Re: BJ-7 Frame Reinforcement- Would appreciate adv
Thank you all for your responses.
The outriggers, side rails, sills, and floor panels and foot wells were replaced, by me, quite some years ago. The frame is without rust and in good shape. the engine, transmission, rear end and all body panels with the exception of the doors have been painted and are on the car.
I think that what might have happened was that when I cut the old outriggers, sills and frame rails away I neglected to measure carefully when welding in the new ones, and, without their support to lock the main frame in place the frame sagged.
Unfortunately I had no previous experience with this type of work, took an auto body class at the local college, and just tore into it without really understanding all the issues involved. Everything seemed to work out although when I first trial fitted the doors, years later, there was a gap problem and I had to do some modification to the doors to eliminate the problem, without considering that a more comprehensive solution was necessary. Everything otherwise seemed to fit until I installed the doors and then attached the door top chrome and discovered it was longer than the opening and 1/2" below the top of the chrome end cap on the rear wing front.At first I considered cutting down the trim piece and re-chroming it but also the front wing window frame hits the windshield frame when the doors close so I won't get off so easily.
Upon further thought I too realized that just jacking up the frame won't work as the frame is locked in position by the side rails and sills. My latest idea is to cut through the sills and side rails and then jack up the center of the frame, open the gap and re-weld the sections back together. I can see no other possibility to open up that gap at the top.
As is usual with much I do, my enthusiasm and overconfidence got the best of my good sense. If all I wanted out of this car was a perpetual sculptural project I suppose that's what I seem to have accomplished.
Steve,
Re. the suggestion
"If you want to strengthen in any way, the best method is to get a 1/8 inch plate inside the frame rails on the veritcal plane and plug weld it to the old frame once you have it twisted to the right shape. This would need to go al the way between the outriggers to do any good. All this must be done with the engine, trans and rear end in place."
I'm not sure I understand. Do you mean weld it to the outer frame rails or to the main frame members. Please discribe more thoroughly what you suggest.
Thank you all for the assistance.
Robert