Frame work...

What to do with a frame this big...   That was my first challenge.  I called around to some places that dip parts to remove the rust.  As a convertible the frame was fully boxed.  Dipping it would have been ideal to get to all the areas inside the frame.  I expanded my search further and further out, but still no luck.  The frame was just too big for any dip tank.  Some places opted to dip it twice, one end at a time, but for whatever reason, they did not recommend it.  I had to find a different way of restoring the frame.

For a 35+ year old car the frame was still very solid.  The only repairs necessary was replacing the back cross member and a couple motor mounts were a little eaten away.  The rear cross member looked like someone at some point tried to tow with it and bent it up.  Luckily I had the spare parts from other clean frames.  Complete frames were not a huge seller so scrapping one out for this part was just fine by me.

Here is a shot of the stripped frame.

In the end we opted to just wire wheel it and use POR-15 on the frame.  

I think it turned out really nice.  We also coated all the suspension components and rear axle.  Everything on the chassis was upgraded or replaced.  Starting in the front, all the control arms got new bushings from Performance Suspension Technologies.  All new ball joints also from PST.  All new steering components including centerlink etc, again from PST.  Brake calipers were new GM parts. 

All the gas, brake and transmission cooling lines are now stainless steel from Inline Tube.  They are somewhat of a local place and they can bend just about every tube out there to the OEM specs.  I bought all the brake lines, fuel lines and trans cooler lines from them.  I was also able to get clips and brackets necessary to complete the job too.  Getting those local was nice as I did not have to bend them to ship them.

The rear axle got new rubber bushings, again from PST.  They were not in the catalog, but they still had them.  I had no issues with the axle so we didn't touch it.  Just cleaned it up and painted it.  We did replace the wheel cylinders (NOS) in the rear wheels.

Springs and shocks also came from PST.  They should be a little better than the original equipment.

That about does it for the frame.  The frame was pretty easy and straight forward.  Nothing really to go wrong there.  At this point the frame would sit about 1 more year until it was finally reunited with the body.  At this point the original body is sitting on a donor frame from one of my other cars.  Luckily the frame was common on 2drs and 4drs, minus the boxed part.  Only the wagons had a different set up.