Frame Measurements Issues

[marxcamaro]

I am installing a Art Morrison Tri-4 bar system along with there crossmember and frame rails into my '70 Camaro. I am having issues with getting level measurement points to measure from to properly locate the crossmember and frame rails. Does anyone have blueprints or know of a company that offes a body/frame dolly or jig that I could use to solve my measurement issues? Thank you in advance for any help!

[rich-allen]

Marc, GM has a chassis manual that gives almost every dimension for your car.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

you can get a frame chart from ebay....http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/FRAME-CHART-1970-1971-1972-1973-CHEVROLET-CAMARO-Z28_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6032QQihZ003QQitemZ 130131472706QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[TBART70]

like to see how you proceed with the install, did mine 3 years ago. Would have done it little differently now.

http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/5459/tmp9481jg0.th.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tmp9481jg0.jpg)
http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/2771/00001227ll.th.jpg (http://img188.imageshack.us/my.php?image=00001227ll.jpg)
http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/976/tmp95jz3.th.jpg (http://img217.imageshack.us/my.php?image=tmp95jz3.jpg)

[marxcamaro]

Thanks for the pics. How did you intstall the frame rails squarly inside the body? I am having difficulties becasue the pinch welds and other points on the car are not square. What kind of measurement instruments did you use?

[Derek69SS]

PM me your email address and I'll email you a copy of the frame charts when I get home. :)

[TBART70]

Thanks for the pics. How did you intstall the frame rails squarly inside the body? I am having difficulties becasue the pinch welds and other points on the car are not square. What kind of measurement instruments did you use?

I did this 3 years ago I'm trying to remember. I used a tape measure, make sure you have some reference points, either factory or your own. I made sure the car was dead level, did you buy a welded clip or did you get a kit? I had the clip witch made it a lot easier. I didn't use the rear most 2x4 cross member, I used a 2" x .120 wall tube, it fit better in the rear of the car. The two mistakes I made (among many on other parts of the car) were i didn't support the rear of the car enough when I cut it apart, and when I trimmed the front cross member I made it a little too wide and beat the chassis in, it didn't go in that hard but it did push out the rockers a hair, issues to be dealt with when the body gets finished. I welded plate on the inside of the rockers where the cross member fit up, the rear I cut into the rear panel for access, I put on a new one afterwards anyways, and tied it in to the inner panel. I found some reference points inside and under the car, measured off of them and made a straight line across the floor, that is where the cross member welded to the factory floor. I know this doesn't give you exact points, but I should have tried to find them like you are. The welded chassis is already square, so I made sure it was the same distance from quarter panel edge, rockers, any supports that were there, although most cars are not perfect from side to side unfortunately. I took the centerline of the chassis and the centerline of the car as a reference. For reference to height I measured to the under side of the package tray and trunk. I did have the car level so I made the chassis level front to back and side to side. Square is hard to measure, I checked wheel base side to side. I did make reference points from the old rear end axle centerline to the car, and used them when I put in the new one. I would probably go about it a little different second time around.

[marxcamaro]

I bought the kit, but I am using a 2x3 frame rails instead of their recommended 2x4 frame rails. I had to modify the crossmember because I got the wrong one and didn't want jack around sending it back. I actually squared the wheel inside the wheel well. and made my measurements from there per what Art Morrison recommends. Since I used the 2x3 frame rails i have had to make a lot of bracket modifications. Hopefully if I can get better measurements I can continue with my progress. It is hard trying to make something that was not square and level out of the factor square and level.

[Derek69SS]

I just sent the frame chart a few minutes ago, sorry for the delay.

[Silver69Camaro]

Marxcamaro,
Please give me an email if you need some specific measurements regarding where to place the brackets for the tri 4-bar.

Do you have your right height figured out? This will partially determine the height at which your crossmember will be installed. Most guys install the front crossmember to where it lies flush with the pinchweld (talking about vertical height here). Also, the FRONT side of the crossmember will be 27" from axle centerline. For best results, make the frame rails 40" wide (or wider, if you wish)

Pinchweld-to pinchweld (laterally on the car) is 49-1/2" on 2nd gen F-bodies. Double check yours, but this is about how wide I'd trim the front crossmember.