Hello Everyone,
I'm very glad I found your forum. I have a '73 t&c I had bought recently for 2300 bucks. Its a pretty clean car on first look. But after getting it home and really poking around under it. I found some problems I want to fix.
Two things , the subframe..... It has been fixed before. it has had the typical welding over the frame rails, but thats the lower section. the frame between the firewall and the shock is terrible. The pass is bad, the drivers side is worse.
I have had the car to a local frame weld shop. they said they could weld up the bad areas for $400. I think it will cost more. So Im saving more money for that. But what I would really like to do is replace the whole sub frame.
With a good used one. So I have 3 questions, where can I get one, will other yr subframes work ( which ones won't)
and how much?
I like this car. Im willing to do the work and I take pride in my family, job and projects i do in my life.
Welding the car frame is something I believe I have to do asap for my safety and everyone elses on the road.
The weld shop said the frame is "ok", so i use the car. But I will just feel better when its fixed right.
The other problem is the engine oil pan. It has a hole that leaks badly when u put more oil in then the "low" mark on the dip stick. I can do that. I found another pan. But in the fall I want to rebuild the engine into a bottem end torque monster. Like Diesel engine torque. Ive read about a 505 stroker engine build, with fantastic torque numbers. Has anyone built this? I want to build that. I want this car to look stock, but have a few modern up grades, to improve power, some sort of economy and comfort. plus be able to tow a battle ship up hill @ 55 in drive w the ac on. In short this car will be cool.
So, really need a subframe. The target start for the re-build is the fall, when winter starts. I have enough tools, equipment and space. Most importantly A budget, Yeah! first time ever for that!
Please let me know what you think and what frame you might have for my car.
Thanks for any an all comments to my thread. Have a great day!
I'm very glad I found your forum. I have a '73 t&c I had bought recently for 2300 bucks. Its a pretty clean car on first look. But after getting it home and really poking around under it. I found some problems I want to fix.
Two things , the subframe..... It has been fixed before. it has had the typical welding over the frame rails, but thats the lower section. the frame between the firewall and the shock is terrible. The pass is bad, the drivers side is worse.
I have had the car to a local frame weld shop. they said they could weld up the bad areas for $400. I think it will cost more. So Im saving more money for that. But what I would really like to do is replace the whole sub frame.
With a good used one. So I have 3 questions, where can I get one, will other yr subframes work ( which ones won't)
and how much?
I like this car. Im willing to do the work and I take pride in my family, job and projects i do in my life.
Welding the car frame is something I believe I have to do asap for my safety and everyone elses on the road.
The weld shop said the frame is "ok", so i use the car. But I will just feel better when its fixed right.
The other problem is the engine oil pan. It has a hole that leaks badly when u put more oil in then the "low" mark on the dip stick. I can do that. I found another pan. But in the fall I want to rebuild the engine into a bottem end torque monster. Like Diesel engine torque. Ive read about a 505 stroker engine build, with fantastic torque numbers. Has anyone built this? I want to build that. I want this car to look stock, but have a few modern up grades, to improve power, some sort of economy and comfort. plus be able to tow a battle ship up hill @ 55 in drive w the ac on. In short this car will be cool.
So, really need a subframe. The target start for the re-build is the fall, when winter starts. I have enough tools, equipment and space. Most importantly A budget, Yeah! first time ever for that!
Please let me know what you think and what frame you might have for my car.
Thanks for any an all comments to my thread. Have a great day!
