The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The HiPo Shop making a frame

I am toying with the idea of making a new frame for my 62 burb I figure by the time I have finished cuting and welding the old frame to get what I want I may as well just start from scratch.
Has any one done this and can someone help and send me in the right direction? I want to use early 80s front suspension with disc brakes, my power train is 94 buick roadmaster lt1/4l60 trans and rear end, cnotch and bags all the way around, 4link for the rear

Are you a good welder and fabricator?

The same basic IFS was used '63 to '87 and starting in '73 they are all leaf sprung in the rear.

I wonder if you couldn't make a wheelbase adjustment installing the four-link and more easily adapt the entire later frame than scratch build one for so similar a vehicle.

I guess I don't see a compelling reason to scratch build in your description. Is there something more to your plans that you aren't telling us?

I have some experience in chassis building. First thing I would do is go to your local book store or amazon.com and pickup a book or two on the subject. Then decide if you have the tools/equipment/ability to see the project through.

You don't necessarily need a frame jig. I have built one on a heavy duty oak bench before I built my own jig out of 4x4 heavy wall tubing.
Some photos here.

Good luck should you decide to continue.

I have exelent fab skills the work doesn't scare me. If I am going to go through work to switch every thing around ie new front end and four link in the rear I am thinking I may as well make new frame rails at the same time and end up with a nice clean boxed frame.

thanks for the pics ghostrider you have made my decision easy I am going to custom fab a frame.
There is nothing nicer than a clean frame even though most wont see it to know its under there is reward enough.

Ghostrider is correct, there's a few excellent books on building chassis and frames. Without trying to adverise I got a great book from Amazon called How to build Hot Rod Chassis and is an excellent book on frame building from the ground up. Regretfully though most of the frame parts are prefabricated so to find parts for the burb might be difficult and you might have to start from scratch.Big thing in welding frames is safety and good welds. Bob T

This is also a decent book I've browsed through:

Chassis Engineering: Chassis Design, Building and Tuning for High Performance Handling by Herb Adams

thanks for all the info looks like I am going shopping to the book store this weekend
Thanks again and keep the tips and pics comming
Burbnburp

Gostrider, that's some good looking welding you've done.