ice1505

Hi all,

Im restoring a C3 stingray from 1968 with a 383 small block.


Please bear in mind that this is the FIRST classic car i have ever restored..

I need help with what parts im missing and i just cant seem to find them on google or from the so called corvette " expert " here in denmark..

First off i need to know what im missing to be able to fasten the radiator core support to the chassis ?






Then i would like to know what part i need to support the front end from the chassis ??? i know that something is suppose to go through the hole where the orange arrow is and to the front end, just dont know what part it is.





All help would be greatly appriciatet as i need all the help i can get :-)

Many thanks in advance

Kristjan

doorgunner

Congratulations on saving a Corvette!

I am new to Corvettes and have a '68 also......

an expert Forum member will give you the info that you need----it may be 6-8hours from now when everyone returns home from their workplace.

ice1505

No problems there... if someone can help within a couple of days that would be perfect :-)

Easy Mike

Congratulations on the 68. My advice is to order the assembly instruction manual (AIM) for your 68. The AIM has diagrams showing how the cars were assembled in St. Louis and includes the front crossmember and bumper brackets which appear to be missing in your pics.

Revi

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1956-1982.html

Alan 71

Hi K,
Welcome!
There are some pretty important missing parts evident in your picture.
There is a part called a frame rail extension that bolts to the front of the frame rail on each side.
These extensions are used to mount a front cross member. The bottom of the core support bolts to that front crossmember.
So the core support bolts to the fiberglass side aprons AND through the front cross member.
Your core support shows some pretty serious looking rust perforation. Are you planning to deal with that?
Here are some pictures that show the front of the frame rail, the frame extension, the front bumper bracket, the front cross member, the core support, and the bottom of one type of radiator that was used.
I hope this helps you!
Regards,
Alan


Left side showing frame rail, extension, bumper bracket, and 2 bolts mounting front crossmember.


Left side from below showing frame rail, extension, front crossmember, bottom of core support, and bottom of aluminum radiator.


Right side showing frame rail, extension, cross member, bottom of aluminum radiator.

JC68

Kristjan

The frame you are trying to use is not from a 1968 Corvette. It is a 1969 or later frame. You can make it work but you will need to do some improvising.

The 1968 front frame horn design and core support mounting is unique for that year. In 1968 the front frame horns are longer and the radiator core support will bolt directly to the extended frame horn.

1969 and up Corvettes have the core support bolted to the front cross member as show in Allen's pictures.

I think the easiest solution to your problem would be to use the front frame extensions and a front cross member from a 69 Corvette. You can then either modify your 68 core support to fit or replace it with a 69 to match everything else.

John

John 65

Came across this pic from my 68.

If I remember correctly my rad support attached to the bolt in the circle.

Mick71

bkvette3

Alan, your photos, knowledge and attention to detail always blows me away. I for one am glad you are on this Forum. I am sure others would agree...

Regards, BK3

68/70Vette

You received some very good comments. For me, two good sources of discussing frame problems,etc are (1) J&D Corvette in Bellflower, California...they ship a lot of parts internationally...many from their relatively rust free California salvage yard. (2) Volunteer Vettes, I had some difficult frame match problems with an OEM frame I'm installing on my 1970, and Volunteer Vettes in Tennessee knew the answers to my problems..they also have a lot of new OEM frame parts.

Seems like I read somewhere that repro radiator core supports can still be bought.
.............................
About Volunteer Vettes...In 1980, I purchased a new frame from GM for my 69 Corvette (bent frame). The car was stolen in 1990, but not the frame..I had not installed it. A few years ago, I decided to use this frame for my 1970.
Uh..Ohh..the 1970 frame extensions from the original 70 would not fit! The 68,69, 70 frame extensions I thought were the same. Some 68 frame extensions I had also would not fit. It was Volunteer Vette (Tennessee) that solved this puzzle. It turns out that after 1973, if you ordered a 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 frame from GM parts, they would send you a 1973 frame. It would be up to the body shop to make the conversion with the front frame extension pieces. ......anyhow bottom line here is that there was at one point in time someone in Volunteer Vettes who knew a lot about frames.

CVO2FIXUP

I totally agree with you. How Alan comes up with all these immaculate pictures to demonstrate his point is beyond me. What ever detail you are talking about a picture from Alan follows. It is like magic.

A question to Alan. Are all these picks of your personal car? ( which looks better than new btw ) cheers.

BLUE1972

Yes fantastic pictures

marshal135

I see the red peeking out in one photo right side frame extension shot.
This is Alan's car.
I keep telling him, he should have his photos published in a coffee table reference book on how its done for the discerning vette owner.
I know I would buy it.
His knowledge and photos have helped me many times just from following along in a thread or from direct responses.
I can not imagine the hours of attention to detail required to take a car to the level of Alan's. Thank you my friend for your tireless contribution.
Marshal