I have a new (old) convertible frame for my 300 deluxe 2 door sedan (to help cope with the 540 I'm building), and I'm trying to figure out if there is significant frame sag, which might lead to problems with camber and possibly header clearance. The distance between the faces of my front upper control arm mounts is 30 7/8". I need to know what the dimension was when it left the factory, and whether I need to take it to a frame shop. I have all the factory manuals I think, but I can't find this measurment. Does anybody know this spec for a 67 (convertible?) or where I can find all the correct frame dimensions?

Thanks,

Reed

http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/data/516/medium/66-frame.jpg
You're Welcome :)

Derek,

Thanks alot! Where did that diagram come from?

I checked out your vehicles. All great, but the model T is truly unbelievable.

thanks again,
Reed

Thanks alot! Where did that diagram come from?My dad owns a body-shop, and when another local shop went out of business, he bought out their frame-rack and all their old books dating back to the early 60s. This was from the '66 "Tru-Way Frame Dimension" book.

Thanks for the compliments :cool:

I have the same problem with my '67 wagon. It measures 30 9/16" and I have run out of adjustment for correct alignment both caster and camber. It's gonna be difficult to correct since the car is all together. I have talked to a frame shop that has a very sharp frame tech who has pulled several '64-'67 Chevelle frames with the engine in the car. I'm gonna have them work on mine this spring.
I went to a local yard and measured a dozen '64-'67 Chevelles to get an idea of what this measurement was. They ranged from 30 1/2" to 30 15/16".
After viewing the diagram that Derek posted, it appears that all the frames I measured have a certain amount of frame sag.
My big block '67 El Camino just came off a frame machine where it was checked and tweaked back into spec. It had sagged to 30 5/8". They used a porta power set side to side against the bolts that hold the control arm cross shafts and jacked the frame apart. They did this on both front and rear control arm bolts. They jacked it out to 31".

A long time ago I had a 62 Impala that would pull the front wheels off the ground. After awhile from all that pounding it no longer would align. I took it to a shop that a friend owned to have it tweaked back to specs. They chained down both frame rails and jacked it up under the crossmember. In effect it was the same as spreading the frame rails with a port a power, but much easier with the engine installed.