cutting a frame and welding another frame back to it?I just don't see how one could do such a thing.:HMMM: I see doing it 30 years ago,but today I dont think so. Well thats my take ,whats yours?:D
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cutting a frame and welding another frame back to it?I just don't see how one could do such a thing.:HMMM: I see doing it 30 years ago,but today I dont think so. Well thats my take ,whats yours?:D
I wouldn't hesitate doing it. Have done it many times. Overlap if you can, fish-plate if you have to butt them up.
And measure, measure, measure, measure, measure, measure, measure.
That being said while it can be done successfully, my observations have been that it's far too often botched by those who overestimate their abilities.
It's done all the time,many.many rods out there are running modern subframes grafted unto old chassis, just gotta know your ability's, what ya think them NASCAR boys do when they wad one up ? they cut the bent section out and weld a new one in,unless it's bent too bad......
i'm doing a 56 chevy big window right now. uaing a camaro clip. i've done these many times. it actualy becomes the strongest point in the frame. i dont cut and butt, i overlay.
the only way i know to change a front clip. i cut 18 " out of a 1964 ford pick-up short bed frame one time. worked great. put big tires on it and it was taller than long. :D
I'm with you. I did it to a 48 Ford F1 pickup I built using a 79 Malibu clip. Ride height was fine and drove out good, I slipped the Ford frame into the malibu clip and split the malibu clip in four places using a sawzall. Then welded it up and fishplated the malibu to the Ford. It was a budget job and worked out ok. I just think the newer Mustang II and Mopar torsion bar based front ends are much cooler and more temporary. I just figure someone down the road may want to use some other kind of suspension, and scabbing the malibu onto the ford was too permanent. Other than that, let nothing but fear hold you back.Quote:
Originally posted by BigTruckDriver
cutting a frame and welding another frame back to it?I just don't see how one could do such a thing.:HMMM: I see doing it 30 years ago,but today I dont think so. Well thats my take ,whats yours?:D
I've done a couple old Ford pickups and used a Crown Victoria / Grand Marquis front. Works great. For someone who wants a front end with all the goodies, it's an economical way to go. Lots of guys use Camaro and Nova clips on their Chevy powered rides. When done correctly, it's still a great way to "modernize" the suspension.
i have used the camaro front subs .and they works good .and on my 50 it let me put the big block in it more room if done rigth it is very safe and all the stuff like better front brakes power streering and all parts can be had at the part store as long has it is welded in rigth and box and plated in. it will work very good
Had to do just that thing with the '51. The orginal frame was straight and would not hold a V8 so I put on a Camaro clip
to this....
What are the advantages over this IFS set up?
http://www.streetrodengineering.com/.../ultraride.htm
Nice job iceburgh :)
ummmm....money?Quote:
Originally posted by BigTruckDriver
What are the advantages over this IFS set up?
http://www.streetrodengineering.com/.../ultraride.htm
Life isn't cheap baby:DQuote:
Originally posted by techinspector1
ummmm....money?
The extra money compared to all the work to cut a frame in half and weld another in:whacked:and the resale value .Seriously,I don't get it:confused: I would buy a vehicle thats been cut in half.:CRY:
Quote:
Originally posted by iceburgh
to this....
That looks nice iceburgh. building a chassis or replacing a clip is half the fun. If I couldn't do that myself I wouldn't build it. I built a mod. race car and replaced the clip on it 2 times. No, it didn't fall off, I knocked it off. :HMMM: :LOL:
"building a chassis or replacing a clip is half the fun."
Bingo!
whats the dif. in replacing a clip or a crossmember. i dont see no dif. all of it is about cutting and welding. :HMMM:Quote:
Originally posted by BigTruckDriver
What are the advantages over this IFS set up?
http://www.streetrodengineering.com/.../ultraride.htm
CAR frame welded to a TRUCK frame:CRY:
Now it starts to get down to personal preference. Assuming good mechanical and welding skills being equal, what's your objective?
While the clip is generally considered "more economical", there's more work involved in making one fit. While the initial buy in price is seemingly lower, odds are it needs to be rebuilt to some degree, plus clean-up effort and material. If you don't have to get a rebuilt steering box, just bushings, tie rod ends, ball joints, and so forth you get to about 1/2 the cost of the kit you showed. If a box is needed, then you're closer to 3/4 the cost. More labor is needed to refit the front sheetmetal and core support/radiator since the original mounting points are gone with the old front section. So the clip can be about 3/4 the cost, and twice to three times the labor. If you do it yourself and don't value your time, you save a few bucks. If you have to hire out the whole thing, then the clip isn't such a deal.
Next thing is esthetics. Personally the aftermarket setup you showed looks better to my eye than the clunkier clip. Since it's mostly out of sight, that may not be much of an issue. Again, pretty much a preference thing.
Then your comment about car vs truck. Pretty much a nothing argument. Both setups, either clip or crossmember assembly, will handle the light duty of a half ton, street driven truck. In fact, if you listen to some they'll try to convince you that the Mustang II/Pinto geometry setup, such as you showed, is too light duty. What they don't realize is that some of the V8, A/C, PS, PB, etc MII's got close to 3500# curb weight, and with the fabricated tubular control arms, they're plenty stout for normal street use.
Now, if the vehicle in question is the '65 Chev pu you list as your ride, there's all sorts of rebuild, disc brake, lowering, etc. conversion kits available for that chassis. That would be the least amount of effort and expense if the existing frame is good and you don't have some weird agenda.
"Then your comment about car vs truck. Pretty much a nothing argument. Both setups, either clip or crossmember assembly, will handle the light duty of a half ton, street driven truck."
But now with a clip the truck is more nose heavy,right? A truck does not need more weight in the front part of the chassis.Now you have a heavy duty (stout) front end ,and stock back half.:confused:
It all depends on what you're after. If weight savings and a good clean look is what you are after, then an MII set up is what you want. As Bob said, I don't believe weight of a 1/2 ton pickup on the street is a problem, put too many of the MII kits on pickups and sedan deliveries.
the camaro clip has been around since the 70's and has been done to death :) i have never seen a failure on an overlay. you have 20+ in of double frame welded. not much chance of a failure. as for weight theres not that much difference. it's a hot rod now not a truck. if you want to keep it a truck use a mid 80's truck saddle.
Large truck frames are routinely cut and stretched,converted to tandems ,tri axle,etc, so the idea of cutting and welding on a frame is not instantly taboo. It's all in how,and by whom. If your welding skills aren't up to the task ,don't do it. On a chevy p/u,the entire front suspension comes right off,leaving a nice clean platform to add mII type crossmember and suspension. As far as weight is concerned,I'd be very suprised if the entire package wasn't at least 100lbs less than the original.
And I promise you it is stronger than anything. If this truck is ever in an accident the failure of the frame will be far enough behind the cab that the passengers will not have to worry.Quote:
Originally posted by BigTruckDriver
CAR frame welded to a TRUCK frame:CRY:
Part of hot rodding from way back ( according to my dad and uncles ....I am only 33) is to have fun , build something cool and safe and save money as much as possible.
To each their own I guess but I have built a killer Vette that makes 500 + hp and won over 120 awards and I am building now a '32 and thsi truck and I have never had as much fun as I am now