old american made cars. There a b*itch to cut> Opions?

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Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on October 17, 2009 at 12:38pm

Actually, the old body-on-frame cars are not all that hard to cut if you're familiar with how they're built.

You can't assume that everything will just crumple out of the way for a spreader the way it does on a unibody.
The body-on-frame cars are much more resistant to spreading forces if the force is distributed end-to-end.
That requires better spreader angles for door attacks.

The massive C-posts are easy to cut...if you don't rely on hydraulic cutters. There are at least 3 good alternative tactics:

1) Don't cut the C-post, just flap the roof in front of the C-post.
2) Use a sawzall to cut the C-post
3) Use an air chisel to make a window in the C-post, which will result in two small C-posts. Then you can just snip the remaining metal with your hydraulic cutters.

A-Posts and B-posts are pretty easy to cut, as long as you avoid the reinforced shoulder harness hanger area in the B-posts.

You don't have to worry about fortified steel components other than seat belt components as a general rule.
There are no air bags, SIPS protection, or seat belt pre-tensioners in cars this old.

You may have to worry about the 5 MPH bumper cylinders being loaded after a crash; this isn't a problem with modern cars, as the cylinders have been replaced with rubber or styrofoam cells.

The battery systems are almost always simple and in the engine compartment.

There is usually more interior room to work on the patients.

The dashboards are easy to lift with a hydraulic spreader with the arms turned vertically.

If you have gone away from dash rolls with hydraulic rams, consider bringing this technique back for these older cars.

Fuel systems may not have the vapor recovery systems, so fires are a bigger threat.

This isn't every consideration, but these are a start.

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