Frame swapped

[Dan72]

Hi guys!!

so, question: I had my chassis swapped out because it was in bad shape. I got the car back and noticed these braces weren’t back on the car, I’m assuming because the floors were to rotted. Will this affect the structure of the car? I have them they are in the trunk. Am I still able to drive it like this? The body will be taken back off by a restoration shop, it will be sandblasted and put on a rotisserie some time in the spring, and have the panels replaced for about 10k. Thanks 

[Dan72]

[Dan72]

[Whons]

If it was me,I would definitely have them welded back in. they are put in for more strength. Your going to be making a full frame off restoration anyways. My opinion.

[willie]

Hey Dan, my $.02 is i would not drive it on the road or highway as i would think they are there to keep the body rigid and square. If your just moving it from the garage to the trailer to get her to the body shop, i think that would be ok. But not to drive on the street! 

[714024SPEED]

That is definitely a structural brace for the support of the quarter panel so it don't start to lean in over time. They probably took them out to get to the nut for the body mount.

[Dtret]

That’s pretty messed up. If all that is missing, what else is possibly screwed up. If it needs all that repair, did you give a thought to just finding a clean replacement shell? You can overpay for a nice body and still be under your 10 grand in body work. 

[Dan72]

44 minutes ago, Dtret said:

That’s pretty messed up. If all that is missing, what else is possibly screwed up. If it needs all that repair, did you give a thought to just finding a clean replacement shell? You can overpay for a nice body and still be under your 10 grand in body work. 

I thought about that, and also was looking. But I haven’t seen anything that’s been decent enough at a fair price under 10. They make the whole floor replacement for about 600, it’s the labor that gets pricey 

[Scott S.]

Better safe than sorry, especially if you're going to do all that work anyways. 

[71SSclone]

Those pieces are not reproduced. Ask me how I know. lol.  I would definitely make sure they are installed. 

John

[Dan72]

lol. Had a bad experience huh? Yea I figured they weren’t reproduced, the good thing is that I have them. They needed to come off anyway so the could get to the frame bolts underneath. So what I’ve been told. I don’t remember on my 71 Monte, having to do that 

[Dtret]

When the frame bolts get rusted and you try and get them out they either break or they spin in the body. The nut for the bolt is encased in a cage that is welded in the body. When the caged nut breaks you have to cut it from the top. You have to cut that piece to get to the nut. All the Monte’s had them. On your 71 the bolts came out like they were meant to. Rust sux. 

[71SSclone]

On 12/13/2024 at 4:01 PM, Dan72 said:

lol. Had a bad experience huh? Yea I figured they weren’t reproduced, the good thing is that I have them. They needed to come off anyway so the could get to the frame bolts underneath. So what I’ve been told. I don’t remember on my 71 Monte, having to do that 

They removed them to replace the floor pan underneath the back seat. While they were out and laying on the floor, they guy who cleans the bodyshop threw 1 side out, thinking it was scrap. They ended up fabricating the brace from scratch.

[420ponies]

Your probably going to need some measurements side to side on a good Monte , so you can get it squared up. When those pieces come out the side pops out quite a bit.I don't know if our assembly manual has those measurements. I know when I did the floor under the seats , we had to use a strap/ come along, to get it back into shape.

[Whons]

Looking back at the pictures I probably wouldn't even have tried to restore something that rusted out. All the cars that I had were all cosmetically sound. I'm not a body and paint guy. Strictly a mechanical guy.

[Scott S.]

I've got to agree with Wayne.

Body and paint is something best left to a professional.

After I had the paint stripped off of Montelishi, the difference was obvious.  

[Whons]

I've always bought old cars that were rust free or like on my 67 impala it had new rear quarter panels welded in, but it was nice and straight. Floor boards were all solid. My 71 monte never had any rust holes in the body.