Enjoy 5% OFF at VEVOR Canada! and Support Canadian Poncho at the Same Time!
Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> 1970 + Canadian Pontiac Chassis Forum -> Frame Question....
Post Info TOPIC: Frame Question....
unclebernie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 962
Date:
Frame Question....
Permalink  

I have a question regarding the frame in my '72 Lemans.  I recently had the motor set in, then removed it to take the upper and lower A arms off.  When I removed the motor, I had the front end in the air with Jackstands under the edge of the frame at the front where the body mounts are located.  It appeared to flex a bit.  So tonight I went and lifted the front of the car under the engine crossmember, and you can see the frame raise a small bit before the rest of the body starts to raise up.....my question is, is this normal??????  Now keep in mind there is nothing on the front end except for the steering box and related arms.  Will this become more rigid once the motor and trans are bolted in place, as well as the front sheet metal???  I know when I first set the motor in, and it was sitting on the ground, it didn't appear to have any issues.  Am I just being paranoid???  Any advice/guidance would be greatly appreciated.............Thanks in advance



__________________

John

1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
cheetah 427


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 1131
Date:
Permalink  

when its all tide together it gets a little less flexable, every bolt makes a change in ridgegitty .

__________________
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
427carl


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 35601
Date:
Permalink  

I'll take you to the drags (Grand Bend Motorplex) this summer  and you can see the frames flex  lo   and the doors and the quarters   lol  


67 CHEVELLE 570 cu in MERLIN 3700LBS 41000MI. NOW GOES 9.72.jpg

__________________

 
unclebernie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 962
Date:
Permalink  

I've seen some of the flexing going on there....but that sounds like fun Carl. So you guys think I got nothing to worry about????

__________________

John

1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
427carl


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 35601
Date:
Permalink  

no.gif

__________________

 
unclebernie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 962
Date:
Permalink  

Thanks for the reassurance...I was a little nervous as I had never noticed it before, and I didn't want to screw this up. Wife will be happy that I don't have to get another frame....now to more cleaning before painting the front section, and wait to get the a arms back after removing some very "rusty" bushings and ball joints!!!!

Thanks again....

__________________

John

1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
455gto


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 2525
Date:
Permalink  

I had my GTO on a two post hoist. you can watch the bumper gap move away from the car.

__________________
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
unclebernie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 962
Date:
Permalink  

455gto wrote:

I had my GTO on a two post hoist. you can watch the bumper gap move away from the car.


Thanks for the info....especially since we share the same Frame.  I feel better now after hearing these responses!!!!  I was pretty bummed the other day when I first noticed it...now I know I can continue with the project and feel good about it!!

Thanks again......

handshake.gif

 



__________________

John

1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
4SPEED427


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 50196
Date:
Permalink  

You're fine John.

As stated, if you ever watch the door gaps on a car being lifted on a hoist you'd be amazed. Try it sometime. It'll make your jaw drop.

On my Acadian (or any unibody for that matter) chances are good if you have the car on a hoist and lift it off the ground, the doors will be so far out of line that they won't even close once you open them.

__________________

1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles 

1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars (now converted to a "factory" 4 speed)
rabbit64cs


Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Status: Offline
Posts: 7183
Date:
Permalink  

I don't like opening my doors on my 70 Lemans Convertible when it's on the 2 post. It flexs if the top is down, amazing that the top could add that much rigidity. AND my frame is solid !!

I had the front sheetmetal off, and drove it the neighbours shop where the 2 post is , you would not believe how much the door gap changed as I was driving.

THe SUM of the whole makes for a solid car !! As said above.


__________________

later...rog

AADD supporting member !!
I'm a collector...not a builder!!Located in sunny central Saskatchewan at the lakehead!
unclebernie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 962
Date:
Permalink  

Well I got an update regarding my frame...... I had it on jackstands when I installed the small block and trans, then the fron disc brakes. When I lifted it, I heard some paint chip off the frame..... I didn't think it was a big deal as I knew I had some touch ups to do anyway, until today!!!! Here is a pic of where the jackstand had gone through the frame where the box meets the open rails. I had honestly thought the frame looked pretty decent, now I guess I should have looked ALOT harder. Now the task is to figure out the best way to repair it, as I now have the motor and trans bolted in, and the body all bolted down. Any help is really appreciated, and keep in mind this car is at best going to be a driver. Huge frustration..... now I see why some people give up on their projects!!!!!!


Attachments
__________________

John

1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
jonathanD


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 1774
Date:
Permalink  

don't give up! Do you have access to a car lift?  you could patch it from the bottem or pull the body off

__________________

1967 parisienne 

 
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
unclebernie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 962
Date:
Permalink  

Thanks Jonathan... I am not going to give up and let this thing beat me. I have no access to a lift, so I have to really think this through. I was hoping not to lift the body off again, but sometimes you don't have a choice!!!!!

__________________

John

1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
jonathanD


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 1774
Date:
Permalink  

hey john i don't think i can be that much help pysically but ill be cheering you on all the way keep us updated on your progress

__________________

1967 parisienne 

 
427carl


A Poncho Legend!

Status: Offline
Posts: 35601
Date:
Permalink  

P1020012_1024x768.JPG

P1020013_1024x768.JPG

__________________

 
455gto


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 2525
Date:
Permalink  

My lemans was soft by the front body bolt as well. Take a Demel and grind around there and see if you have any small cracks in the metal. See a frame shop and ask them the best fix on the frame.

__________________
Beaumont4008


Uber Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 3936
Date:
Permalink  

Yea I would put a grinder with a flapper wheel on it and grind that whole area to see how the rest of the metal is. If you have a welder  cut it out and weld in a new peice of metal. 

__________________
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
Nov 18 to Dec 2 Black Friday UP TO 50% OFF Plus Huge Coupons
unclebernie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 962
Date:
Permalink  

I do have a welder, and I think I am going toloosen off the body mounts. Except the rear, because I got ahead of myself and finished it already. Hopefully I can get it high enough to get a good look at it. I am just bummed because I overlooked it when I put the car together. I will probably get a friend of mine to weld this, floors aren't so bad, but I want someone who can burn metal well to tackle the structural stuff!!!!!

__________________

John

1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
455gto


Poncho Master!

Status: Offline
Posts: 2525
Date:
Permalink  

Being that soft. You might have to reinforce the frame after fixing the holes.

__________________
unclebernie


Guru

Status: Offline
Posts: 962
Date:
Permalink  

Right now, after chatting with a guy at work I've decided it will be at least a 3 pc. fix. The lower portion of the box where it goes inside the open rail.......then the side you see where the boxed goes inside the open rail, then the bottom pc. you see in the pic where the hole is. This is all tenative until I get the body up a bit, and get these pcs cut out and get a better look!!!!

grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

__________________

John

1972 Pontiac Lemans (daughter's car) 
2005 Pontiac Grand Am
2004 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Page 1 of 1  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Canadian Poncho Homepage -> Canadian Poncho -> 1970 + Canadian Pontiac Chassis Forum -> Frame Question....
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us
.
Support Canadian Poncho!
Select Amount:
<
.
.
.