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Heavy Duty frame for 65 only came in some 65 Buick GS cars, or 65 convertible boxed frame.
the only other reinforced frame or so called heavy duty frame is 64 -65 4 speed car frames
from 64-65 olds or 66 pontiac gto will interchange but not the 66 cutlass.
The RPO F35 HD frame option was available on any 1965-67 Olds A-body car. This was just the boxed convertible frame used under non-convertible bodies. This is not the same as the 442 frame unless that 442 happens to be a convertible. In the 1965 model year it was a $12.80 option. Obviously convertibles and Vista Cruisers already came with a boxed frame.
I have a 66 cutlass convertible boxed frame that's in decent shape for sale. Has been blasted and painted. Needs minor repair around a couple body mount holes. I'm located in west Michigan
1965 Cutlass Convertible frame FOR SALE: Restored 1965 Cutlass (and other GM “A” body) convertible frame solid, straight, body mount areas repaired as required. Frame blasted, epoxy primer and black stain paint by a local shop that does heavy machinery prep and paint. I purchased this frame from a member here that had all the listed work performed. I have decided not to proceed with the project I was going to use this frame for. Asking $2000.00 Frame is located in Pine Ridge Florida
There can be some confusion because Olds marketing called all 442 frames "heavy duty" in Ads, when the sedan and hardtop 442's came with the same regular frame as the F85 and Cutlass.
There can be some confusion because Olds marketing called all 442 frames "heavy duty" in Ads, when the sedan and hardtop 442's came with the same regular frame as the F85 and Cutlass.
yes the 442 frame and a cutlass/f85 manual car would have the same frame but if the cutlas/f85 was a auto it did not have the same frame as a 442 automatic or manual car did
There were two frame vendors for the Olds A body back then, A. O. Smith and Pontiac. The former has been found under both stick and auto cars, but the latter was on automatics (mostly or only, I don't know of any definitive data). It appears that all convertible/F35 frames were Smith. I have personally seen original Smith frames under stick and auto 442's and F85s. I owned a 6 cylinder automatic F85 that came with the Smith frame.
There were two frame vendors for the Olds A body back then, A. O. Smith and Pontiac. The former has been found under both stick and auto cars, but the latter was on automatics (mostly or only, I don't know of any definitive data). It appears that all convertible/F35 frames were Smith. I have personally seen original Smith frames under stick and auto 442's and F85s. I owned a 6 cylinder automatic F85 that came with the Smith frame.
on 1965 from my understanding a non 442 cutlass/f85 has a regular frame as to the HD non boxed frame that the 442 or manual cars came with. And I believe as of yet there has been zero documentation on a regular automatic cutlass with the non boxed 442/manual frame.
I need to look again i my option book for 1965 but I want to say there is 3 or 4 frame options
I should add it’s possible that some one did upgrade a cutlass frame, But with very little documentation on these cars and what has been documented.
Last edited by oldstata; May 15th, 2023 at 12:49 PM.
May 14th, 2023, 06:28 PM
