The right rear frame rail (behind the wheel) on my '80 Malibu is rusting through. I believe this is a fairly common problem and am looking for some feedback on repair options/solutions.

Thanks!

I am by far no expert, but if the frame needs rust repair I would just try to replace it. Usually a rusty frame is bad news. JMO.

If it's behind the rear tire, that area doesn't hold a lot of weight. I've heard of it before on earlier Chevelles. You can stub the part off a donor car. But you may want to look closer at the rest of the frame and the body mounts.

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Doug, Chevl71
Team Chevelle member #625
Gateway Area Chevelle Club member CM028
(OO ss OO)
chevl71 homepage (http://www.chevl71.homestead.com/chevl71homepage.html)

from what I read on the Monte Carlo SS site, that is a common problem on those late model cars, here is a link www.montecarloss.com (http://www.montecarloss.com) it loads kinda slow since they upgraded to the latest UBB format.

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Leo Paugh
Maryland Chevelle Club #017
A.C.E.S.#3731
there is only one way to fail, and thats to quit.
Maryland Chevelle Club (http://www.clark.net/pub/chevelle/mcc.htm)
MCC-ACES NORTHEAST REGIONALS (http://chevelle.veriotraining.com/mcc/mccsho01.htm)

Mgia,

If you are really attached to the car then like Chevl71 said get a donor back frame and have a frame shop take care if it. If it's a driver the other option would be to get some flat stock and weld it over the bad sections.
I had the same problem with my 83 H/O and the cost was pretty high to get this done in my area so I bought another H/O and made 1 good one out of two.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by mgia:
The right rear frame rail (behind the wheel) on my '80 Malibu is rusting through. I believe this is a fairly common problem and am looking for some feedback on repair options/solutions.

Thanks!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thanks for the feedback, much appreciated. The car's a keeper,got too much into it to let it go. I'll be visiting my body shop to see if they can stub in a replacement section.

Regarding frame questions on '78 + Malibu's--

My service manuals indicate there is no difference in 4 door sedan frames or Monte Carlo frames. If this were true, would other 'G' body frames interchange as well? Cutlass, Regal, Century, Grand Prix, Lemans, etc.?

If these other vehicles are essentially the same platform, has anyone swapped a later model frame under an earlier model Malibu?

My son has a '79 with typical frame rot behind both tires...would like to pick up a mid '80's vehicle that would be able to replace the entire frame. This would also provide (depending on donor car) a stronger rear end (MC SS, Buick T-type, etc.) possibly.

Any thoughts on the subject are appreciated!

Pat in Northern Illinois