I am really surprised this didn't kick up
I happen to have a 66 B body and a 74 A body on jack stands right now.
So, I slithered under them and did some quick, dirty measurements if anyone is curious.
I'm sure people could find actual Chrysler drawings somewhere.
The A body measurement from the trans cross member frame to the rear frame rail first point of contact (rear frame rail forward flange) is 36.5 inches.
This would be the area that the rocker panels span.
And it measured 33.5 inches from one rear frame rail to the other across the car.
The B body measurement from the trans cross member frame to the rear frame rail first point of contact (rear frame rail forward flange) is 39 inches.
Again, this would be the area that the rocker panels span.
And it measured 34.5 inches from one rear frame rail to the other across the car.
The rear frame rails on both the A and B appear to be 4.5 inches in height.
The gauge of metal APPEARS to be the same on both cars.
I didn't have time to try and measure that as it would be more difficult.
But what was surprising is that the B body rear frame rail was actually narrower than the A body.
The A body is 2 5/8 inches wide.
The B body is 2 1/4 inches wide.
I had to measure that twice to be sure.
Now admittedly there probably are other factors to consider.
Like is is assumed the B body rear for a given type would weight more.
And the B body is more likely to have a high torque heavy motor twisting the front to rear.
All this points to me sticking with my previous assumptions.
How I measured this.
I happen to have a 66 B body and a 74 A body on jack stands right now.
So, I slithered under them and did some quick, dirty measurements if anyone is curious.
I'm sure people could find actual Chrysler drawings somewhere.
The A body measurement from the trans cross member frame to the rear frame rail first point of contact (rear frame rail forward flange) is 36.5 inches.
This would be the area that the rocker panels span.
And it measured 33.5 inches from one rear frame rail to the other across the car.
The B body measurement from the trans cross member frame to the rear frame rail first point of contact (rear frame rail forward flange) is 39 inches.
Again, this would be the area that the rocker panels span.
And it measured 34.5 inches from one rear frame rail to the other across the car.
The rear frame rails on both the A and B appear to be 4.5 inches in height.
The gauge of metal APPEARS to be the same on both cars.
I didn't have time to try and measure that as it would be more difficult.
But what was surprising is that the B body rear frame rail was actually narrower than the A body.
The A body is 2 5/8 inches wide.
The B body is 2 1/4 inches wide.
I had to measure that twice to be sure.
Now admittedly there probably are other factors to consider.
Like is is assumed the B body rear for a given type would weight more.
And the B body is more likely to have a high torque heavy motor twisting the front to rear.
All this points to me sticking with my previous assumptions.
How I measured this.
