Right course of action to replace body on l400?

[infiniteConstructor]

Howdy,

So it looks like I purchased an L400 with the Cancer (rust) throughout the frame. I saw "a little" and should have thought more of it. But didn't. The previous owner was not fothcoming with details, insisted he wasn't the first owner and didn't provide paperwork; though his notes from 2010 about CVI doing the upper ball joints tells me the '94 must have come in that year.

The engine, transmition, and running gear all look to be in good condition. With a few "fix it" parts along the way.

My options are
- Invasive surgery by shop (which I'm guessing could be between $3K and $10K) - CCAutos has the front frames and ability - but the welder would have to be pretty fab to get it for proper alignment - and the grand "uknown" factor may make this prohibitively expensive. Victoria Front end and frame started their quote at $5K - having never worked on one of these before (I can't afford their education, sadly).
- Invasive surgery by myself - I would have to learn welding and structure. Totally comfortable with these items - but time is something I would like to save as I'm working towards other goals right now.

So the next best option I can see is to find a body to swap over. I'm not scared of doing the work myself, and it will probably take the same cost (or less) of welding, and the same, or less time (which I can afford if I'm 100% on the outcome with the new parts).

Any leads and/or thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks

[johnghaley]

infiniteConstructor:

Not sure what you mean by a body to swap over, but if your frame it what is rusted but the body is good then I have a 97 that has been rolled. The body is not good, but everything ells is good.
John

[infiniteConstructor]

infiniteConstructor:

Not sure what you mean by a body to swap over, but if your frame it what is rusted but the body is good then I have a 97 that has been rolled. The body is not good, but everything ells is good.
John

Thats great news! The body is great on mine. Though I thought that these were of unibody construction - and would be happy to be proven wrong or find a workaround if the frame is still straight after being rolled.

I will PM you for details.

[Big-Bird]

The Gen 1 and 2 L400's are UNIBODY. Its the L300 that is a full frame design.

The front sub-frame of the L400 can be replaced and the unibody frame rails can be fishplated (laminated) by a reputable frame shop. They do this all the time to old classic Dodge muscle cars that were sub-framed with a unibody chassis. They just bend plate sheet metal to match and weld it on the exisiting frame. I am sure its a bit more involved than that.

[infiniteConstructor]

The Gen 1 and 2 L400's are UNIBODY. Its the L300 that is a full frame design.

The front sub-frame of the L400 can be replaced and the unibody frame rails can be fishplated (laminated) by a reputable frame shop. They do this all the time to old classic Dodge muscle cars that were sub-framed with a unibody chassis. They just bend plate sheet metal to match and weld it on the exisiting frame. I am sure its a bit more involved than that.

Thanks Big-Bird. I appreciate that input.

I guess I'll have to bump finding the time to learn welding after-all.

Cheers.

[FalcoColumbarius]

The Gen 1 and 2 L400's are UNIBODY. Its the L300 that is a full frame design. ...

The L300 is monocoque as well.

Falco.

[Big-Bird]

I have seen body lift kits for the L300 for sale...assumed the unit was a frame type.

Still the only option is laminate the frame or do extensive chop/grafting like out buddy with the stretch 300 did.