This car is starting to drive me insane. First off i think my frame is bent, but as im taking my measurements there are some conflicting numbers. O.k so i have a 71 skylark frame and im taking measurements from my 70 chassis manual. Now here is the weird part, Im getting a wheelbase measurment of 112'' however, the measurement from body mount hole #2 which is the one towards the outside of the double torque box mount location to body mount #4 which is the one before the "rear frame hump" over the axle is measuring the four door spec of 62 1/8 inches instead of the specified 50 1/8'' 2 door measurement.:blast:o No: please shoot me, but before you do, any suggestions?
You need to measure from the center of #1 to center of #4. Should be 76.25". Measure both sides and should be the same +- 1/8th ". Matt
the 71 chassis and body manuals can be found at http://boattail-riviera-by-buick.com/library/documents/documents.php
HA!!! heres where it get interesting something is screwy with the manuals!! My 70 hard copy, you know its in paper, says that the measurement diagonal should be 73'' across for the 2 dr 112'' wheelbase. Now the 71 on the website says that the same exact measurement should be 76 1/4''!!!!which is the same measurement my 70 manual says should be for a four door?? Now heres a scanned copy from a board member with a 70 manual and ive highlighted the real measurement in question.... my 70 manual says it should be 50 1/8 " from center to center and 62 1/8"" from center for the 116" four door. Now this copy says for the 112'' wheelbase 2dr that same measurement should be 62 3/16 !!! which is what mine measures:af: :moonu: :eek2: :Smarty: I DUNNO im going to pull my hair out
You found out the answer, some of the chassis service manual measurements were printed incorrectly. Duane
As long as X measurements are equal and the frame fits the body ... don't sweat it too much. If you need to straighten the frame then you will need to have the proper values. I know first hand that the '71 frame will bolt to the '70 body, as. they are the same in that regard. Matt
well thats my dilemma, i think my frame is off a 1/2'' vertically. the pass side of the frame sits that much lower than the drivers on level ground, its not level. cant find where the bend is.... thanks guys appreciate all the help:Smarty: :TU:
AS long as there are no diamonds, the 1/2" will pull down easily if in the center section and all the rails are straight. Look for minor floor jack bends on the lower rail. I'm assuming this is a hardtop car frame. Matt
Along with lots of other info - some times within the same book - for example look at GS stage 1, Riviera GS engine availability in 71/72 manuals - always a good idea to cross reference, and just they built doesn't mean the its what was written - paper mistakes were harder much more expensive to track/fix on paper than on computer - thus things like service bulletiions.
thanks matt. ive highlighted the area i think is off and the one that is off. Its off width wise and its bend is also throwing the frame off up and down. its been very hard to pinpoint it but thats where the measurements narrow it down to. ohh and yup its a hardtop.... thanks
I'm thinking that if you are a full 1/2" out in that measurement, there must be other measurements not meeting , also. You need to measure all three sections of the frame in X patterns and record each measurement. Measure from the front right core support hole to the body mount #1(inner on front two). Do the same right to left. You are looking for 60 3/8th inch. Next, measure from body mount #1 to body mount #4 right and left. Looking for 76 1/4". Next, measure from #4 to #7 body mount (rearward most position) again, in an X pattern. Here you want 82 1/8th Note: tolerances not to exceed 1/8th inch. Measurements made from center of circle Let us know what this yields. Matt
o.k my measurements on the front core support were way off but both sides measured the same, they both measured from center to center 57 7/8'' from body mount number one inner. the outside of frame rail to outside of frame rail by the core support is correct. double checked on that one..... BTW Ive done all the measurements up front that are the diagram Ive been referring to and they match up.... O.k so here is a discrepancy, on the drivers side from body mount 1, center to center with body mount number four on the pass side, is 76 5/8'' and the other way body mount 1 on pass side to body mount four on drivers is 76 1/16 of an inch which is close enough to an 76 1/8 for me.... anyway the body mount 4 to 7 diagonally of the rear frame both measured a off 81.5'' the both were the same.... heres some interesting things though, cross ways between sides up front the frame is level from body mounts 1 to 1 and 2 to 2. when you get back to 4 its off. body mount 3 is off as well.... here's whats of interest to me. on the passenger side not crossing the frame at all. so passenger side #2 to passenger side # 4 is level. However drivers side #2 to drivers side #3 is not it slopes upward toward the rear continuing from 3 to 4. Thats what leads me to believe that the bend has to be up in the drivers side corner by body mount two along the straight rail. another thing if i put a straight edge on top of the straight rail the straigh edge rocks like there is a high spot but on the pass side it does not do this.... ill try to get some pics tomorrow as im sure ive confused the daylights out of you.... thanks a lot!!!!
I get 31 11/16 on the forward portion of those seats and towards the rear of those seats its 31 13/16... sorry if im giving TMI just trying to be thorough. In case your wondering im using the body mount bushings in the frame holes and a socket inside the center of that to pinpoint exact center to get my measurements. and Im using a level where applicable...
I know I'm late to the discussion but I have experience a similar issue with one of my cars. I had a frame horn that not in the correct dimension in the z-axis. I had to put it on a high-end frame machine at a body shop to get it corrected. If that wouldn't have worked I would have gone to a surface plate at a racing chassis fabrication shop to resolve the issue. In either situation it is money and time well spent because is solves so many of my other fitment issues with the rest of the car. Not to mention the alignment and ride height mess that I was dealing with.
