Restoration or modification of your existing chassis, even if it is an uncommon model, is offered by our custom chassis shop. Using your original frame or frame rails is often a great place to start a street rod project. Superior Glass Works can upgrade your old rails with boxing plates, independent front suspension, body mounts, brackets, and modern-drivetrain compatibility, while allowing you to preserve the original “soul” of your ride.  If you do not want to or need replace your original frame, there are many upgrades we can provide and install on your existing frame.   For example:

• Install new IFS or front axle suspension
• Install rear-end on leaf springs, coil-overs, or air bags
• C-notch the frame
• Add boxing plates to your original frame rails
• Add an X-member or K-member
• Install motor mounts 

Call us to discuss the specifics of your project and to get a quote.

Here are a few examples that show what we can do with your original frame:

1954 GMC Long-bed Pickup Complete Rebuild - Our customer had been collecting parts for years to rebuild his long-bed GMC truck.  When the time came to put it all together, he decided that he didn't have the skills or confidence to do it himself and asked that we rebuild it for him.  He delivered a clean, sandblasted frame to us and we started by removing the unneeded brackets, filling all the unneeded holes, and making a few minor repairs.  We then boxed the frame using our short-bed boxing plates as a starting point.  Once this was complete, we added the X-member, brake system, motor mounts (for a GMC 302 straight-6) and suspension.  A TCI Custom IFS was used up front, and a narrowed Jag independent rear added out back.   

1935 Chevy Standard - Heidts Superide IFS Install - The Corvair IFS our customer added 25 years earlier had finally worn out and was in need of an upgrade.  The sedan was delivered with the front sheetmetal removed which gave us access to the frontof the frame.  We removed the Corvair components (pretty neat set up, actually), boxed the frame rails, and installed the Heidt's Superide IFS.  We also installed new motor mounts and made sure they worked with his existing transmission mount and headers/exhaust.  He should be set for another 25 years!

1939 Dodge Sedan Chassis Rebuild - This was a challenging and unusual project, helping our customer bring his Mopar into the 21st century.  The frame rails were boxed front to rear, but we maintained the original x-member as it seemed plenty strong and didn't interfere with the modern components going in.  In the rear, we installed a rear-end supplied by the customer using leaf springs that would best handle this heavy, steel car.  The front was tough because Dodge used a funky IFS and frame design that made it impossible to simply weld in a Mustang II or other IFS.  We rebuilt the front frame stub and modfied a Heidt's Superide II to work. The customer wanted to stay Mopar, and had a newer 5.7 Hemi and trans from a Dodge Magnum that we fabricated mounts for and installed.  To facilitate reinstallation of the body, the original body mounts were all maintained.

1938 Dodge Salt Flats Frame - This customer purchased just the shell of a 1938 Dodge coupe and had some radical ideas for turning it into a Bonneville-inspired long, low, and lean custom car.  He needed a frame for the foundation of the project, and after comparing measurements we decided our 1937 Chevy frame would be a good starting point.  His design required a huge rear axle kick-up to drop the car, so we drew this up and built the custom frame he needed.  More to come on this project....

1929 Chrysler Coupe - Another frame for which there are no 'bolt-in' suspension parts available.  We stripped down the orignal rails, cleaned up all the holes and brackets no longer needed, and installed new front and rear suspension.  Up front, we worked with our friends at Kugel Komponents to custom-build a crossmember to our dimensions. This style of IFS was needed as a Mustang II would have required notching and bulging the front fenders.  In the rear, a Ford 9" is suspended with coil-overs and a triangulated 4-bar.  Many of the original brackets were maintained including those for the bumpers and fuel tank.  This frame eventually got custom motor and trans mounts for a newer 5.7 Hemi.