Thx Mike! Those headers just may work for me. Hell for $170, why not? Better than $500 for shorties that fit a Zbar.

 

Nice pic's Mike.
But I'd recommend hitting that floor with a broom quick, or you'll never hear the end of it from Dave.

 

Thanks for the pics Mike. Your cross member looks just like mine. I just thought that the welded on extension that Kevin's had was very unique?

TOG

PS- Don't even think about it Dave .

 

My crossmember is like that also, not sure whats up with Kevins.

 

First off, the floor has already been cleaned....these pics were taken probably 3 weeks ago before the shelves were built, etc. Hit it with Brakleen, it's good now:yes:.

The GTO('65 I think....maybe a '64 but not sure) that was at the BBQ also had that welded on piece to the crossmember as I remembered to look at it when the hood was open.....I think I even mentioned it to someone(Brett maybe?).

Here's my guess, Brett, Greg and Kevin's cars were made at 2 possibly 3 different factories and the welded on crossmember brace technique was leftover from '65 cars. Then again, I thought I remembered Greg saying his car was built earlier in the year and had the smaller sail panels on the interior. To clear this up, we may need everyone to post where their cars were built.

For reference, my car was built in the Kansas City Leeds Plant, not Van Nuys, CA which you would think it would be shipped from instead due to proximity.....that is unless Van Nuys didn't start production as early. The car was originally sold in Bremerton and that is also where I bought it. My car was the #159th car off the line there which I think would put it at July or August 1966, which may make a difference as to why it was shipped from KC instead of Van Nuys.

 

Mine was Baltimore. The earmuff headliner was put on early 66's. NOT sure about buicks though...

The carryover comment is interesting but that would mean they produced 2 different stampings. Did the plants do their own stampings and sheet metal work or just put them together?

 

Since Fisher made the bodies and Chevrolet did the drivetrains etc., I would think that Fisher also did the frames but I'm unsure of that....reason being the frames and bodies were usually put together last for final assembly. More research on body vs. frames being built/formed/stamped would be required IMO...

Brett, do you know where your car was originally sold? I had a sticker on the inside of my glove box door when I bought it for the Bremerton Chevrolet(I don't remember the name of the dealership)....of course since then it has been blasted off.

 

No, unsure of the life of the 66. I know my Fremont Camino was sold from Boise, ID.

 

Those crossmembers on the front were bigger on the 68 and before cars. My GTO has that weird skid plate extension, and my 70 doesn't. Heard this discussed elsewhere also, don't remember where tho.

 

So Jeremy, what was the conclusion of the topic? I would think GM engineers deemed it unnecessary, but to me it looks like it provides a little extra protection and strength to the whole works.

 

I don't remember what the consensus was, actually. Definitely looks like it might keep a few more rocks from hitting your oil pan though.

 

I just posted the question where the frames were made....apparently either Parrish or A.O. Smith made them. I remember seeing those names before but long ago and forgot about it.

I guess the next question is which assembly plants got frames from which manufacturer? I may do a search and see if I can find if those businesses still exist.

 

Not sure where my frame was made, my '66 is a dec. '65 Kansas built body and has the early style headliner. The cross member section your talking about is clearly welded on too, not sure if this is like Kevin's or not.

 

Never seen one like that, both mine are completely different than that.

 

This is a pic of Brian's '71 and is the same as my '70

 

That is the same as my 70. The 68 has a piece on the end. I should take a pic, since I sure aint working very hard today!

 

Thats what I was talking about. My 66 is like the later ones, not like Mikes.

 

Yep mines like yours Mike. Mine is a later model 66 though with big sail panels and the upper seat belt holes in the roof.

 

What plant was yours produced at? So far we know its not early or later that matters because we have one of each.

 

3rd week in July,, Flint Michigan

 

So far, I've learned Parish Pressed Steel was in Reading, PA and became Dana Corp. before going out of business, One guy said he thinks Hayes Corp also built the frames, from where I don't know.

Interesting info... and here's a link to the thread I started.
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272400

 

My 66 was built in Kansas in the fall/winter of 65 (#1359)

My cross-member has a formed-in center link guard. It looks nothing like Mike's or Kevin's .

Does this show that there were multiple frame suppliers for each assembly plant .

TOG

 

It must Greg, if your car was built in Oct. and mine in Dec. (#32900) at the same plant but have different centerlink. We have the same style headliner too I think, but Kevin's frame is like mine with the later style headliner. Seems each plant may have had multiple frame suppliers.

 

I wonder what Eric's frame crossmember looks like? As well as where it was built....

I'm starting to think GM gave specifications to the frame builders for these cars and at the beginning, they used methods for this part of the frame that they deemed easiest for them.

Since one reply in the other thread mentioned truckloads of frames going out at all times, I'm thinking they(frame manufacturers) had trucks going in all directions. As well, the GM plants must have had a coordinated schedule of trucks arriving from different frame manufacturers and stacked them in their yard, making sure not to have too few or too many of each configuration(convertibles, wagons, El Caminos, and hardtops...the convertible and El Camino frames being boxed).

Not sure how many frames you could fit on a truck/trailer but I'm guessing in the neighborhood of 40 plus or minus, and may depend on mix and matching of frame configurations between the models. That being said, there may have been multiple brands/styles of frames on the assembly line during a week considering all the customer orders as well as scheduled production vehicles requested by dealerships.

What do you all think about that?

 

The one on my 65 looks like Mike's, my car was built late 65.

 

Paul, I'm guessing you mean Mike P.'s.....not mine(Mike B), correct?

 

yes Mike P
my 65

both67's look like this

 

Here is a pic of mine, looks like the 70s pictured here but with a big cow catcher thing welded to the front.

 

WTH!? Never seen that little extension thing on there either.

 

That's what I thought you guys were talking about at first, until I saw everybody else post theirs. I doubt its a convertible only deal.