X frame question

[wrench]

When I was young (yeah I really was once), I remember many cousins. thier friends, and others having broken frames at the steering box mounting on our favorite cars. Yet, I haven't heard of much trouble in my later years nor have I experienced the problem. I also remember a guy who had a 59 Impala that sat real high (he said he had station wagon springs in it), and his frame broke right behind the left front a-frame.

Anyone else experience this?


:cool:

[Tom Kochtanek]

Wrench:

I have a 1961 BelAir sport coupe that was an original 348 with 3-on-the-tree. After I dragged it home and started stripping it down for restoration I noted that the front section behind each A-arm had been badly repaired with welds. My conclusion was that it had been hit and some guy with a 12 pack of longnecks grafted boneyard parts back on it. Never looked into repairing it, went out and got a 1961 Impala parts car that had a factory 348 and four speed (missing the engine but not the trans!) and borrowed the straight frame from that setup. Still have the old frame, as it carries the now stripped '61 BA body.

If all goes well, this thing may show up in September in K.C. I think I can take the prize for butt ugly, and it will have to be towed there :)

Cheers,
TomK

[wrench]

It wouldn't be fair to tow a rust king there just to take my trophy!

:D

You are bringing the Impala, right?

:cool:

[Tom Kochtanek]

Wrench:

I hope to have the '62 SS ready to go by September. Just got all the new rubber from Phil Reed, and went and ordered the new interior from Phil as well. Next week we start the engine assembly. Long way to go on the body, it just got its first coat of primer this week. Lots of blocking and more priming before that final coat. Then there's reassembly -- assuming I can figure out where all these parts now on shelves in my basement go!

I have soooo many bags of small parts, mostly nuts and bolts that need to be cleaned and finished. And all the anodized aluminum needs to be cleaned before reinstallation. Hopefully it will all come together in the next few months and I'll get some time to debug all the various systems properly.

Can't wait to see everyone's automobiles. If I can get it ready, I hope to bring a rolling X frame as well, maybe with a mocked up "W" engine and four speed. I hope to bring several buddies who are somewhat new to the "W", but love GM performance machines. These are the guys helping out with my various projects :)

Cheers,
TomK