[1310monster]

I've just bought a 75 Fleetwood Talisman. Amazingly, the frame is rusty but the body is very good. I want to swap the frame out. What years will exchange? Has anyone ever done a frame off on these year big cars? I'd like to know where the best lift points are.


Rocky

 

[N0DIH]

I would take a stab in the dark that 73-76 all were roughly the same frame. The 73-74's likely somewhat different in the exhaust crossover area.

A bodyshop can likely recommend lift points. I highly recommend getting the Fisher (Fleetwood Body? Cadillac was different back then IIRC, not the Fleetwood model) Body manual for your car. This will have that specific body information. It is like the FSM's, only for the body.

I have one for a 76 Olds, I can take a look in it, the cars were very similar, but Cadillac was longer.

Where are you located?

 

[1310monster]

Thanks for the info. I'm going to use screw type jackstands to get the body up high enough to roll the whole running gear out from under it. I am in Kentucky. I thought that the Fleetwood frame would differ from a DeVille frame. The fleetwood looks longer. Obviously it would have to be a 4 door frame irregardless which models work...right? It would be pretty easy to put a hydraulics kit on it too with the frame out from under it. I'm trying to find out more info on that.

Rocky

 

[N0DIH]

I don't know for sure on the frame lengths of the FW and the Deville. I am sure there is some members who do.

We have some juicers here, I don't know much on hydraulics, but I would think frame off is a good time to do it. Then you can beef up any areas on the frame that might need it for the additional abuse. These cars are pretty long, so the middle is the weakest point. Maybe if you are really enterprising, get a Suburban frame to work. They are 130 inches, very very close to yours. Front suspension is way different, and rear is leaf, but there is plenty of room there to put the 4 link back in, or just keep it leaf like the Suburbans do. (1992-1999 MY's) Probably a long shot, but the half ton frame is reasonablly beefy.

Becareful on lifting the body up, that is a LOT of weight to hold up. 5000+ lbs.

 

[Guest]

1971-1976 Fleetwoods had the same frame with a 133 inch wheelbase. DeVille and Calais sedans had 130 inch wheelbases, so only look for a Fleetwood for a frame swap. Yous situation sounds unusual... generally, if the frame on one of those cars is bad, the body is shot or had loads of bondo. I've had 2 75-76 cars, both with bad bodies but solid frames that were from northwestern PA where they were exposed to lots of salt. If you aren't concerned about numbers matching or originality, I'd look for a solid southern Fleetwood with a trashed interior and switch the Talisman interior into the southern car. You'll probably save a lot of work in the long run... there is probably a lot of rust on the Talisman you won't see until it's apart. Whatever you decide, good luck.