frame welds
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 493
Likes: 2
From: Dunellen New Jersey
frame welds
I'm doing a frame off on my 73 and while going over the replacement frame I noticed the the factory welds really suck.Very sloppy.Is this what all these frame look like?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Rick B.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,090
Likes: 74
From: New Carlisle IN
Yes the welds suck. I had my bracket that holds the drivers side lower control arm break off of the frame. I hear it is a very common thing. The factory only put spot welds in a few places. I had the frame shop put a solid bead down both sides and went ahead and did the same for the passanger side. Haven't broken it yet.
Dad and I are going to build a road racer in the future. First thing we are going to do is weld up all the seams on the frame and do some gusseting.
Dad and I are going to build a road racer in the future. First thing we are going to do is weld up all the seams on the frame and do some gusseting.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
My 77s frame appears to have been welded by chimpanzees, after a 3 boilermaker lunch, on friday the 13th. There is more spatter on the parts than actual weld bead, and my front suspension pickup points are bad both sides. I have long thought that GMs quality problems long predated the recent crisis.... now I'm certain. The value of hand fabrication and assembly had apparently lost its luster by this time at Chevrolet. Prices did not follow the backslide in quality however.
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Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 374
Likes: 1
From: Forsyth Illinois
While you have it out to prep...I would go ahead,and weld the seems up.They are stich welded,and pretty poor at that.I usually weld them solid on both sides,then flip them over,and do both sides on the other side.it will reall tighten the frame up.If they arn't original cars,then I add gussetts,and reinforcements.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,832
Likes: 38
From: Cedar,BC
At least you have welds that really suck.Its not uncommon to find seventies era GM frames that are missing a whole bunch of welds!
In GM's defence the majority of frames were outsourced to companies like Budd,sadly the same UAW rot was also entrenched at the suppliers that you would have found on the assembly line.
In GM's defence the majority of frames were outsourced to companies like Budd,sadly the same UAW rot was also entrenched at the suppliers that you would have found on the assembly line.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 6,362
Likes: 30
From: Oak Harbor WA
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,716
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
I'n the GM Performance Book of the early 80's it recomends that the Frame have the seams Welded the entire length. Also descibes how and where to attach a Roll Bar. I'd be real carefull Welding up a Frame though as the Weld cools it shinks and its real easy to Warp. When I intalled my TKO 600 I was going to modifiy the stock Crossmember and the first thing I did was Weld up the Seam on one side and then flip it over. When I did it looked like a Banana and it went in the scrap bin. I wouldn't Weld more than a Couple of Inchs at a time and flip it alot. And plan on starting from Scratch with the body Shims. The frame should realy be secured to a Welding Table for a job like this.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,060
Likes: 46
From: winter haven florida
St. Jude Donor '12
my 75 had missed welds and cracked welds all over it. my friend rewelded everything for me and explained the heat issue and warping also. he was welding very short sections and was moving all over the place as he was doing it. it was similar to stitch welding but he was doing about an inch or so at a time. it came out very nice with no warping.
