Been talking to a guy on the internet today, who needs to know if a '71 Malibu frame will interchange with a '71 Elky. I THINK i'm correct in telling him "no", but can someone confirm this for me? Isn't the wheelbase different, frame longer, etc...? Thanks guys!

NG, elky frame is boxed and longer.

It can be done on pre 68 cars. The rear of the frame has to be shortened, but the wheel bases are the same. I have a 1966 chevelle with an el camino frame under it. The fully boxed frame really improved the feel of the car.

-Geoff

like stated above, the EC frame has an extension on the back and boxed frame rails.

if going from EC to chevelle, you just need to chop a couple inches off the back (can be done with a hack saw, i'm told).

If going from chevelle to EC, probably too many mods need to be made (unless it is a convert. frame which is already boxed, and you have the back section off the old frame to weld on to the new one).

its amazing the information that get spewed around here. The Chevelle wagon frame is unique for 68 to 72. It is the same as the 68-72 El Camino (116” wheel base) with one difference; the Elky has boxed frame rails, that’s the long section of the frame between the front and rear wheel areas of the frame. A wagon frame just has c-channel frame rails because it achieves its strength with the help or the full body and roof, which is not present on Elkys. Just for informational purposes this same difference is parallel with Chevelles. Chevelle 112” wheel base cars, which are the 2-door coupe and the convertible, are 4” shorter in the frame rails and several inches shorter in the rear frame section than the wagon and Elky. The convertible has boxed frame rails and the coupe does not. 4-door Chevelles are a hybrid. They are the same wheel base 116” as the wagon, but have the rear section like the 2-door, which makes them unique. All the frames front sections are the same. so to answer your question, NO, it can not be interchanged! only applicable to 68-72.