Thread: 37 buick frame need help

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I have a 37 buick special 2 door. the frame it is in good condition. the car has no fenders or running boards.

I need to replace the entire floor. I want to update entire suspension and channel the frame. also , I intend to have an exposed engine compartment, leaning more towards a streetrod. I will be installing a Chevy drivetrain.

My questions are, should I keep the frame and convert the front end to mustang 2 or pinto front end? or replace the frame with a frame from another late model car? Does anyone have photos of this conversion, or step by step instructions?

What late model cars or trucks will be good candidates for frame swap?

Are 37 chevy and buick frames the same?

Thanks for your help

The Chev frames are different than the Buick, both in size and suspension configuration.

Channeling isn't done to the frame, it is the process of dropping the body down over the frame. If you're having to replace the floor that's the time to do it. Basically you're raising the floor from it's stock position when you channel the body. If you intend to run fenders you'll have some work to do on dropping the front clip, the rears will go with the body.

Frame swaps to later model ones sound like they'd be easy until you do one, if you want it to work right, fit right, and look right. My guess would be that at least half the frame swaps done out there are wrong and kill the value of the car. And if you want a good finished product they're not as cheap as newbies think they are. Often the suspension components need to be rebuilt, the engine/trans will need to be moved back, thus meaning the drive shaft shortened, and the frame will need to be shortened/lengthened/narrowed to get the wheels to fall in the right places. Since you're replacing the floor fabbing the body mounting brackets won't be too much extra work, but making the front sheet metal fit around the new frame/core support configuration can be a challenge depending on your skill level.

The stock rear suspension is coil with trailing arms, and can be tuned for reasonable service (gas shocks help a lot, as will an anti-sway bar). You could go with MII stuff, but I'd recommend going to stronger control arms than the stock ones. Some folks will recommend Fat Man for a new front frame clip complete with the suspension, but check out their quality first to see if you're comfortable with it. Quite a few people aren't impressed with him. My feeling is you can get better quality from Art Morrison.

Thanks for the reply. yes I plan to "channel the frame" into the floor, thats not an issue. My problem is the bulk of the existing frame at the front suspension area. I want the look of a 32 ford, streamline and clean, not 8" or so crossmembers and braces cluttering up the front area. Hope I am clear. Also i don't want the fenders and running boards. I will reconfigure the rear to accept the drivetrain, bigblock, blower, 5 speed. Thats why I want to make sure I am providing the proper frame for the project. Fabrication and cost are not an issue i own a camaro restoration shop, but I don't want to reinvent the wheel.