Frames and misc.

This holiday weekend we switched a frame on a parts car. Basically we know how to party.

There's a couple reasons for this, first I wanted to keep a good '68 frame and I needed the front springs off of my other XL fastback.

This is one primary reason why these 3rd gen frames love to corrode from the inside out. This is all the junk from INSIDE the frame. Add salty winters and you won't have a frame without a thorough cleaning and metal protection from the inside and obviously the outside.

3000 PSI gasoline powered pressure washer did a pretty good job cleaning the debris from the inside out. This is the donor frame from a 1968 LTD 4 door hardtop that's been sitting around for a few years. This car has donated quite a bit of parts for the other 3rd gens besides its frame, which is the only reason why I originally bought it. A 500 dollar parts car can go a long long way.

This is the rusted frame from my XL fastback. I need the front springs for the other XL fastback as these are the correct calibrated springs for this car with these options. Both XL fastbacks have the same major options affecting spring selection (FE, air con, PS).

The lower outer rails need to be replaced. This frame is not beyond redemption by any means, but since I have a better one, why bother.

Same on the other side. Aside from the lower outer rails, the rest of the frame internally is in good shape. I've repaired one of these frames already, it's an all day job, been there and done that and have no wish to do it again.

Like I said this is a common thing with these frames and this is a better rusted frame (this is the frame on my '66 LTD)

It's a lot of tedious work, but in the end you can have a good frame and coat a good portion of the outer rails from the inside out this way. Then finish the frame with internal frame coating for the rest of it.

Putting this back together.

Done with old rusted frame underneath. Now I can disassemble the old frame and get the parts I need. The differential feels a lot less worn (jockeying the yoke) than the other XL, so this is a good donating candidate for now to fix that.

Funny how this car sits lower in the back than the 4 door hardtop LTD body did. I would have thought the 4 door hardtop would have been heavier.

I wonder if the bucket seat/centre console option for the '68 XL are heavier than the standard bench seat? Interesting.