Lowrider Hydraulic Frame Reinforcement | 1960 Impala Part 1 | DIY | Rematch | Lonestar Lows

In this week's video, we begin reinforcing the X frame for the 60 impala convertible. We're using a prefabricated plate kit purchased in Las Vegas. I went with 1/8 inch steel for ease of use and overall weight. Enjoy!
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[@pigidly]

Quick tip: if you want to remove the body mount to plate and keep the position… weld brackets with a door hinge, then cut the body mount off and flip it with the hinge… when you done plating grind 3/16 of the mount and reweld it back to the frame.

[@lonestarlows]

Yea! We thought of that after the fact lol

[@gladememmott3001]

What a time saver.... I'm located in salt lake city Utah so this could easily be an affordable time saving option for me if the dudes out if Vegas.... Hmmmm... There might just be a double duty road trip here in the future LoL

[@RJTickler]

I’d like to speak to a structural engineer on the difference between 1/8” and 3/16” in an application like this. At most these pieces are 5-6” wide. I bet the strength lost of gained from 1/16” thickness is very minor. And I think if we were doing this for 100% strength reasons we wouldn’t be full welding all 4 sides front to back. Most of these frames are wrapped for looks and makes the people sleep better at night because it looks beefy lol. The hardening done by welding that hot, that long, and with seams that close together is crazy.

[@edgrabski1390]

Thanks for your input

[@lonestarlows]

I agree. Wonder what the engineer would think about 6 batteries in the trunk. 4000lb car going down the highway on 13 inch wheels lol

[@RJTickler]

@@lonestarlows 😂 😂 right

[@paulhare662]

The messes we get ourselves into. You're making getting my 65 Chevy II wagon back on the road look like childs play.

[@lonestarlows]

It is child's play!!! 😁

[@straightpipeproductions3726]

If you weld up the frame complete before wrapping I think 1/8 is just fine, imo🤙🏼

[@Wildstylegrafix]

There's a local car here that has 1/8 and it has been fine for more than a decade and is a rag too. I bought bigger for my 62 ht and wish I wouldn't of. If it's not going to be a crazy hopper 1/8 is more than enough. So much easier to work with also.

[@lonestarlows]

I think the stocm frame is 1/8 so it's essentially twice as strong now. For a car that will run accumulators I think its more than enough

[@Wildstylegrafix]

@@lonestarlows 100% agree. 👍

[@kimfloyd6295]

Great job.

[@lonestarlows]

Thanks

[@David_H_Twin]

Looks good brother.

[@lonestarlows]

Thanks

[@toons3115]

Beautiful start brother just finished mine with the hoppos kit 💯💪👍

[@lonestarlows]

How did u like the hoppos kit

[@toons3115]

@@lonestarlows bro made life so much easier than having to cutt and clean every piece 💪

[@diytypeofguy6502]

@@lonestarlows I was gonna ask if this kit is better than the hoppos kit

[@lonestarlows]

I can't really speak on it. But bobby ordered a hoppos partial and it wasn't labeled and didn't fit that great. According to him

[@diytypeofguy6502]

@@lonestarlows how much is the kit u bought?

[@rockerpat1085]

Man That's A LOT Of Grinding It Down!!! Awesome Looking Kit And Definitely The Wat To Go!!!! Much Easier To Buy A Kit That Someone Else Has Done The Work Figuring Out And Uses A Plasma Table To Cut It CNC Fir A Great Fit!!! Going To Triple S And Buying 1/8" Plate You Would Have A Bunch Of Waist!!!! Much Cheaper In The Long Run!!! Keep Rocking It Out!!!!

[@lonestarlows]

I dont even know what a 4x8 costs ? 300? This kit came cut, cleaned up, and labeled. Saving tons of time. Still need to buy about 100 tiger discs to mold it up lol

[@rockerpat1085]

@@lonestarlows I BET You Would Be Close!!! And You'd Need Several Sheets To Get All Your Long Pieces!!! Maybe 2 Or 3 Grand In Steel Alone Today!!! Rock On Brother!!!

[@edgrabski1390]

Nice looking kit for sure. It must have taken a very long time to figure out all the pieces and then the difference when you start to bend then to fit. Even with all the pieces cut you still needed to do a lot of work with the Porta Power.

[@lonestarlows]

Good morning ed!. Yes I have no interest in doing this frame stuff for money. I dont even know what people charge these days? To mold it im sure will take 100 tiger discs....

[@edgrabski1390]

@@lonestarlows Your Lucky Bobby works Cheap :-)

[@lonestarlows]

Couple breakfast tacos, a burger, and a beer or 2. 😁

[@edgrabski1390]

@@lonestarlows You might be Over Paying Him :-)

[@49BigPoppa]

Contact Hoppos in Cali, they have a nice wishbone kit to eliminate the pan hard bar

[@thatonegirl2362]

Nice kit bro! Can you list that guys info in Vegas that made it for you? Made that job way easier! Can’t wait to see the final product!

[@Mr041306]

Alex from hoppos makes kits also

[@impala63guy]

Got my convertible 63 frame ready to start reinforcing. Do you always think its always a good idea to wrap the whole frame? I don't plan to hop and I know all that extra weight has to make the drive a little harder so would you do it for your own ride? Just curious what you think and why. Thanks bro. Always respect your thoughts.

[@lonestarlows]

A full wrap is not necessary, just depends on the owner of the car and how they treat the car

[@kountrylr23]

You might of answered this ? In a previous video. But why did you swap the original frame?

[@lonestarlows]

The original convertible frame has factory reinforcement and would make for alot of work to plate over it, or remove. Convertible frames are worth good money to the purists, and a hardtop frame fits, it just needs a pair of body mounts added.

[@raulayon9224]

✌👍

[@abelsabedrajr1021]

Did you have to mount the body back on the frame to locate where the extra body mounts go. I'm in the same situation building my 59 convertible using a frame off a 60 4 door.

[@lonestarlows]

Yes I did. It's on one of these frame wrap videos.

[@lonestarlows]

Might be on the conti kit mock up video

[@loster87]

You don't have to cut the body mounts off.all you need is to cut a 1/8" slit on the sides of the body mounts,prebent the metal and slide it in between the body mounts and frame.easy,and keeps it strong

[@lonestarlows]

Yes we thought about that too, but the body mount runs down the whole side of the frame vertical, so it would pretty much need to be a slit cut the entire way . We might find some areas up front to use this idea 😎

[@loster87]

@@lonestarlows slit cut it all the way up and leave the tops of the body mounts(horizontal side) welded

[@lonestarlows]

That's a good idea too

[@LightBringga]

How much for wrap kit

[@918lowrider8]

I’m wrapping my 64 frame right now. Do you cut off the bump stop bracket underneath the upper A arm?

[@lonestarlows]

I plan to

[@918lowrider8]

Thanks I didn’t know, this is my first low rider build. I have learned a lot from your videos.

[@lonestarlows]

😎

[@petestacklyn5528]

How much did the kit cost you ? It looks really good quality!!!

[@lonestarlows]

1000 plus freight ship

[@petestacklyn5528]

Thank you.

[@LightBringga]

How much $

[@davidj.perfater6024]

Found him @caddyshack85

[@lonestarlows]

Yes