Technical 1949 Pontiac Convertible Frame vs. 1951 Pontiac Sedan Frame

Hi All,

I wanted to see if anyone knew if there was a difference between a 1949 Pontiac Convertible Eight frame and a 1951 Pontiac Chieftain 4 Door Chieftain frame.

I know typically convertible frames are different in that they are reinforced with an "X" in the frame. However, I noticed that the 1951 Pontiac 4 door Chieftain also has an "X" frame.

Is there any more reinforcement that I should be concerned with? Or any differences I may run into while attempting to swap the 1949 Convertible body on to the 1951 Sedan frame? (Body mounts, length/width, etc.)

My 1951 Pontiac has a rebuilt straight eight, a rebuilt hydromatic transmission and is in good working order as far as the brakes, fuel tank, and suspension etc.

If the frames are in fact the same, I would like to remove the 49 from its frame to do all of the body work and then place it on the running 1951 Ch***is...

Thanks in advance, and Stay Motivated!

 

If the 1951 has a straight 6, the frame will be too short for you! Americain made and canadian made are diferent too!

 

Get a factory shop manual, they have frame measurements for all the different models.

 

Ok,thank you. They are both 8 cylinders. I also checked the vin #'s and they were both manufactured in the U.S. I will try to find a factory shop manual to verify the frame sizes.

Thanks again!

 

A suggestion.....
Got a Hollander 1920's -1948 Interchange book a few weeks ago.
This particular book shows many models of 1948 Buicks that use the same frame.
Although not the years you're talking about, the next series of years should show what frames will interchange for the ones you're asking about.

Maybe someone you know has that book for those years, or perhaps your local library.
Maybe a HAMBer has one that he'd share the info.
Looked, but I've not found an on-line edition that is free.
The one I got was around $57 including shipping and state tax. Worth it, if you want to be certain.

 

...I have a Hollanders Interchange book and it shows that the 49 conv. frame and the 51 4 dr chieftain frame will not interchange,...it does not say what the differences are....suggestion try a search for the 2 frames that show pictures and measurements....Miller

 

I think the convertible X is thicker then the sedans.

 

Thanks again everyone. I think I'll order a Hollanders book as well!

 

The frame under a friends 47 Olds convertible for example has a large 'I' beam section centre x-member legs whereas the sedan equivalent has conventional open 'C' channel centre x-member legs

 

Thanks mgtstumpy, I'll look into that and post once I find out....

 

MY GM shop manual lists 49-54 all US built ( 2dr ,4dr, convert , sedan delivery ) the same except the bolt hole locations for the body and they are drilled as I found them on my frame as well ( 50 2dr sedan )

 

Thanks Stimpy, are you referring to Pontiac being the same or GM in general? Is your 50 a Pontiac also?