Sunbird frame crumbling on cam...

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Sunbird frame crumbling on cam...

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Mon Jul 18, 2016 9:55 pm

Here I made a video. I'll be be posting the same thing on the FB groups... Here' why I've made the decision to dismantle this Sunbird for it's usable parts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdYlOvz ... e=youtu.be

It's a bummer because this one was really dependable.
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
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Re: Sunbird frame crumbling on cam...

Postby BillB1210 » Tue Jul 19, 2016 6:33 am

Where was the jacking point?
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Re: Sunbird frame crumbling on cam...

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Tue Jul 19, 2016 7:41 am

It was positioned a bit farther inward than I would normally lift the car, but it shouldn't cave in like it did. Only holding a 4cyl. Part of the jack was on a good lifting point
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
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Re: Sunbird frame crumbling on cam...

Postby dindin » Tue Jul 19, 2016 9:17 am

Looks like your crunching metal behind the fender, I think any h-body with rust or not would do that.

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Re: Sunbird frame crumbling on cam...

Postby classic_cruiser » Tue Jul 19, 2016 1:52 pm

Marco, which sunbird is that? The formula or the coupe?

I've always had reservations about using hydraulic jacks on the h-body, I don't think the underbody is designed to be picked up at the points we associate with more modern cars. About the only place I'll put a hydraulic jack is under the a-arms or under the differential.
1980 Pontiac Sunbird, 2.5L Notchback Coupe
1979 Pontiac Sunbird with transplanted Monza 305, notchback coupe
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Re: Sunbird frame crumbling on cam...

Postby CaptainPainn » Tue Jul 19, 2016 6:25 pm

My Skyhawk also has bad rust in that area, as I showed in the stalled build thread a while back. In order to fix it involves cutting out half the outside rocker, the inside rocker, and the floor to get to it. And taking the engine/transmission out to get at it from inside. Maybe cutting into the lower unibody. Any rust is fixable, sure. But I estimate 200+ hours to do so. What it comes down to is if the car is worth doing the work to, and if you're up to doing it. It's not necessarily hard or expensive to fix. Just very time consuming, dirty, and tedious.
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Re: Sunbird frame crumbling on cam...

Postby Monza Harry » Tue Jul 19, 2016 10:45 pm

I agree with The "Captain" but there is another approach, now this one is a little extreme it involves a tubing bender, and notcher and a large @$$ :censored: pile of seamless tubing and an even bigger pile of $$$$$$$$$$$$ Money. Can you say "ProStreet"? This may well be the only feasible way to save the car and get anything out of it , eventually. Harry
I'm not a hoarder I'm a preservationist 78 Monza Spyder (~Soon(ish +/- I guess) To Be 2+2 with Spoilers)
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Re: Sunbird frame crumbling on cam...

Postby marco_1978_spyder » Tue Jul 19, 2016 11:51 pm

CaptainPainn wrote:My Skyhawk also has bad rust in that area, as I showed in the stalled build thread a while back. In order to fix it involves cutting out half the outside rocker, the inside rocker, and the floor to get to it. And taking the engine/transmission out to get at it from inside. Maybe cutting into the lower unibody. Any rust is fixable, sure. But I estimate 200+ hours to do so. What it comes down to is if the car is worth doing the work to, and if you're up to doing it. It's not necessarily hard or expensive to fix. Just very time consuming, dirty, and tedious.


Ya. It's the brown notchback... Was a base model. so not much to it, and what is there is pretty worn or faded. + 2 other worthwhile H bodies. if someone wants it as a roller, for $100 I'd consider that. Otherwise... I just need to get the doors off and strip it of re-useable items. Cost and work involved would be more than just finding a replacement. The thought of the enjoyment I'll get out of shop space is now outweighing the fun of holding onto it for nothing. i think I'm going to pull it out for pictures and dismantling one of these weekends.
1978 Monza Spyder V8 4speed, posi
1978 Sunbird Formula V6, 5 Speed, Hatchback
1980 Sunbird Hatchback 4cyl, 4spd.
2006 Chevrolet Aveo 5 speed Hatchback
Yes, you can refer to me as Mark
Please visit my blog... http://chevymonza.blogspot.com/ Follow if you like!
Featuring special guests; Carl Beraytor and Ray D'atore

My Red spyder now has a youtube channel please Like and Subscribe!!!
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOzzSR ... ISuing7KLA
User avatar
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