Elvet

Anyone out there with a '64 service manual mind giving me the drop dimensions off the frame spec drawing? I'm mainly interested in the heights at the body mounts.

Thanks!

waynec

14.38 to the bottom of the front frame horns, 15.40 to the 6 passenger compartment mounts, 22.29 to the inboard mount over the rear wheel kickup, 22.38 to the outboard mounts at the gas tank crossmember, 21.69 to the top surface of the rear frame crossmember.

grumpy55

Are those numbers with the body and engine installed?

JohnZ

Doesn't matter - they're reference dimensions from points on the frame to a common horizontal plane; all those dimensions are from a common surface, as if the frame was set up on a surface plate.

grumpy55

I understand that they are all from the same surface, however, they will change (equally) depending on how much weight is on the suspension.

waynec

Those numbers have nothing to do with ride height. See the shop manual for that (essentially a measuring procedure to determine how level the lower A-arms sit)

grumpy55

I must be missing something !
Are these numbers only for determining the straightness of the frame ?

waynec

grumpy55:

Yes, in a way they determine "straightness". The shop manual gives these dimensions, among others, as a way of determining that all the critical mounting surfaces (for body, suspension) are in the correct position with respect to each other, by relating the critical points to an imaginary flat surace called a "datum plane". It really isn't too important whether the frame is precisely "straight" everywhere, its only critical that these mounting points are in the exact correct position in relation to each other; the rest of the frame is only bracing that connects the mounting points. These dimensions are used by a frame shop to check/correct a damaged frame, and their machines understand the "datum plane" concept . By using an actual flat surface, those dimensions can be used to check a frame's critical mounting points.

In the suspension sections of the shop manual, procedures are given to determine if the "stance" of the car is correct ... ie, what you may think of as frame height... but variations in tire size, engine options, spring options, etc change the frame height dimension, so the suspension sections tell you how to determine if the car is sitting level (within acceptable design tolerances, using measurements to the ground from particular suspension points) rather than trying to give an exact height measurement off the ground.

grumpy55

Thank-you.