Help!, need advice with frame rust holes???

[1967lemans]

I am looking to purchase a 1967 lemans convertable.Behind the front wheels on the frame are rust holes, 2 or 3 of them about the size of a half dollar.How serious is this??? Should I even bother to purchase the car or is it just not worth it?? I don't want to have to do a full frame off restoration,can this be repaired,welded in any way?? I appreciate your time and advice..........you could be saving me alot of money!!! Thanks again!!

Originally Posted by 1967lemans

I am looking to purchase a 1967 lemans convertable.Behind the front wheels on the frame are rust holes, 2 or 3 of them about the size of a half dollar.How serious is this??? Should I even bother to purchase the car or is it just not worth it?? I don't want to have to do a full frame off restoration,can this be repaired,welded in any way?? I appreciate your time and advice..........you could be saving me alot of money!!! Thanks again!!

Your looking at alot of work, i'm allmost sure that those holes are on the mount pads to the body. I would take it to a place that dose frame welding and see what they say, it will never pass a state inspection.

It's not easy to change out a frame, but if you can't have it fixed thats what your looking at. If the car is in great shape it may be worth it if you have the money and or place to do it.

I guess if you have never did any major work on a car, don't buy it, if you would like a chance to dip into a project then go get it. but without a few grand and a place to do a frame switch it's not worth it to you.

You can allways have it checked by a pro. You allways see cars of those years rust in that place, and it seems they allways snap at those places when put on a wrecker.

Good luck, I hope this helps.

[MagicRat]

Good advice^^

I have repaired several rusty frames. The problem is that often a frame like yours is thin and weak elsewhere, even if it has not gone into holes.
Such frames are usually very difficult and expensive to repair.

The key word here is 'often' but not always. I have come across several frames where a section of frame a couple of feet long has gone to holes, yet the rest is fine. Frames like these can be repaired by a skilled fabricator, often for less than $1000, and without taking the car apart.

A thorough assesment is required.

BTW convertible frames are stronger than hard top frames, (They are fully boxed-in, and not a C-section) but they need the extra strength because the car is missing the strength of the roof. If you were to contemplate swapping frames, you would need a convertible frame, (hard to find!!) or box-in a hard top frame. (This requires extensive welding and fabrication. )

[MrPbody]

Magicrat is right. The '64-'67 A-body frames will fit (Chevelle, Skylark, Cutlass, LeMans). They ARE gtting scarce... Some minor adaption may be required to be sure all the appropriate brackets and mounting points are the same.

Jim

You can go and get an After Market Frame, I know Morsen A&M make frames that bolt right up, and options if you want like rack and pin, struts, and so on.

Is it worth it tho? You could buy the car and part it out?

Good luck,