My name is Shaun and I have been lurking here for a couple years. I have a 70 cutlass convertible that was passed down from my uncle after sitting in his garage since 1986. I remember riding in it when I was a kid and always wanted it and finally got it 2 years ago when he sold his house and had nowhere to go with it. He pulled the engine to rebuild it and never put it back together and it just sat. When I got it moved into my shop I cleaned it out to find a rotten trunk floor from mice living in the cover in the trunk and rusting floor pans above the crossmember under the front seats. The fresh motor had acorns in the intake and sunflower seeds all over it from some critters dinner. Luckily when I took it apart the heads were rusty but the bores were still clean so I had the heads redone and all new gaskets got it running good. The problem I have is the farther I dig into the trunk rust it just keeps getting worse. What started as two 4 inch rust holes has turned into a whole new trunk pan, both body braces, the rear crossmember and inner wheelhouse patches. In the process of fitting the braces up I couldnt get the body bolts to line up. Looking closer at it revealed bent frame rails from being rearended at some point in its life. So I am at the point of when do I say enough is enough because I'm afraid of what I will find next. I put a picture up of the motor I'll have to take some of the car next time I'm at the shop.

 

You've come this far, why not go with a it little farther. I know it can be frustrating. Any chance you can get a shop to straighten the frame now? Try to finish this part of what you started and maybe try to enjoy the car as is.

Don't give up, just take a break. You can all ways sell it later if not interested any more.

 

It depends on where the frame is bent on how easy it is to fix. Is the frame still under the body and do you have some pictures of the damage?

 

If I had it pulled it would probably rip apart because it's pretty thin too. At this point I'll start looking for a frame to start over with and do it right once my divorce is final. It just gets old when you think you're turning a corner to make progress and you just keep finding more issues. No I don't have any pics of it and yes it's still under the car. What led me to find it was when I tried to put the trunk pan and brace under the right side the body bolts were off by half a hole.

 

Sorry about lifes troubles. If the frame is thin then another may be the better route, there are a few folks on here that can help. Just wondering if its off to the left, right, forward, aft, and is it off the same amount on the other side. Is the frame thin all around or just a particular area?

 

It's pushed forward and yes it's thin all around the back. I repaired one rotten spot on the boxing driver side but it was packed with sand. In general starting over is the best choice.