sub frame

[mwood]

  Read the few posts about the front frame rails but didn't see an answer to my question.

Someone mentioned that the front frame rails were not solid steel rails as most frames are but like 3 pieces of sheet metal sandwiched together.

Are these "frame rails" attached to the rear uni-body system with bolts or something or are they just a continuation of the rear sheet metal body just formed into rails.

 What I wondered are the front frame rails able to be taken off and replaced with donors or even making your own solid frame rails and bolting or welding into place?

[amcfool1]

hi, I just had my left front frame rail repaired. Not replaced. The answer to your question is yes, it can be replaced, but...it's not a bolt on/off kind of thing; it's a weld on/off kind of thing, and fairly complex. If you are a very good welder/fabricator, you can do it. I am not, so I paid to have it done. Cost me $750. Another issue is actually finding a rust free frame rail, and getting it off the donor car in good shape, unless your rail is COMPLETELY fubar, I recommend fixing the one you have. good luck. gz

[mwood]

 Thanks for the reply, I don't even have an Eagle yet but am shopping for one. I was just curios how they went together and if I find one with damaged frame if it's fixable.

I have the skill and equipment to do my own welding and fabrication if needed.

[amcfool1]

hi, good for you, doing research before you buy! Let me explain as best I can, the Eagle/AMC unibody. OK, start with the floor pan, ok picture it, stamped sheet metal. Then add rear and front inner fenders, also sheet metal. To mate the two you use a subframe, kind of like an open channel. The floor pan slides into the front subframe channel, while at the same time the inner fender sheet metal slides up to it. You have now three layers of sheet metal spot welded together. Now, this front "frame" is unlike regular frame section box steel, it is both angled a certain way, an tapers a certain way. It is not easily fixed with a new section of box steel as , say, a Jeep frame. Originally this was a great idea. The unibody was VERY strong, while doing away with the weight of box section steel. The problem now, is, that in time these layers separate, if only a little, and moisture gets in there, and rust starts, and never sleeps. I know what I am doing, and I can still get fooled. My current Eagle project, an 84 sedan. Before I bought it I crawled ALL around and UNDER it with a flashlight and a hammer, looking for soft spots. Didn't find any. Fast forward a couple of years, took motor out saw a SMALL spot of rust on inner fender, investigate further, and about 80%  of rail is rotten from the INSIDE. When shopping for an Eagle, run your hand under the upper control arm, this is a place you can't see, so feel with your fingers, if it is rusted THROUGH, even a little, that frame rail is on it's way out, maybe good for another 5-10 years, but on it's way out. This is not meant to discourage you, just a heads up. The AMC Eagle is a truly unique car, and worth spending some money on. As I have said, cost me $750 to have that left front rail fixed. shop carefully, and good luck, gz  ps having said that, my last Eagle, an 82 Ltd, ran for over twenty years while slowly rusting out, I fixed the floor once ten years ago with fiberglass matt and POR 15, kept it together for ten years. It is now too far gone to save, but, well, it was our daily driver for TWENTY ONE years. A good Eagle is hard to kill!

[mwood]

  I found some pics where a member here had his eagle tore down for some repairs and got a good look at the front end and how it's formed.

Thanks for all your help & replies. I can tell there are some good people on here that are willing to help.

Been on other forums (not eagle forums) but people act like your wasting their time when you ask a question, yet they take the time to respond and get snarky...lol

[eaglefreek]

Been on other forums (not eagle forums) but people act like your wasting their time when you ask a question, yet they take the time to respond and get snarky...lol

That's not tolerated here.

[Amc1320]

We are non snarky here

[carnuck]

I can't find my pics of the Eagle wagon I stripped down for parts. I cut up the leftovers and accidentally drove over the spare engine crossbar.