[Axeman]

My father doesn't think my 64 is "classic" enough. He likes the 1st gen cars. He sent me a picture of a 59 frame off restore and I realized it was built on an "X" frame. Never had any experience with one. So when I quizzed him about it he sent me this killer link:

http://www.curbsideclassic.com/auto...story-an-x-ray-look-at-gms-x-frame-1957-1970/

 

[leogexx]

Great link , interesting reading , I look forward to working on my 59 this summer

 

[Harleydude]

So is your father defending the X frame? There was'nt a lot of good things said about that frame. I liked the shot of the two cars colliding. I don't think I'd like to be in either. Thanks for that link to that web site, I think I'll be spending some time there.

 

[Axeman]

Actually, I'm not sure what his view point is. I need to get him online here. I simply found the info interesting!

 

[Axeman]

I was on guard duty one night during some training exercise and witnessed a station wagon flip end - o and then roll (took me 30 minutes to convince some Lance Corpral that this wasn't part of our training). 6 folks passed. When day light came, I actually got down to see the wagon. The thing was twisted (like you would tear a tootsie roll apart!) All of the sheet metal was actually wraped around that "X" joint in the frame.

 

[AndyYankee17]

Looks weaker, IMO, than a normal squared frame. That one joint taking all the stress?

 

[gilby]

..had a 63 impala 4 door auto,I swap it out to a 4 speed and the read upper control arm littery broke from the frame,if your going to restore any 'X" frame body,I suggest reinforceing that part of the frame...

:beer:

 

[BillyJack]

Interesting.
Thanks for the link. It not only explains the whole GM frame picture, but brings back memories.
Back in college I had a '64 SS Impala with a 327/ 300hp and Muncie. Every now and then I would tear out the driveshaft center support bushing from the mount. It must have been defective frame, as it couldn't have been those 4000 rpm holeshots!oke:
I got to be pretty good at pulling the driveshafts at the side of the road. Thank goodness the tires we had 40 years ago were so crappy!
Now they have super-strong center supports, designed for the lowrider crowd.
Thanks again for the link

Bill

 

[gilby]

Interesting.
Thanks for the link. It not only explains the whole GM frame picture, but brings back memories.
Back in college I had a '64 SS Impala with a 327/ 300hp and Muncie. Every now and then I would tear out the driveshaft center support bushing from the mount. It must have been defective frame, as it couldn't have been those 4000 rpm holeshots!oke:
I got to be pretty good at pulling the driveshafts at the side of the road. Thank goodness the tires we had 40 years ago were so crappy!
Now they have super-strong center supports, designed for the lowrider crowd.
Thanks again for the link

Bill

..exactly..:beer::beer:

 

[Mr. Fin]

Gilby,

That is an old racer trick for the 58-64 Chevy's. They all came with one rear upper control arm and two lowers. Everyone welded on an extra upper arm so that they wouldn't rip the axle out from under the car when they hit the gas. I have had to fix the damage it can do. Lots of hammering and plenty of replacement sheet metal. Luckily it is all under the rear seat and noone ever sees it. SHH!

 

[LOCKJAW]

Billy Jack, my 63 Impala SS convertible also ate a few center supports and rear end "pumkins" from driving it to the track and racing it. I spent way too much time underneath that car in the middle of the night. Wasn't 64 the last year for the X ?

 

[Maddening]

I had a '64 Impala with a pretty well built 327 and an M22 4 speed, I became very quick at changing the rear driveshaft/frame bushing and all the control arm bushings. They just can't handle the hard launches. :nanawrench: Also my car's body was cracking right behind the rear windows on both sides, another common xframe problem. There are kits now to add ladder frame outers to the X's but I don't think there was back in the early 90's when I had mine.

 

[steelybill]

The old Fords in the 30s and 40s had an X frame in the center, but had side frames also, so they were quite stiff & tough. Problem was, the frame only had room for the Ford 3-speed transmission, so some "alterations" were required to use a different transmission, and even more-so to use an automatic.