htlong

hi im new here what a great site!
i have a 1970 convert.with a rusted out frame ,what i am wondering is what year frames will fit a cutlass, and can i weld a piece to a regular frame to make it a box type frame? i have access to a 1966 gto frame could this work with a 1970 cutlass?

joe_padavano

You need a 68-72 A-body convertible frame. The 64-67 cars used a different wheelbase and frame width. The convertible frames are more complex than a boxed street rod frame. On street rods, flat plates are used for boxing. On the A-body converts the outer part of the frame is the same as used on the hardtop cars but with additional formed channel sections welded to the inside to make a box. These sections are formed and tapered to clear the foot wells in the floor pan and have a special feature to attach the trans crossmember. If the rust on your current frame is on the outer section only, you CAN carefully cut the boxing sections out and weld them to a HT frame. Unless you have a frame machine and a lot of frame welding experience, by the time you're done, you'll have invested more effort and cost than it would take to buy a rust free original frame.

htlong

thanks for the quick response
do they make replacement frames??? or would i have to search scrap yards?
the frame has three cracks one pretty bad but I'm worried about how many cracks will follow? two where the front door hinges are and i found one up over the rear axle.