Replacing rear frame rails on a 1966

[adibartolomeo]

Anyone out there replace or repair the rear frame rails on this car??? I am trying to save this 1966! Any input appreciated, Anthony

[69W34]

Are you speaking about the body frame rails that run from the rear main frame body mounts over the top of the rear axle back to the rear shackles? Or the main frame it self ?

[adibartolomeo]

Yes I am refering o the rails that go under the trunk, the main frame rails are good.

[Schurkey]

I've been debating how/when to do that also. My Toro is so rotted, anyone with a brain would call it a parts car...but of course I've got so much into it I can't let it go. My trunk floor and the box-section reinforcements under the trunk are so bad I could push a cat through the rust holes. All that has to be cut out on my vehicle.

I'm toying with the idea of using the rear section of a '71-'78 frame including the rear axle. Advantages would be coil springs/control arms instead of stupid leaf springs; and no horizontal shock absorbers. I figure I'd weld it to the existing 3/4 frame at or near the end, and "invent" rubber bushings to support it similar to how it would have been on the '71--'78 body.

I have not checked into track width; or even the width of the newer frame section. I suppose that "anything can be welded to anything" but ideally there'd be a minimum of adapter flanges and such.

[xgecko]

Hi Shurkey,

I am reasonably certain the track width is the same up to the final 78 model. Since the front end is basically identical it stands to reason it would be the same in back.

Not sure how practical your idea is, but if it works, it sounds like an excellent approach.

I hope to design and built a bolt-in independent suspension one of these years... don't hold your breath, but it is something I will probably begin to seriously investigate late next year for my 2011-2012 winter project. If it works out it might be something I might offer as a product. My current thinking is to tie it into the existing Leaf Spring mount points - assuming I can make it work. And of course this might be much as the Caterpillar suggests - nothing more than a pipe dream. We'll see... First I have to get my '69 on the road.

[xgecko]

Looks like the track width is very close - enough to allow one to consider grafting a 71-78 rear onto a first gen car. The difference is about a quarter inch. Oddly, there appears to be about .4" difference in front with the Gen1 cars being slightly wider. Go figure. I thought they were identical but the control arm/knuckle changes probably account for the difference.