My cousin has a 69 Cutlass and just sent me this pic. The Big ol crack on the driver side control arm mount and crawling up the frame. We live in Ohio Cleveland area and looking for some advice on what to do. I said new frame but looking at all the options at this point. Thanks!

 

Woah that's ugly I'm gonna say a replacement frame is in your cousins future!

 

Ouch! That looks bad. As bad as that looks, it needs a good inspection real soon, by someone competent. On the bright side, something like that might be repaired.

This reminds me of another members problem. Looks just like his but it got fixed. Take a look.


https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...ke-tissue.html

 

Don beat me to the link, it really depends on how much good metal is left and your or someones welding skills. Be advised, your not going to be able to get it done by a frame or any other professional shop, they won't touch it.

 

The frame is mild steel, so it can be fixed by welding new metal. The question is, can it be fixed cost-effectively? The next question is, was the crack only from fatigue, or has rust thinned the frame first?

 

the competent welder can fix anything. As long as the metal is not rusted away. First choice- a better frame. Plan B, bring it back to shape, weld it, and i would put scab patches across the cracked areas just in case. Double the thickness in those points.

 

I had that exact same thing happen on my '70 Supreme back in the '80s after a friend of mine jumped a couple curbs at high speed. Long story involving some girls and beer.
Anyway, got it welded back with a couple of support plates for the control arm bracket.

 

To me that has the look of a fatigue failure.

 

He called me back last night and said he's going to go with welding the frame. His neighbor is a welder by trade and I've only seen great work done by him. The rest of the frame is ok. He replaced the Master cyl and booster a few years because it was leaking and said and it was probably from brake fluid dripping down and eating away at it for years. and it finally let go. I was all for going with a new frame MAW. Thanks guys