NMT1957

Does anyone have experience with an aftermarket C3 Frame? I found one for sale that is new and considering buying it. I don't need it at this point but when I do another car it would be nice to have. My question is are they for sale out there by the Corvette parts companies? How is the quality?

Alan 71

Hi nmt,
I you referring to the reproduction of the original frame that's available or the 'performance' frames that various companies produce?
Regards,
Alan

NMT1957

Alan,

This is a stock frame that the guy bought for his 1970 but never did the restoration. He then sold the frame and the rest of the car to the guy I'm talking to. There is no history as to who the supplier was. He said that the guy said.....It was a frame that was made from the GM tooling. But we all know how the stories go. I'm wondering who that supplier may be if one does exist,that was making frames from original GM tooling.

Ned

Alan 71

Hi Ned,
Vette Products of Michigan is the company making reproduction frames.
You might want to check their site to see what they cost and thus know what you might want to pay for one.
Regards,
Alan

NMT1957

Alan,
Thank you, that's what I was looking for. Vette Products of Michigan sells for $4495.00 for one and the guy I'm talking to is asking $2500.00 and I'm hoping to get him down a little from there.

Ned

Alan 71

Hi Ned,
It would be good to know just what years the frame is actually built for and if its for a 4-speed or automatic equipped car.
Regards,
Alan

loup68

There is/was a company making "stock" C-3 frames, BUT they were made of all standard metal box and rectangle tubing pieces. So the frame really doesn't look stock. I wanted you to be aware of them. Lou.

NMT1957

Picture

bj1k

It's definitely a standard shift frame with the welded in cross member and with bracing on the kickups it would not be an early frame . Can't remember what year they added those.

69ttop502

69 for the kick up braces I believe.

Alan 71

Hi Lou,
I know of the frame you describe but I believe you'll find that the frames Vette Products of Michigan is producing actually looks like an original frame.
In fact at this point I'm not sure if there's a way to determine if it's not an original.
Someone may know?!?
Regards,
Alan

This for example is the 63 frame the produce. (It seems like they spend more time making products than working on their web site so there aren't a lot of photo examples.)

pmazza

I used one of Vette Products frames a few years ago to replace an original 1972. Neil was good to work with and the frames are made from stampings as original. I beleive he said he has the tooling used by the GM contractor. If that frame is one of his, I think it is a good deal.

Body mounts and wheelbase/alignment measurements were right on. I also made a fair amount of modifications to fit a 5 bar rear and Ridetech front setup as well - no problems at all with quality of steel. I could not find a picture of bare frame as it came, but you can see how it ended up here.





Phil

NMT1957

This frame that I was interested in sold today. I guess that's a good thing because now I don't have to get it into my garage attic. Ha.

loup68

Vette Products of Michigan must have the original GM dies to make the Corvette frames. Since I worked in maintenance at the MTD Automotive plant-Cleveland for 34 years, I know how hard it is to make just one simple metal stamping. It takes at least four or five massive dies just to make one part. You people have no idea how hard it is to do this. Lou.

Alan 71

Hi Lou,
I agree about VPM having the original dies.
Just imagine what the frame would be like if it were being made overseas!!!! It would be cheap…..and pretty much unusable!
Regards,
Alan

redvetracr

yet because it was cheaper plenty of Corvette guys would buy it

Easy Mike

The A.O. Smith Company made the Corvette frames for GM. I hadn't thought about it, but it's entirely possible GM owned the tooling.

69427

Oh, I don't know. The most stress the frame takes in an awful lot of our antiques is the parking lot speed bump at the local car show.

loup68

Mike, the company that I worked for, MTD...Modern Tool & Die actually made the GM dies in our plant. GM paid us to make the dies for them and make the parts for them, But they owned the dies. We made many C-4 Corvette parts, the whole door pillar, windshield frame, and dash braces. We also made the whole C-4 rear frame/rear bumper assembly. When we went on strike for a few weeks, GM knew about it and pulled their dies out ahead of time and they went to another company, and we never got them back.
For those of you who do not know, MTD is the worlds largest maker of lawn mower and outdoor power equipment. They had made us, MTD-Cleveland plant and a nearby Liverpool plant all automotive parts. Mine closed in 2007 and Liverpool plant closed around 2010. Lou.

69427

There's a lesson in there somewhere.