I've posted about my frame problems in another post and now I need an expert, or at least your opinion on the situation I have found myself in. I need the front crossmember for my '37 Special four door. I found a person close by who is hot rodding a 1940 Buick Super business coupe and is cutting out the front stub of the frame. Along with the stub comes the complete suspension with brakes, four good www tires, engine and transmission for a really decent price. The problem is the person sent me picture of the uncut frame and front crossmember doesn't look like the one in my '37. My question for the ch***is guys is, can I use this crossmember between the frame rails of my '37? If not can I stub the first 2 feet of the '40's frame onto my '37's frame? Are the widths different? How about suspension parts? Is the '40's frame wider? The picture kind of looks like it is but I think it's just the way it was shot. The front crossmember diffinately looks like it sits lower. '37 frame '40 frame I was told by a couple of people that they thought the frames were the same, other than length, for Buicks, Olds and Pontiac's. This frame is obviously different. I would like to get these parts and use them for my '37. I'm not building a show car, just a nice stock cruiser so exact parts don't bother me as long as they work. I need to know ASAP before this deal slips away.
Thgey are similar but not the same. If the rail width is teh same I see no problems with stubbing it in. BUt at this point if you're not gonna have an original frame why not something more modern?
The reason I'm not going with something modern is basically cost. I am trying to build a nice stock car on a budget. I don't want a car that moves and handles like a Corvette, well I would like it but don't need it. I can get all of the above mentioned parts for a lot less than the price of a new, modern front clip. I was just hoping to unrivet the rusted part and rivet in a new piece, that seemed like the easiest way to go.
That's my question, are the '40's frame rails same width. I would like to know before I seal the deal. I talked to the seller for the first time this morning. The car hasn't been cut yet but it's about 1½ hour drive to where it's at and I don't have time to look at it right now. It's also about an hour away from the seller, at a restoration shop, I doubt he'll want to take the drive just to measure. I'll ask him for the shop's number, maybe I can talk to someone there.
I would say if you can get them to pull a tape inside to inside and outside to outside you should be able to tell I would be more worried about outside to outside.
If they can't measure it for you (or don't want to) I've got a '47 frame that I can measure for you, I think it's the same as the '40 frame you are showing. Let me know. I'm not home right now, but will be later today.
Rob, Thanks, that would really be helpful. I called the seller but had to leave a message so hopefully he'll get back to me soon. If you get the measurement before I hear back from the seller I'd really appreciate it.
Ok, really hard to measure. Center to center on shock tower is 26 7/8, outise frame is 37 inches at widest point
I love the HAMB! give me a call at the shop 847-746-7637 We are cutting the 40 Buick that you are talking about and I will be more than happy to supply any measurements that you may need. Thanks, Donny
Hi, I have a 37 pontiac 8 series and the frame looks to be the same as yours, minus the holes, send me your email and i will send you pictures, mine is going to be streetrodded and im not going to use the front suspension. If you could use it you could have it. Archie archie@calltheautoshop.com
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