Ladder frame with flat rails and car long X-braces?

What would be the benefits and drawbacks of making a ladder frame using flat rails instead of humped rails at the wheels, and welding X-braces from wheel to wheel instead of cabin area x-braces?

Something like this

Standard 53 vette frame


And the proposed simpler frame in red


The wheel arch humps would pose no problem bolting the suspension.

But I guess that, while the frame would have an exceptional torsional and bending stiffness, it might be unsafe in a crash as (I believe) the angled or curved rail humps fold themselves in a crash, kind of crumple zones.
Adding x braces to these areas might make them even stiffer in a crash.

Comments?

 

If the suspension is going to move the axles will hit the frame when you hit a bump. HRP

 

Frame does not mean much in a wicked crash, because of how these old cars are designed with fenders and front sheetmetal that really doesn't tie it all together like a unibody type strength.

Semi modern cars that still had frames with front kicks; those kicks help absorb momentum forces, while they fold up.

PS, a ladder frame is two rails with 90 degree crossmembers, very popular on cars until 32 or so as far as production costs.

 

What are the plans for this ch***is? People would need to know the intended use before they can comment on the advantages or disadvantages.

 

Forget about crash issues. You won't crash a car you can't drive...

...because there's no room for the engine and transmission.

 

with all the drive train above or below the frame its going to look like a lifted 4x4

 

Lots of frames have been made OEM and homemade with straight rails. Works fine if the rest of the car goes with that.. As Rickybob points out, with your X member I have no idea how you would install the engine/transmission.