The Oldsmobile Connection

jcocker03 · Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Wisconsin

I was driving my olds last fall, took a turn and the engine fell out.
The frame rotted out so bad that where the rear part of the subframe connects to the rest of the frame via four bolts, the metal around the bolt holes (on the frame, not the the subframe which i recently replaced) rotted, leaving the rear part of the subframe sitting on the ground and four big holes where it used to bolt up to.
This also happened to my cousin with his buick 3.8L (basically the same car).

The car still runs great, today i started it for the hell of it, and it popped off after a 1/2 second and it's 44 below where i am. I was just wondering if anybody had any ideas for securing the subframe because it seems a waste to junk this car.

andrewk · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 1263 Location: Ames, IA

Somebody once said that anything is possible with enough time and money.

I think in your case it depends on what the rest of the undercarriage is like. If there is good metal to weld to, you can have that part of the frame fabricated.

It also will probably be a rather costly/lengthy repair, depending on your skill and budget. I'd seriously ask myself "how much the car is worth to me" before proceeding.

Sorry I can't be more specific.

Welcome to TOC-

Andrew

91parkave · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 525

^^^^ x2

If the car is valuble enough then yea go for it, id consider welding a thicker plates in though, also you might want to invest in some undercoat and go over the whole undercarrige to keep the chance of rust down,

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3069 Location: Michigan, USA

91parkave wrote: ^^^^ x2

If the car is valuble enough then yea go for it, id consider welding a thicker plates in though, also you might want to invest in some undercoat and go over the whole undercarrige to keep the chance of rust down,

undercoating will just cover up the rust if it's already there.

TOC Admin
Brando

88 Coupe · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 3:59 am Post subject: Re: Engine fell out

jcocker03 wrote: ........ and it's 44 below where i am ........
What part of Wisconsin?

jcocker03 wrote: ........ I was just wondering if anybody had any ideas for securing the subframe
A rust free sub frame?

If the firewall/floorboards are not completely rusted though, you could probably use a "come along" to hold it on.

91buickman only used one, but he was doing something a little different.

jcocker03 wrote: ........ because it seems a waste to junk this car.
How long have you been in Wisconsin?

91buickman wrote: ........ id consider welding a thicker plates in ........
Where? And to what?

Norm

EDIT: Replaced the image that disappeared & added 3 more.

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3069 Location: Michigan, USA

lol, norm you're killing me.

jcocker03, got any pics of the damaged mounting areas?

TOC Admin
Brando

91parkave · Joined: 29 May 2007 Posts: 525

Quote:
Brando wrote: 91parkave wrote: ^^^^ x2

If the car is valuble enough then yea go for it, id consider welding a thicker plates in though, also you might want to invest in some undercoat and go over the whole undercarrige to keep the chance of rust down,

undercoating will just cover up the rust if it's already there.

TOC Admin
Brando

Of cource im assuming surface prep before hitting it with undercoat....

andrewk · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 1263 Location: Ames, IA

Yeah- just smear some navel jelly on there and the rust will go away, and the metal will return...

88 Coupe · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 9:00 pm Post subject: Re: Engine fell out

buickman wrote: ........ Of cource im assuming surface prep before hitting it with undercoat....
Of course, that's what you meant. Yeah, that's the ticket.

Norm

EDIT: Added the image of Tommy Flanagan.

88 Coupe · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject: Re: Engine fell out

Everyone: The image I posted earlier, mysteriously disappeared.

I replaced it and added 3 more, to better illustrate my suggestion.

Norm

andrewk · Joined: 18 May 2005 Posts: 1263 Location: Ames, IA

88 Coupe wrote: Yeah, that's the ticket.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: That's a classic.

85cieraholiday · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 11:08 pm Post subject: Re: Engine fell out

The same thing happened to my 1992 Pontiac Bonneville. I junked my car because it was beat (156,000 hard miles). Your best bet may be to consult a body shop/collision center.

Was there any other damage when this occurred? My Pontiac broke the steering column as well as bent one of the silver a/c lines along with other minor things.

jcocker03 · Joined: 30 Jan 2008 Posts: 2 Location: Wisconsin

Yeah, the whole rest of the frame is pretty much gone. I took a ball peen hammer to it to see how strong it was and now theres lots of big holes. By the way, I am in Junction City, WI and the 44 below was including about 20mph windchill.
I think this car is done for, maybe i should just stick to upgrading my honda.

88 Coupe · Posted: Wed Feb 06, 2008 8:45 pm Post subject: Re: Engine fell out

jcocker03 wrote: ........ the 44 below was including about 20mph windchill ........
That explains it.

Norm

88delta88 · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 2409 Location: Canada

jcocker03 wrote: ...i should just stick to upgrading my honda.

To each his own.