Thanks in advance for having a look at this thread. If this is a duplicate thread, please point me in the right direction, but I wasn't able to come up with anything in a search.

I just bought a pretty stock 73 ttop with a 350 4spd. Frame is swiss cheese, but the rest of the car seems to be in good shape. This is a project car, and my first frame off restoration. I am looking to replace the frame, basically as the first thing I do. Any reccomendations on reproduction vs restored frames?

I am in Canada, (Cambridge, Ontario) if anyone has any reccomendation as to parts suppliers (I got some great feedback from the Ontario Corvette Corral in Grand Valley already) I would like to pay 2k to 3k CAN$ ($2k USD) at the most, unless I am dreaming...

How difficult is importing frames from the US? I am prepared to go to Carlisle (I've also got some good info from Keith Beyersdorf out of Korvel Automotive out of Colorado) if neccesary, but of course I would like to build a relationship with a supplier who is either in Ontario or ships to Canada if I could.

Your feedback is sincerely appreciated.

--jsf

 

It is good that you are going to Carlisle. You will find both new as well as used frames there. The used will be in every condition imaginable, some probably worse than what you have.
I saw a stack of new reproduction frames last year and they were certainly nice looking. The crowds seemed to be impressed.
I don't know what direction you're headed in your project, but since you're looking at frames, you might consider one of the newer creations designed for C4 or C5 suspension. You can have you cake and eat it too. Nearly state of the are suspension with a multitude of engine options along with the classic looks of the Stingray. It doesn't get any better...
There will be a number of vendors present selling their latest vision of this option so you might want to wait till Carlisle to make your decision. The cost of these are probably higher up front, but when you consider the cost of refurbishment and a few suspension upgrades you might decide it really is a better deal.

Good Luck... GUSTO

 

Welcome from around the corner in Waterloo. PM me with your number so we can talk live. I have some suggestions on local suppliers.

 

Ontario Corvette Corral is great, that's where I go if I absolutely HAVE to buy a NEW part. Saves me bunches on shipping/duty/tax.

If you buy a frame in the states and bring it back, try to get it dirty/grimy/crappy looking, then at the border you can tell them you paid 200 bucks for it or something (don't say it's a Corvette frame, say it's for a tractor you're building )

For less than your 2000-3000 you can get a good original bare frame from just about any year. I see restored, rust-free painted/powder coated frames on ebay all the time in the $1500 range, and see them in CF parts section for that and less. Then figure another 1000-1500 for replacement brake/gas lines, suspension bits, body mounts, etc that you'll need for the swap, assuming you'll do the work yourself.

 

Thanks for your feedback guys. I guess a third option is pulling the frame off and patching the he11 out of it. I don't rreally like this idea. If I am going to go to all the work of skinning the tub off this frame, I think i want to know I'll never have to do it again.

If you see any of those $1500 frames on ebay please pass me the link. From what I saw even replacing the sections I want to replace would cost me that.

At the moment, I am leaning toward a fram in Brockville Ontario that has a front suspsension and all the "plumbing" done, I just need to save my nickels and dimes. If it were $500 cheaper I would have bought it already.

Isn't that always the way...

Thanks again to everyone for their feedback.

 

Give this place a call. I have delt with the new owners & they are very helpful. They have a bunch of parts cars out back & might be able to help.
http://www.westerncorvette.com/

or give Lawrence a call at:

Calgary Tune-Up & Corvette Services Ltd
3605 Manchester Road SE,
Calgary, AB T2G 3Z7
Tel. : 403-243-7027