General Body Construction

This vehicle is constructed with a unitized body which incorporates integral front and rear frame side rails. The front suspension lower control arms are bolted to and retained by supports, one each on the right and left sides. The front suspension lower control arm supports are attached to the underbody with three bolts at two locations. The engine is bolted to the integral front side rails. The suspension strut towers must be dimensionally correct in relation to the remainder of the underbody in order to maintain specified suspension strut and caster/camber angles.

Since the individual underbody parts contribute directly to the overall strength of the body, it is essential to observe proper welding techniques during service repair operations. The underbody parts should be properly sealed and rustproofed whenever body repair operations destroy or damage the original sealing and rustproofing. When rustproofing critical underbody parts, use a good-quality type of air-dry primer, such as a corrosion-resistant chromate or an equivalent material. Combination-type primer/surfacers are not recommended.