"Seamless Frames"

[rsavage]

Tell me about seamless frames. It is a boxed type frame. My '62 appears to have one but my '63 has the regular frame that has the C channel on the rear end. I have read that there were 3 sources for the X frames and that GM built the (boxed type) seamless. When I first saw it I thought that it was an aftermarket frame. I'd like to know more.

 

[Ishiftem]

I’m sitting next to a 62 and a 63. Both boxed and both were built at Janesville.

 

[rsavage]

My '62 has an A in the Vin so Atlanta for that one. (boxed). The '63 has an S so that was built in St. Louis.(rear section C channel type) same as my former '62.

 

[bobs409]

The boxed frame indicates your car was originally a Taxi cab. Naw, just kiddiing!

I don't know anything about the frames but put my Baltimore built 63 as having the C shaped rear rails.

 

[oldskydog]

Looki in the assembly manual. It should show the different frame part numbers and likely the notation of "optional".

 

[rsavage]

I have the numbers book so I’ll check in there

 

[boxerdog]

Looking for the meter in my taxi cab!

 

[rsavage]

Here is my taxi. Little tough for passengers to get in the back but lots of trunk room for luggage.

 

[63409]

My 63 Impala built in Tarrytown, New York has C shaped rear rails,



My 63 SS built in Janesville has a boxed frame.

 

[327]

My '62 was built in Oshawa Ontario , Canada. It has a boxed frame.

 

[63409]

My '62 was built in Oshawa Ontario , Canada. It has a boxed frame.

I’ve heard Canadian built have boxed frames.

 

[303Radar]

I’ve heard Canadian built have boxed frames.

I've heard frames from convertibles were boxed as well.

 

[rsavage]

This is from an old post I found - "from my understanding in the '60's Chevrolet used 3 different manufactures for their frames. AO Smith, Budd, and Chevrolet. The OASmith and Budd were very similar but you can tell the difference from the top side by the shape of the weld where the front bumper support is fastened. One is in the shape of a V, the other is a straight line.The Chevrolet frame as it was refered to was basically a one piece tubular frame. I don't think 'canadian' frames were made for just canadian cars."
The poster is correct as the boxed referred to as Canadian frames were used in cars assembled at various assembly plants in the US too. Maybe it was simply a case of what frames were available from which manufacturer at a given time

 

[quik9r]

Flint was boxed frames ("wrinkle frames"), LA was open channel. Baltimore I believe was box. I used to track this stuff but cant find my info currently.

 

[oldskydog]

From the 1962 Assembly Instruction Manual, SECTION 2, SHEET 2.00

3795721 FRAME ASM, ALL EXCEPT CONVERTIBLE-L.D.
3795723 OPT.
3795727 OPT.
3795720 R.D.
3795725 CONVERTIBLE

 

[fourzeronine]

This is from an old post I found - "from my understanding in the '60's Chevrolet used 3 different manufactures for their frames. AO Smith, Budd, and Chevrolet. The OASmith and Budd were very similar but you can tell the difference from the top side by the shape of the weld where the front bumper support is fastened. One is in the shape of a V, the other is a straight line.The Chevrolet frame as it was refered to was basically a one piece tubular frame. I don't think 'canadian' frames were made for just canadian cars."
The poster is correct as the boxed referred to as Canadian frames were used in cars assembled at various assembly plants in the US too. Maybe it was simply a case of what frames were available from which manufacturer at a given time

AO Smith produced the convertible frames. They are welded C-channel.
Budd produced non-convertible frames. They are welded C-channel.
Chevrolet produced non-convertible frames. They are the extruded "box" tube frames. These were used in both US and Canada, although people will refer to them as "Canadian" frames.

 

[63 dream'n]

My LA built car has a boxed frame

 

[63 dream'n]

I don't understand | 1958-1965 Full size Chevrolet

Did taxi cabs and police cars have boxed frames? I know police car 1970 Biscaynes used fully welded frames.

www.348-409.com

 

[Greg Reimer]

What would the weight difference be on an X frame between an open channel frame vs a boxed frame?