1971 frame repairs does this look okay?

[Bill W.]

Re: 1971 frame repairs does this look okay?

Looks like you are doing a good job . Remember to skip around when you weld .It will close up .

[Daniel D.]

Re: 1971 frame repairs does this look okay?

Daniel,

I have never done this before but I think you can do it. Do you think it may be smart to tack weld everything and take it to a frame shop and have it checked before finishing the welding.

Looking at the dimensions in my 1963 shop manual, you can surely cross check everything so it should be very close if not as good as what you started with. Look at the 3/4" hole on each side as a reference point to the datum line.

I would love to see a picture of the jig that was used to assemble these pieces together at A O Smith.

I built a jig to reinstall the # 2 & 3 Left/Right Body Mounts exactly as they were on the orig. frame rails, I butted the angle iron against the kick-up channels then tightly welded angle pieces on both sides holding it in place, then welded two small upright pieces on the front section, then horizontal pieces tightly against them on both sides, then 4 small square pieces to match where the orig. mounts were located,

I'm working with a little help from a local frame shop. This is the first time I've tackled something like this, I've done metal work before. Some of these Repro. Pieces have some distortions. The dimples that mate with the # 2 cross member are not as deep as the orig. and the LEFT side is more shallow than the RIGHT. The LEFT INNER has some warp to it, so there is that.

This gonna take a lot of RINSE and REPEAT fitting, grinding, etc.

[Daniel D.]

Re: 1971 frame repairs does this look okay?

Not sure a "procedure" is given, but the data points and lots of measurements are listed in the factory service manuals. Maybe someone with computer skills greater than mine could please post up a copy. Try searching the archives as I'm sure I've seen that info on here before. Chip.

I found the measurements in this Factory Service Manual along with a blast from the past newspaper clipping.

[Monte M.]

Re: 1971 frame repairs does this look okay?

Dan,
Everything you are doing looks good. As Bill mentioned, remember to move around welding to let the metal cool.
Also, the only thing I would add is a few plug welds at the sleeves.
Remember, you not only have to keep it square, but it will have the tendency to twist as more gets welded. Measure often and take your time.
Take lots of pictures. Not just to share with us, but so you can remember all it took to do this.
Sounds like you thought this out and did the research. Also, this is a great group of guys to get advice from.
If there is any other questions, or anything else, feel free to PM me.
Keep up the good work and keep us posted.
M

[Monte M.]

Re: 1971 frame repairs does this look okay?

Tim,
Having a 63 I am sure you have seen all the pilot line pictures where the first 63 were being put together by hand. I went through the pictures but did not see any pictures of the actual frame being put together in a jig. They show just about every other part of the cars in a jig, but I guess the frame being put together was not important to whoever selected those pictures.
If by chance you have not seen the pilot line pictures of the first 63's being put together by hand, let me know and I will send them to you.
M

[John H.]

Re: 1971 frame repairs does this look okay?

Tim,
Having a 63 I am sure you have seen all the pilot line pictures where the first 63 were being put together by hand. I went through the pictures but did not see any pictures of the actual frame being put together in a jig. They show just about every other part of the cars in a jig, but I guess the frame being put together was not important to whoever selected those pictures.

Monte -

Those Pilot photos were all shot at St. Louis in the summer of '62, by GM Photographic (Richard Sudnick), to cover Chevrolet Manufacturing operations. The frame wasn't made by GM - it was made by A.O. Smith Corporation in Granite City, Illinois. I witnessed the Granite City frame operation in 1967, but I've never seen any photos of it - it was pretty medieval.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1971 frame repairs does this look okay?

I witnessed the Granite City frame operation in 1967, but I've never seen any photos of it - it was pretty medieval.

After media blasting and painting I took a few close-up photos of some of the welds my '65 frame while it was still upside down. It was easy to see where the welder would drag the rod from one weld to the next. There was also a lot more splatter then you see with modern wire machines. When I was at Carlisle a few weeks ago Vette Products had a few of their replacement frames on display. The weld quality looked much better than an OE frame.



Mike

[Bill W.]

Re: 1971 frame repairs does this look okay?

Mike . I have a friend that worked at the AOS plant in Granite City as welder . (It was about 10 miles from here ) He said they run them hot and fast . The drag marks between welds was to keep it lit so they could see what they were doing .