C2 convertable frame question
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
C2 convertable frame question
I am an old school mechanic, ASE and all that stuff, anyway, I got this job to do, 1967 convertible with a bad frame, customer brings me a C3 frame, of course he claims it fits, although I am no dummy, and I can handle the mods to the body mounts and the rear section no problem. My question, if anyone can answer this for me is, the C3 frame has the removable crossmember, my car is a stick, I've read some people prefer this for ease of transmission work, my question is, the exhaust doesn't seem to clear the automatic crossmember, and if it does, the pipes seem to me that they will hang super low if it does. The original frame has the tubes through the welded on crossframe for the pipe to go through it. Am I going to have to chop the old frame off the bad rails and add this to the C3 frame as well? I've read the front is a tad shorter on the C3 frame, although if it is, I really can't see it. If it were up to me, I'd just get a new or good 67 frame, it seems that by the time I make this work, there won't really be any cost savings, but some guys are just thick. Thanks for your help and I'm looking forward to hearing the good, the bad, and the ugly
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,191
Likes: 951
From: Corpus Christi, TX
It will take some work to make the C3 frame fit. The front body mounts are in the wrong place. Everything from the rear kick up (just aft of the #3 body mounts) needs to be from a C2 frame. The front bumper mount "horns" need to be from a C2 frame; there are some dimensional differences at the front of the frame. The auto trans crossmember will work, but you'll need something to lift the rear transmission mount from the "tongue" that bolts to the center of the crossmember. If you have a later model C3 frame without exhaust tubes through the trans crossmemeber, it's easier just to replace the crossmember with a weld-in C2 reproduction. I did this in 1991, took a frame from a '70 automatic and modded it to fit in my 66 convertible. What's described is what it took. I used the bolt in '70 crossmember for a while, but eventually dumped it for a correct C2 crossmember. Understand that it wasn't easy to get a decent C2 frame, and repop complete frames just didn't exist 30 years ago. You have much better options now.
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Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,812
Likes: 2,029
From: eastern NC
dbelfi, you say he brought you a C3 frame, what year frame is it? The early chrome bumper C3 frames are much less work to make fit that the later frames. That may factor into your ultimate decision.
There are kits available to convert a fixed trans cross member to a removable. So making the C2 cross member you have fit a C3 frame with little work is a possability. And, at the same time make it removable - which many consider a real plus. Especially so if you're wanting to go with a larger 5 or 6 speed trans.
Good luck... GUSTO
There are kits available to convert a fixed trans cross member to a removable. So making the C2 cross member you have fit a C3 frame with little work is a possability. And, at the same time make it removable - which many consider a real plus. Especially so if you're wanting to go with a larger 5 or 6 speed trans.
Good luck... GUSTO
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2020
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: New Jersey
I'm not sure, sounds like you know the car....have any other information on it? looks like the motor was done, painted anyway, also looked like somebody patched the frame to me, but may be an older repair that just isn't working now
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,156
Likes: 9,464
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
Just do your self and the car a favor and get the correct frame. Then paint it replace all the rubber and swap it out