ive read many posts about replacing the frame rails and floors but there is one question i havent found the answer to yet....

im about to be replacing both the rails and floor pans and i am needing to know if i have to put in any kind of reinforcing before i cut the old ones out. im just replacing from the firewall back..just didnt want to cut them out and find out later down the road that the whole car is no longer level and square and the doors wont go back on..

sorry if its a dumb question. just want to make sure.

With the engine and tranny and front suspension out the car becomes VERY light. My car stayed straight and showed no signs of deformation. (diagonal measurements) Just be sure to support the front end evenly. Use weldable primer for your plug welds. Enjoy

Jim

take measurements before you cut.

put transmission cross member in when welding in new pans

Bad Dog has frame rails that go over the existing rails. No removal just weld them in place.

I went the Bad Dog frame rails on my 280 and they worked very well.

yes reinforce the body i have done this befor at the body shop i have worked at if you wanna make sure that its stright when it is done use cross braceing for it. but the rail replacement that they offer will save you time and money (plus you dont have to weld on then take off) . if you dont brace it you might end up with a couple of diffrent problems like sag(car will look like a shrimp woth close mesurements). If you have some body shop buddys that have a messureing system see if you can get a data sheet from them so when you do mesure your with the factory specs.im not sure where you can find the mesurement sheet online. i used to use a volicty laser mesureing device to do my work(at the shop those things cost some change) they will how ever be able to print a sheet of the mesurements befor and after. but this is all IMO. but like blue said that should be enugh to do the job.

PFC Silvey

Edited March 28, 201114 yr by silvey19k

take measurements before you cut.

put transmission cross member in when welding in new pans

Agreed and in addition only replace one side at a time, that is to say DON'T cut out both floors and then put in the new ones. ONLY do one side at a time that way the risk of tunnel movement is minimized