I'm considering buying a '67 Chevelle conv, but the car has a rust hole in the frame. Can the conv body be bolted to a hardtops frame (will the body mount holes line up)? Can the rusted section (about 8-10" long) be cut out and boxed? Sorry, I don't have any pics to post. Any help or advice would be appreciated. TIA

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Wes
'65 Chevelle Conv
'63 Nova SS Conv
'62 Nova Conv, FOR SALE

A hardtop frame won't do the trick since it is not boxed! I would repair the section, that is possible, and the best solution! Good Luck!

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X-Ray View of my Chevelle :D (http://www.normieschevelle.com/sideview.jpg)
Getting Closer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/passfull.jpg)
my baby in primer (http://www.normieschevelle.com/prime/primerdrv.jpg)

Thanks Normie. Would I just cut out the rusted portion and weld in the new metal? If so, that's great.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by normie:
A hardtop frame won't do the trick since it is not boxed! I would repair the section, that is possible, and the best solution! Good Luck!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>



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Wes
'65 Chevelle Conv
'63 Nova SS Conv
'62 Nova Conv, FOR SALE

If you remove the boxed sections from your convertible and find a hardtop frame, you could weld in the boxed sections. This would probably be the best way to go. Hard top frames, even rolling chassis, could be found for a few hundred bucks. If you look hard enough you may even find a convertible frame (or an El-Camino frame which is the same just a bit longer in the rear section)
Hope it helps,
Steve

Wes -- How bad is the rust hole. I found a few small holes, no larger than a ballpoint pen, and I repaired them with POR putty. that stuff works great and hardens like steel.

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67 Malibu Convertible, 2nd Owner since '78
Bonner Springs, KS
A.C.E.S # 4806
N.C.O.A # 5322
67 Malibu Convertible (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/ragtop67malibu283.jpg)
on going restoration (http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/ragtop67malibu283/lst?.dir=/Chevelle&.src=ph&.order=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/)

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ragtop67Malibu283:
that stuff works great and hardens like steel.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Agreed, and I've used it myself on floor pan pinholes, but no matter how well it hardens, the POR15 is still just a cosmetic repair. With frame holes only that size, I'm sure you don't really have any structural integrity issues. If a person really wanted to be sure, they should weld a steel patch over the hole, with an inch or so of overlap all around. If the 'hole' encompasses two or three sides of the frame section, then it's a whole different issue (pun intended) http://www.chevelles.com/forum/biggrin.gif



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Bill Pritchard
69 SS396 Convertible
"Life is short; eat dessert first." - Ogden Nash
My low tech web page (http://home.att.net/~bpritchard/index.html)

Thanks for the replies. After getting more pics, the rust appears to be bigger than I expected. Probably closer to 15 inches long, up to an inch and a half wide. The car's probably salvageable, but would be a lot of work. The car would require a frame-off to be done right... fenders, doors, trunk and hood could be found out here, but the floors and trunk will need replacing. I'm leaning to passing on the car. I can't find a friend who agrees the car isn't way too much work... but that hasn't stopped me before.

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Wes
'65 Chevelle Conv
'63 Nova SS Conv
'62 Nova Conv, FOR SALE