I found my dream 67 malibu convertible (SS Clone) on eBay. The owner had great feedback and seemed honest to a fault. I was interested in the car because the chassis was restored and the body work done with new Goodmark panels and tons of extra parts were included. I thought I had done enough probing into the condition of the car so I didn't go to see the it before closing the deal. It turns out the car is as was described, the chassis is restored and the body is in great shape. Only one problem, the frame is not a vert frame. Its a very nicely restored hard top frame.

I don't know if the previous owner knew this or not but either way the deal is done and now I have an issue.

Do I dare drive the car with the hard top frame?

Do I try to Box the side rails in on this frame or do I look for an el camino frame and perform a swap?

I was looking to finish the car, enjoy it for a while and then move it for a meager profit. So I need to protect the resale of the car....What advice can you give me?

buy a set of the boxed sections from a junk vert frame and have them welded onto your frame and get the correct trans crossmember as well. The factory put them there for a reason. A lot of vert frames rot in the front or rear sections but still have good steel in the middle so you should be able to find the pieces to add on to your frame.

buy a set of the boxed sections from a junk vert frame and have them welded onto your frame

Do they come off? I thought they were welded in.

I say just box the frame as it is, check for any sag in the frame and across the door jamb area, compare it to a reg hard top, if so ,jack it up in the middle to get the sag out then weld in the braces in the frame.

They are welded in, you just cut them out and have them welded to the hardtop frame. If the car is that nice it will look pretty cheap to have some c channel steel welded up under there. It may work but I would do it right.

Buying cars on ebay. I learned the hard way too.

A lot probably depends on how much work and expense you want to go to. To change the frame, or to weld boxed sections in, means taking the body off the frame and possibly dissassembling the entire suspension, steering, brakes, etc. To do it right sounds like a winter's work, if you are ambitious and have lots of time.

Finding a good boxed frame might not be easy either. That probably is one reason why your car doesn't have the correct frame. I have a spare '67 convertible frame that is rusted just behind the front wheels, below the front edge of the door. Many of the frames I have seen rust at that same spot.

If you just box the existing frame, do you think this can be done with the body on the frame? Depending on how far foward and back you want the boxing to go, you still likely would have to disassemble a few things and rerout some lines. I agree it would not be as good as the other option, but you could always swap the frame later on anyway. If you box it right, at least you could drive it for now. And if it is not a high value car (not an SS), it might not make much difference to the value.
David

First let me say this site is great. I appreciate the support and friendship I see on the site.

I like the idea of replacing the Frame with a Boxed unit the best. It just seems like the right way to approach it. I can hopefully finance the project with the sale of my hard top frame. But this leaves me with the issue of finding a good doner frame.

What frames will work? I have been told that 64-67 el Camino or station wagon will work? Others indicate only the 67 vert or elky.

Does anyone know exactly which frames are interchangable with my 67 vert? And what would need to be done to each to make them work on my car?

Brad

Everything you need to know about a convertible frame can be found on Pete Lohr web site he is da Man. Very good site to read..
http://www.einstyn.com/

Hi Brad,
I just went through the same process for my 66 Convert. Ironically, I also bought mine on Ebay and got shafted on the details about the frame rust. I found a 66 Elky and used the frame for mine.
Anyway, I know where you can get a good solid boxed frame for your convertible right here in Iowa, just PM me or email me and I will provide details.
It is a big project to switch frames but necessary if you want to drive this car and not worry about the integrity of the frame under you.
Brian

What frames will work? I have been told that 64-67 el Camino or station wagon will work? Others indicate only the 67 vert or elky.

Brad

BRAD,
The wagon frame will NOT work (not boxed)... Only the El Camino and convertible frames are boxed, and they are the same from the front to the rear axle (the El Camino is a bit longer in the back, but thats easily shortened...

Also, while 64-67 frames will work, the rear spring pocket is different for 1967... Easiest fix is to use 64-66 rear coil springs... All else should be the same...

Since the frame is boxed, remember to also get the trans cross-member, since it is shorter to fit between the boxed protions...


Also, other 64-67 A-body convertibles should also work, and usually its easier and cheaper to find a frame for a Skylark or Cutlass (mention the name "Chevelle" and the price usually goes up)...

Well the good news is, if you want a frame there is a 67 chevelle convertible hulk ( body and frame + parts) on ebay (not my ad, just thought I'd pass it on to you). I havent seen a decent convertible frame go for under 1 grand as of late.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1967-67-chevelle-convertible-cowl-and-well_W0QQitemZ4588471261QQcategoryZ34204QQrdZ1QQcm dZViewItem
doesn't hurt to ask, from the pics the frame looks real nice (the parts you can see anyway) hard to say, but I think it's boxed. Jason.

Your best bet would be to get a 67 El camino frame and modify the rear section. A Cutlass/442 frame is very different forward of the front crossmember. A Lemans/GTO frame looks the same, but I don't know for sure if it can be used without modifying it. As for the Special/GS frame, I haven't seen one bare to compare it. The Buick and Pontiac frames are interchangeable, according to the Hollander interchange manual.

Thanks all for your help. I found a 66 vert frame on eBay and its in Iowa!! I won it last night. You would think I would have learned my lesson about ebay but I picked it up for quite a nice price.

Looks like i have my winter project!!

Congrats on the vert frame score. You gunna get it galvanized? I just dropped mine off toady to get it done check me neex week for more pictures of it before and after.

Now if I could only score with my wife, lol

I have some more searching to do but I don't believe I even have an option to have the frame dipped let alone galvanized anywhere close to my location. To my knowledge Moline Illinois is the closest place that offers this service.

Would anyone know of a place where I could get the frame dipped and or galvanized in Iowa, South Dakota or Nebraska?
Brad

Well I drove 300 miles riund trip yesterday just for mine

I have some more searching to do but I don't believe I even have an option to have the frame dipped let alone galvanized anywhere close to my location. To my knowledge Moline Illinois is the closest place that offers this service.

Would anyone know of a place where I could get the frame dipped and or galvanized in Iowa, South Dakota or Nebraska?
Brad
are you kidding? I searched high and low; and you found one about an 1 1/2 hours from me. Oh well, too late now. JN

North american galvanizing is in KC, missouri.
don't know how far that is from you.
they did mine at their ohio plant.
david

I have a tranny crossmember for a chevelle convt/elky made for boxed frame. Blasted/primed with zinc primer/ chassy top coat from por 15 for durability. Let me know if interested. electricalley AT aol DOT com for my e-mail. Probably the best good deal you get on parts for that car.


When getting a new frame or preserving your old one: Best thing is to have it dipped (murc acid) to get all the crud out/rust. I have also seen people take those bathroom sponges, Plumbers snake to run a rope through the frame, tie the string to the sponge, dip it in por 15 and run the sponge through a few times to coat the inside of the frame.

I have seen "C" channel repairs 2'x'2X ~6 ft that run along the exterior sides of a convert. These fixes lots of add wt. and are not eye appealing for show. Another problem is that you cover a couple of access body bushing holes.

I personally had success with using 66-67 swaps with elkys, and 64-65's groupings with all my vert restos. There is also the late 67 chevelle vert frame that is a bit different. Cutting 2-3" after the rear wheel well where the smaller box opens up to a channel has worked for me. Had a little problems with brake/front end parts matching up a little, had to buy a few elky items.

I wanted to take a moment to thank ChevelleProSS for his help with my frame swap. He provided a critical part at a great price simply because he had the part and I needed it. This is why I love this forum what makes its members great. Thanks

I don't understand. If this is your DREAM CAR, why are you wanting to drive it for a while, then try and sell if for a profit.

John W,

I have some more searching to do but I don't believe I even have an option to have the frame dipped let alone galvanized anywhere close to my location. To my knowledge Moline Illinois is the closest place that offers this service.

Would anyone know of a place where I could get the frame dipped and or galvanized in Iowa, South Dakota or Nebraska?
Brad

have you called Valmont in Valley NE? they do irrigation and light poles. its worth a shot. 402 359-2201. they are right by Omaha NE. they also have other plants around the USA. that is the main # don't know where to go from there. I have a few friends that work there. i could ask them if this is something they do before you call. let me know i you want me to do that. Scott

I know of an Elky frame in New Mexico for 400 dollars. The hard part is shipping. Galvinizing is nice. But you can take a sponge and rope and pass it through the holes on one end and run it back through if you close the ends. Apply some rust inhibitor or perhaps some por 15. Not many places have the murcuric acid dip anymore.

A coupe frme will sag in the middle and you may find the doors not opening.Good luck