Replacing a '79 rear frame rail

[91chevywt]

So, aparently a previous owner of my car decided that instead of actually repairing the frame of this 79 with metal they thought they would test the "structural integrity" of bondo. Needless to say, a ball peen hammer and screwdriver revealed what my frame rail actually looked like. Heres some pictures. I'll be repairing this in the next couple days.
Before:
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/camaro9.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/camaro10.jpg
After:
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/camaro17.jpg

I'd like to meet the person that did this and punch their momma in the mouth
:axe:

[BonzoHansen]

Awesome!

[91chevywt]

Awesome!

Funny, thats exactly what I said when I saw it lol

[BonzoHansen]

You have donor rails already? That looks like a crapola job to do

[chrisfrom nj]

good luck you have alot of work to do

[91chevywt]

I have someone nearby who offered me one for $100 that he pulled off a car a while ago. In pictures it looked pretty good

[BonzoHansen]

Good deal. I expect progress pics or you'lll be banned. :lol:

[NJSPEEDER]

I think WildBillyT replaced the rails on his first gen, he may have some advice for you. Or ask HardcoreZ28, Paul is the owner of our sponsor, RPM Resto and Custom, he shoudl be able to offer you some advice.

Good luck with it.

-Tim

[WildBillyT]

I think WildBillyT replaced the rails on his first gen, he may have some advice for you. Or ask HardcoreZ28, Paul is the owner of our sponsor, RPM Resto and Custom, he shoudl be able to offer you some advice.

Good luck with it.

-Tim

I did full rails on my '69, and I replaced that exact section on a '78Z that I sold to Wayne (rscamaro73). It's really not that bad a job.

If you have any q's, ask away. :mrgreen:

[91chevywt]

I do have one question actually, when you replaced, did you actually un-attatch the frame rail from the floor board, or did you cut out the floor board and weld that in, then weld the frame?

[NJSPEEDER]

Whenever you are replacing any panel, you want to leave as many of the surrounding panels in place as possible and brace around anything that you absolutely have to remove.

Just take out whatever portion of the rail needs to be replaced and leave the floor in place.

-Tim

[WildBillyT]

I do have one question actually, when you replaced, did you actually un-attatch the frame rail from the floor board, or did you cut out the floor board and weld that in, then weld the frame?

The under-rear-seat pan was shot too, so I had no choice really. I cut that and the frame out at the same time, then welded the new rail piece in, and then put the new rear seat pan over it and formed it down onto the rail.

[PolarBear]

I found (now I forgot who makes it) new rear frame rails from one of the sponsers on either NastyZ or Pro-touring for $100. Pretty sure they were made from rectangular tubing, said for 2nd gens.
Ill look again and try to find the sponser that sold them

**EDIT**
May have been CE
LINK (http://www.competitionengineering.com/catalog/CategoryDisplay.asp?CatCode=11005)

[WildBillyT]

I found (now I forgot who makes it) new rear frame rails from one of the sponsers on either NastyZ or Pro-touring for $100. Pretty sure they were made from rectangular tubing, said for 2nd gens.
Ill look again and try to find the sponser that sold them

**EDIT**
May have been CE
LINK (http://www.competitionengineering.com/catalog/CategoryDisplay.asp?CatCode=11005)

James,

Things may have changed since I was in the market for 2nd gen rails but from what I remember the CE ones require moving the springs inboard as they are for a 'po boy back half setup. The replacement rails in NPD, the Paddock, and other suppliers are all the upper half (I never could figure out why THAT was the section they were repopping) and the only way to fix this is with a donor car or some 1/8 steel.

[PolarBear]

James,

Things may have changed since I was in the market for 2nd gen rails but from what I remember the CE ones require moving the springs inboard as they are for a 'po boy back half setup. The replacement rails in NPD, the Paddock, and other suppliers are all the upper half (I never could figure out why THAT was the section they were repopping) and the only way to fix this is with a donor car or some 1/8 steel.

Good to know. Ill look around and see if it was a different site that had frame rails too. I was looking at another part completely unrelated and found them.

[91chevywt]

Well, I've got my rail, and I have been cleaning it up. I had to push my car out for the next couple weeks because in my spare time I am going to be working on finishing a basement, and the person who owns the garage I'm working in needs the lift for a little while. I did work on cleaning off the undercoating so I can get to the spot welds easy. It's hard to see all the spot welds when they are covered with undercoating

[91chevywt]

So, I'm getting started on this. I'm doing more of a patch than a replacement. The portion of the rail towards the trunk is very solid, so I will be repairing the lower portion. I have the part I'm doing stripped to bare metal, and tomorrow I'm going to be separating the donor frame from the floor sheet metal that came with it.

[91chevywt]

So heres some pictures of my progress so far.
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/DSCF4522Resized.jpg
Section I need cleaned up

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/DSCF4523Resized.jpg
Section removed

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/DSCF4524Resized.jpg
Upper frame rail

[twin99]

now's a good time to do the DSE mod

[91chevywt]

now's a good time to do the DSE mod

whats the DSE mod?

[PolarBear]

I think it is putting u chennel in the floor to connect the subframe to the rear frame rails

[BonzoHansen]

I think it is putting u chennel in the floor to connect the subframe to the rear frame rails

Something like this?
http://www.mass-pc.com/camaro/subframe1.jpg
http://www.mass-pc.com/camaro/subframe2.jpg
http://www.mass-pc.com/camaro/subframe3.jpg
http://www.mass-pc.com/camaro/subframe4.jpg

[BonzoHansen]

whats the DSE mod?

http://www.detroitspeed.com/productpages/product_page_7081cf.htm

pick one.

[PolarBear]

Link didnt work

DSE SFC's (http://www.detroitspeed.com/productpages/indproduct/bodyprod/2nd_sub_con_prod.htm)

I intend to do soemthing similar but I wanted to bolt to the rear of the sub frame as I did not want to weld it permanatly to the car. I was going to wrap around the frame more and bolt in like most of the other ones out there.

[91chevywt]

I have subframe connectors already. Theyre not the best, but they do something. Not as nice as the Detroit Speed and Engineering ones. Mine are welded in, so they are staying.

[91chevywt]

So, I've got the piece welded in pretty good. Looks like it'll be pretty solid. I drilled some holes around the area where spot welds used to be. I did 1/2 inch holes on the inside, since I wouldn't be able to run a bead on the edge of the rail, due to the things in the way. I drilled 1/4 inch holes on the other side, and ran a few beads down the side of the rail. Also, I drilled 3/8 inch holes in the side of the rail itself, to weld to the metal that is still existing. I had help massaging the metal with a torch and hammer so that everything was tight against the existing metal. I also ran a bead at the top of the rail where it met with the good metal. After that I ground everything even. All that is really left is to paint, seal, and maybe put some undercoating up there. Sorry for the crappy cell phone pictures, its all I had today. My camera is broke, I've been borrowing.
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/frame.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/frame2.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/frame3.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/frame4.jpg

[91chevywt]

http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/framedone1.jpg
http://i293.photobucket.com/albums/mm43/91chevywt/framedone2.jpg

[rscamaro73]

Awesome job. You 'da man' :mrgreen:

[91chevywt]

Awesome job. You 'da man' :mrgreen:

Thanks, and thanks for the rail!