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Junior Member
 
Last Login: 10/3/2011 7:49:42 AM
Posts: 37,
Visits: 156
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| Hi all, I had a post like 3 months ago about me being the first guy in Australia to build an 89 batmobile, and fineally the time has come. Ive been waiting for my kit to arrived from the US and as of next week it comes in. I need on a donor car that im having issues with. What do use recommend that i use for a donor car? i know its better to have a square designed chassis, long wheel base, wide and low can anyone give me information on cars i should be looking out for? Kind regards Richard
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DH was once A mail order bride...............
Last Login: 12/22/2020 2:14:32 PM
Posts: 2,526,
Visits: 12,771
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| Impala or caprice.You really cant go wrong with either 70's through the early 90's Good luck.
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Junior Member
Last Login: 10/3/2011 7:49:42 AM
Posts: 37,
Visits: 156
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| Thanks for the reply. Well a caprice here is like $10,000 so hard to get a cheap one and with the impala does it matter that the chassis is a X design? i dont know much about the older cars but im doing my research its hard to buy a cheap one her in Australia. Cheers
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You reap what you sow
Last Login: 5/10/2023 9:00:46 AM
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Has NO LIFE!!
Last Login: 4/24/2023 3:53:07 PM
Posts: 5,397,
Visits: 4,901
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| Hey Richie, Here in the states the GM chassis are a dime a dozen. In fact I just drove home from the bank and saw an 85 Caprice for $1500 and no takers. In Australia the car market seems drastically different. You need a car that's heavy duty enought to support the length and width of the 89. And it has to b low in overall height and height from the ground. It needs to be wide enough to get the tires to the outside of the body. You can use offset wheels and spacers but that puts a lot of stress on the wheel bearings. On the length a sturdy steel frame is needed because it will need to be extended. Initially I had used a Cadillac Fleetwood because the frame was already so long. X-bracing on the frame is good because it keeps the frame from flexing. With the Cadillac frame it was nice to have an open box frame because the seats and floor pan could be lowered down between the frame rails.. An x-frame would prevent that from being possible. If you are anywhere near $10000 for a donor you might consider a custom frame. That eventually is my goal for my 89, economy and god willing. Boy, this is getting exciting for you. Nitro is right with his recommendations. Maybe in Australia its a different situation.....BWD
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Has NO LIFE!!
Last Login: 4/24/2023 3:53:07 PM
Posts: 5,397,
Visits: 4,901
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| Hey Richie here is a pic of that Cadillac frame before I sold it to another member. It took quite a bit to get it to this point but at least I knew that it would work. The Cadillac engine was too tall for the 89 body but a 350 could have been put in to lower the overall height. Hope this pics helps...BWD 
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DH was once A mail order bride...............
Last Login: 12/22/2020 2:14:32 PM
Posts: 2,526,
Visits: 12,771
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| Richie did you check out the sweeds build. 
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Junior Member
Last Login: 10/3/2011 7:49:42 AM
Posts: 37,
Visits: 156
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| Hi guys, Thanks for the help so far. i found a company for spare parts for all chevy's and it happens to be real close to my house thou they dont do anything after an 70's models he said i might be looking into a 63 impala chassis would this do? i found a caprice and it was $13000 god damn lol. My search continues the car has cost me $20000 and i havent started lol. Cheers
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Junior Member
Last Login: 10/3/2011 7:49:42 AM
Posts: 37,
Visits: 156
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| To that last reply my mistake he said an 65 - 68 impala cause it has a perimeter chassis so is this any good? Cheers from down under
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Has NO LIFE!!
Last Login: 4/24/2023 3:53:07 PM
Posts: 5,397,
Visits: 4,901
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| Hey Richiefedele, I'm going to humbly give my two cents. The older perimeter frame is a frame that is inherently weak because of the rails running from the front to the center rails and the rear rails to the center rails along the length of the car. Torque boxes were later installed to prevent the twisting of the frame. Older GM frames used c-rails that have a cross section that looks like a "c" There were inexpensive to build because a long piece of steel was bent in two areas to create the c shape. Later box rails were incorporated to stiffen and strenghten the frame. The older frame would work but I'd like to say with a newer model comes dramatic improvements in technology. In addition to better frame construction you have improved steering geometry, braking and suspension.... Can I ask are there any particular cars that are readily available,cheaper to buy and would work as a donor? Police cruisers, limos,hearsts anything under $5000. Man cars are expensive in Australia. Is there just a high demand for cars, low supply or massive govermental taxes? What's up with those prices?....Just wondering BWD
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