruiser wheelbase is 120". The 4 dr sedan (cutlass/ F85) and non vista wagon wheelbase is 116" (or 115"?) The added length on the Vista frame is for the rear doors. Your best bet would be to find a '64-67 Vista or Buick Sportwagon frame. Good Luck, Wayne

P.S... Is your new wagon the white 3 seater that was for sale in Iowa? You should be able to find replacement quarters/ spare tire well off of any '64-65 Olds midsize wagon. One site that might help would be: http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/VistaCruiser/

yep its the one in iowa. it still is. i didnt realize how bad a frame can get. now i see some priced right that might have been better chioces, buy i like the 64/65 front and sides. thanks for the info, roger

[joe_padavano]

Originally Posted by beach-boy60

thanks. can i take a sedan frame and make a frame that will work?

Uh, once again:

64-67 Vista Cruiser or 64-67 Buick Sport Wagon.

What exactly did you mean by "make a frame that will work?"

Can you cut and paste parts of the sedan frame and parts of your current Vista frame? Sure. Just be sure to have a frame machine or chassis jig and be really good at welding. The sedan frames are all open section channel. The 68-72 Vista frames are box section; I'm not sure about the 64-67 frames. And before you ask, this is not the simple flat plate boxing used on street rods. It's actually two formed "C" sections welded together, with shaping to clear the floor pans. This is why boxed convertible frames rust out more than hardtop frames - the box section retains dirt, salt, and moisture.

[beach-boy60]

Originally Posted by joe_padavano

Uh, once again:

thanks, i have a body man/frame guy that said if i found a good frame he could help me out. i appreciate your info because i had no idea what the differences were until you guys pointed them out. thanks again, roger p.s just learning about these GM cars.

What exactly did you mean by "make a frame that will work?"

Can you cut and paste parts of the sedan frame and parts of your current Vista frame? Sure. Just be sure to have a frame machine or chassis jig and be really good at welding. The sedan frames are all open section channel. The 68-72 Vista frames are box section; I'm not sure about the 64-67 frames. And before you ask, this is not the simple flat plate boxing used on street rods. It's actually two formed "C" sections welded together, with shaping to clear the floor pans. This is why boxed convertible frames rust out more than hardtop frames - the box section retains dirt, salt, and moisture.