ok this is on a back half car... sorry... i know this is the wrong forum for that type of car but you guys have helped me before on my other project (55 strait axle gasser) anyways on to the question i'm back-halfing my 57 chevy, i would like to keep the body on poly bushings but my friend says its better/easier to mount it solid... i dont want to transmit flex through the body and destroy the body work... but if i were to mount it solid i would weld struts out from the frame to the rockers and weld in a whole new floor firewall to tailpan after the cage work is done, that also helps me out with my 55 project that needs a floor, cause i could reuse the oem floor in that, its pretty solid compared to the 55's... and i could get the 57 a little channeled while i'm at it?? any thoughts???
I back-halved my 55 back in 1988 with the body still on the car, and did the whole job with the car on jack stands. I still have the car, and have never had any problems associated with the job, so I guess it's stood the test of time. My car is a street-driven car though...I've never taken it to the strip, but I have pounded on it a little. Here's how I did it on a lo-buck budget: After situating the car flat and level on jack stands, I cut the frame in half right ahead of the front hangers for the rear springs. I dragged the cut off frame rails out and sand blasted 'em, then cut them loose from the rear cross member. I cut the body mounts off the frame rails, and, using 2" square tubing for cross members, welded the cut off rails back together, creating a rear frame section that was 14" narrower than stock. I then put the rails back up into place, bolted the body mounts to the body, but swapped them left to right and right to left, and tack welded them to the OUTSIDE of the frame rails instead of to the inside, where they had been before. I re-used the rear leaf springs, leaving the spring hangers in the factory locations. I welded the mounts securely, and joined the rear rails to the rest of the frame using 1/4" plate and rectangular tubing to make up for the offset. With the frame rails narrowed 14", all that was left was to install a 9" Ford rear end narrowed to 52", and install wheel tubs and a new trunk floor. I even reused the stock rubber body mount pads...I was really trying to do this on a low budget. I'll attach a few pictures to show how I re-joined the narrowed rear frame rails to the rest of the frame, etc. Good luck with your project, and if you want to talk about details, feel free to give me a call. Just don't wake me up early (before 9 A.M.)...I'm an old retired guy these days, and I don't do early mornings. Craig
thanks guys i have the frame narrowed with a 4 link setup and 9" ford just the tinwork i'm undecided about
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