My project involves replacing my front suspension and steering components, upgrading to front disc brakes and getting my engine rebuilt. The torsion bars were the first obstacle and then the upper ball joints, but now I'm really being tested. While attempting to drop out the motor through the bottom, only the drivers side was loose. I double checked everything and soon realized that the passenger side was welded to the side frame.

Here's another view

Here's where the front passenger frame appears to have been repaired.

You can't catch a break can you ?

Time to get out a small grinder or cut off wheel it looks like and free it up

That's what I figured, I'm not sure whether I have to remove the engine first or if I can do it with it in place. I have room, I'm just worried about all the sparks.
Jim

Just tape some cardboard (or something similar) up around to cover stuff from sparks..

Just grinding it should be fine.

Never seen that before.

Use sheets of tin foil or cardboard to cover up anything you don't want sparks to get on.

I can loan you some tin foil...always keep plenty around to make hats out of

I am guessing the car was hit on that side?

Looks like alot of piece work welding there.

Not good.

It looks to me like the rear k-frame mounting area of the rail is crushed up (in). Pieces/patches were then welded in.


In my opinion sparks around the engine are the least of your troubles.

If the k-frame is the same one which was hit then it may be bent(twisted) as well. you may need to look into another one.

If the damage is from rust and that was someone soulution then tha k-frame is probably ok.



You may want to look into getting a complete or partial frame rail for that side. the rail can then be spliced into the good part of the existing Rail.

Odd repair, maybe a "window" cut into the apron to repair the actual rail. Take a look at the left rail & apron, and around the cowl/firewall/apron area for signs of distortion or repair. The buckle above the rear K mount looks suspicious to me too, as does the lack of undercoating, but I don't know '71-up B bodies that well. Welding the K to the rail indicates the mounting holes may be damaged, or the K was used to pull the rail into position and the shop neglected to finish up, but that's not the proper way to pull & square. Time to check & measure the structure. Are you rebuilding the suspension because of weird handling, or because it's worn?

Just pull the engin from the top then grind the welds for the K-frame.

It is probably not as bad as it looks, otherwise the K frame wouldn't have bolted in well. That's not to say the K frame was ever taken out, however.........so after it is all out, take a bunch of cross measurements underneath. If they are off it can be repaired, any good frame man could do it. It looks like a nice car, don't let someone elses past scare you!

yeah,what 4Bbodies said-get on a level surface and take some measurements-plumbob frame points to floor,mark same[chalk]and measure every which way-stretching a string will also let you know if you have a serious frame problem-or pay a body shop that you trust.use a dremel with a cut off wheel and hang wet/damp rags around your spark area to grind those welds-work slow and steady so the wheels [you'll need 9 or 12/ 3 to a pack]won't bust

Well, I know the car was hit at some point in the '70's, it also has a different door and the jamb has had some work done to it. The K frame is shot anyway, I'm getting it replaced. As far as the frame rail goes, are they available, or do I need to get one from another car? I wasn't sure I could replace that section, if I could, that would be my choice to get it back to as normal as possible. If you missed my earlier post about the K frame, here's another photo of it's condition. The more I find out about this car, the list of "issues" is already a mile long, I'm surprised I've been safe in it so far.
Jim

You should be able to get that with the motor in, but, if there is any sign of a "spring" in the K-frame when you unbolt it, I'd get the car to a frame machine with the K-frame in it, (measure the K-frame you remove first, as it may be bent). If you need one, there may be a couple available in this area. Good luck.

"IF YOU'RE UNDER CONTROL, YOU AIN'T GOING FAST ENOUGH."

I know I can get a different K frame, I'm asking about the right front frame rail.
Jim