'67 frame detailing

[Keith N.]

I'm trying to guestimate roughly how many man hours it would take to de-rust, and detail a '67 frame (without removing the body), assuming surface rust only and excluding the front and rear suspension. Just the frame. Any ideas?

[Tom D.]

$10,000 to do right... *NM*

[Rob A.]

Re: '67 frame detailing

Kieth...

I don't think anyone keeps track of the actual hours(unless of course you're a shop and billing a customer), but about 3 months, working a couple hours a day to do a nice job and not get tired of it. I began this very type of restoration on my '67. It was very time consuming. About half way through I decided to take the body off. Guess I'm saying, be absolutely sure you won't change your mind half way through. You can imagine how many hours, as it turned, I wound up wasting before deciding to take the body off. It's easy to start out with one intention and then say, well I'll just take this or that off, and we all know where that leads.

[Jack H.]

Plus...

If there's visible rust on the frame, one should question the current condition of the brake and fuel lines... The BW to gain access to them for R&R is by pulling the body.

Yes, the job can be done frame-on, but echoing Rob's observation (half way through the job he decided to pull the body) things go faster when you've got full access/room to work.

[Dick W.]

Re: Plus...

Most definitely consider replacing the brake lines. I have lifted the body on several cars and when I started to remove the brake lines, they broke, rusted from the inside.

[Stephen L.]

Re: '67 frame detailing

Pull the body.... You can leave almost everything in the body. Just need to disconnect the wiring and mechanical items that inter-twine with the body. Now you have total access to the frame for cleaning and repair. Replace the brake/fuel lines for sure... not expensive and good insurance against future failure. Set the body on a dolly (I made mine of wood for about $40) and push it aside.

[Mike G.]

If it's a roadster....warning

Don't pull a roadster body off without the doors, unless you run some reinforcement across the door opening to prevent over-flexing.

[Michael G.]

Re: '67 frame detailing

Could you guys please tell me the preferred method of chassis prep with body on. I have light rust and do not have the facilities or resources for a body off blasting. Want to do a proper job as to be that much further along once the body-off can take place. I understand the first recommendation will be to wait until then, but I'm into a rear suspension rebuild and find myself able to attack large exposed areas at this time. Also looking for the proper chassis black. Any suggestions? Thanks,

Mike