Towing with Classic Car?

[matt167]

Re: Towing with Classic Car?

Yep, but after '54 they had the 287 V8 and the Hydramatic 4spd. Some '53 Pontiacs also got the Powerglide because of the Hydramatic plant fire that year.

 

[F14CRAZY]

Re: Towing with Classic Car?

I tow with my '74 LeSabre Luxus convertible. I purposely went for something a bit newer to get factory front disc brakes and a 455. I feel better having a full perimeter frame versus the old X frame. Mileage sucks (I calculated 7-9 mpg at 65-70 mph) but definitely no lack of power, stopping power, or stability. I ought to add some air bags to the rear springs (new heavy duty coils and load adjusting shocks already) but the car could care less. The THM 400 is a very durable unit. From what I've gathered though without the "towing package" rear diff, which was either 3.27 or 3.55, you should keep it under maybe 6k lbs. I can't find a tag on my axle but they were usually in the 2 range, maybe 3.07 or so

 

[Bronlonius]

Re: Towing with Classic Car?

That's defintely not an x frame in post 11. The x frames are literally shaped like an x. They come together in the center like an hourglass.

Some pics of what they look like here:

https://www.google.com/search?q=gm+...M-sqAHnv4DwDg&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=768&bih=928

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Towing with Classic Car?

I would figure the frame needs work. X frames I know are notorius for rust, so if it's gone, theres nothing I could do with it, but if it's still in tact with some bad spots, I can likely repair it ( frame off resto ).. I just can't figure out if the '60 Buick frame is " X based " or not. It is supposed to be GM's oddity of that time ( '59-'60 Buick?s only ). Just looks like a weird cross, but also easier to repair if it was rotted to any degree. The car has tires/ wheels and adaquate ground clearence, so possibly it is ok.. I was thinking of adding a reciever hitch. Not sure how to hide it because the license plate is on the sail panel and not on the bumper, so a flip down plate won't work

View attachment 177257

That is not an "X" frame and "X" frames were not an oddity for GM from 1958 through 1964.

 

[matt167]

Re: Towing with Classic Car?

Yes, I know it is not an X frame, didn't know if it was x based and shared any parts ( like the Olds with the perimiter frame with the base X frame ). But I have found out that, Buick's '59-'60 frame was ladder based with a K crossmember, as per the original advertisements.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: Towing with Classic Car?

1960 Most boats were pulled by the family car/wagon. Trucks were for farmers/ranchers, no room for the larger families of that time.

With upgrade to the brakes and the new tire technology that old Buick should handle the boat and the ramp if you choose just fine.
huts