Rusty frame
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,711
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From: GA Slingin meat like it's my job
Rusty frame
I found a 72 coupe that I think I can get for about $12,000. The only real problem is that it has a fair amount of rust on the frame to the point you can pick off some flakes. Is there anything I can do to fix that or would my only fix be a frame off restoration? It will be garage kept and a weekend driver for the next 5 years or so until I can afford to do an actual frame off resto. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,156
Likes: 3,965
From: Connecticut, USA
The frames aren't thick to begin with,if you're seeing scaling I would be concerned. How is the rest of the car? If non-matching,needing paint & majory work $12k is too much. In fact I think you'll be able to get a much better car for close the the same. I've seen C3 prices for drivers drop the last month alone.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 920
Likes: 1
From: Shelby Township Michigan
I would offer a word of patience. You are headed for a frame off for a decent expense, unless you have the know how, room and tools to do the job yourself. You will most likely heavily repair or replace the frame.
I would suggest that you continue to look at other vettes and find one with a good frame for a few more grand. I bought my 72 two years ago for $13k and the frame is in excellent condition. I must have looked at 10 vettes before picking this one.
Good luck,
Dino
I would suggest that you continue to look at other vettes and find one with a good frame for a few more grand. I bought my 72 two years ago for $13k and the frame is in excellent condition. I must have looked at 10 vettes before picking this one.
Good luck,
Dino
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 444
Likes: 2
From: Dardenne Prairie Mo
Go back and take a small hammer with you and look at the car again. Tap on the parts you think are bad, and the ones you think aren't. You want to hear a bright clank. A dull thud or thump is what you don't want to hear. The part that usually goes on the C3 are the part right in front of the back tire and under the doors.
I was considering a pretty nice 77 one time till I looked underneath and saw that the frame under the doors was completely GONE. The area around the trailing arm bushings was just barely hanging together.
You can buy frames & frame parts for the whole car but its a bummer of a job.
I was considering a pretty nice 77 one time till I looked underneath and saw that the frame under the doors was completely GONE. The area around the trailing arm bushings was just barely hanging together.
You can buy frames & frame parts for the whole car but its a bummer of a job.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,711
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From: GA Slingin meat like it's my job
I knocked around on the frame with a metal flashlight and all I heard were bright pings (no thuds). I see that as a good sign. The rest of the car is in great shape (new interior, relatively new paint, amazing motor). The rust on the frame is the only issue that concerns me. It doesn't seem to be rusted through anywhere, just a consistent coating of rust. It was originally a Florida car and the salt air down there can wreak havoc on iron/steel. My father-in-law will be helping me work on the car and he has rebuilt serveral vettes and lots of other chevys so the know-how isn't an issue. I'm just not sure how much of an issue it is.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: GA Slingin meat like it's my job
This may sound stupid but, I think so... I checked as much as I could see from the outside just in front of the back tire. Do I need to take out the kick panels in order to see the birdcage???
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,245
Likes: 21
From: Abingdon MD
Whit,
In a word, NO!! There are way too many good, reasonably priced cars out there to fool w a rusty frame, etc.
I mean no disrepest, but since you are new to the Forum, you may be new to C3's also. Get a knowledgeable Corvette Forum Member to inspect any car you are considering.
You speak of a "weekend driver for the next 5 years or so until I can afford to do an actual frame off resto." The key is starting with the right car so that all of your work pays off and results in a car worth decent $$.
Rickman
In a word, NO!! There are way too many good, reasonably priced cars out there to fool w a rusty frame, etc.
I mean no disrepest, but since you are new to the Forum, you may be new to C3's also. Get a knowledgeable Corvette Forum Member to inspect any car you are considering.
You speak of a "weekend driver for the next 5 years or so until I can afford to do an actual frame off resto." The key is starting with the right car so that all of your work pays off and results in a car worth decent $$.
Rickman
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Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 43
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From: Ft. Campbell, KY GA
I knocked around on the frame with a metal flashlight and all I heard were bright pings (no thuds). I see that as a good sign. The rest of the car is in great shape (new interior, relatively new paint, amazing motor). The rust on the frame is the only issue that concerns me. It doesn't seem to be rusted through anywhere, just a consistent coating of rust. It was originally a Florida car and the salt air down there can wreak havoc on iron/steel. My father-in-law will be helping me work on the car and he has rebuilt serveral vettes and lots of other chevys so the know-how isn't an issue. I'm just not sure how much of an issue it is.
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 10,628
Likes: 132
From: Duvall, WA
Take a closer look at it, but you should be able to get a decent chrome bumper C3 with a solid frame for 20k. It won't be perfect, but it would have a good frame and bird cage. The extra 8k you spend now is less than what you would spend repairing the frame and bird cage.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 23,419
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From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
The hammer test is a good one, you can also do the screwdriver test. Go to the suspicious area and try to push the screwdriver into the frame and see what happens. If nothing happens and the whole area feels hard and pings nice with the hammer, you are likely talking about just surface rust. If you succeed in pushing the screwdriver into the metal of the frame, run. (I have never seen one this bad, but I have heard many stories from people that have). If you push on it at different angles and stuff, and the screwdriver won't penetrate but a bunch of scaly stuff and flakes fall off, then you are dealing with a classic rusty frame. In this condition, it is usually possible to recondition the frame during the process of a frame-off restoration, but there is little or nothing you can do for it with the car together.
Racer
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 394
Likes: 0
From: Jackson, MS USA
I am in the process of cutting rust out of the frame of my 69. Here is what I would look for.
- Just in front of the door is a piece of foam that rides between the frame and the rocker channel. Take a screwdriver and push around under that foam. If there is rust anywhere, there will be some under there.
- Put the car on a lift, take your screw driver and run it along the frame vertically all around where the b-pillar would be located (the back of door jamb). You are not looking to check the frame, but the rocker channel. The rocker channel runs along the top of the frame between the tires. If you have rust issues on the frame, I can almost promise that you have rust issues with the rocker channel. Stand by, if you are not one to take on a project don't even think about a car with rusty channels. It is a very doable project, but easy it ain't.
- While under the car, check the front of the kick up section of the frame. This will be directly behind the seat.
Where did you see the flaking?
- Just in front of the door is a piece of foam that rides between the frame and the rocker channel. Take a screwdriver and push around under that foam. If there is rust anywhere, there will be some under there.
- Put the car on a lift, take your screw driver and run it along the frame vertically all around where the b-pillar would be located (the back of door jamb). You are not looking to check the frame, but the rocker channel. The rocker channel runs along the top of the frame between the tires. If you have rust issues on the frame, I can almost promise that you have rust issues with the rocker channel. Stand by, if you are not one to take on a project don't even think about a car with rusty channels. It is a very doable project, but easy it ain't.
- While under the car, check the front of the kick up section of the frame. This will be directly behind the seat.
Where did you see the flaking?
Last edited by MoneyPit; Oct 25, 2008 at 12:03 PM. Reason: meant just in front the door not the "front door"
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 444
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From: Dardenne Prairie Mo
If your father in-law has done several vettes in the past, definately take him. It sounds like its a pretty decent car and you know what you are getting into. If the seller is really motivated I doubt he will mind that you check it out thoroughly.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: GA Slingin meat like it's my job
Thanks for the advice guys. After my father-in-law and I took a closer look at the car, it looks like it has been hit in the front left, racked in a ditch or caught between 2 cars at some point. The frame seems to be higher/raised in the front left and back right. Too bad, I guess I'm going to have to keep looking. if anyone knows where a decent bumper car is in the southeast for around $15K or lower, please, let me know. Again, thanks for the advice. This place really is great, especially for those of us newer to/beginning the life.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 444
Likes: 2
From: Dardenne Prairie Mo
If it has been wrecked I do believe I would pass. But you are getting a good feel as what to look for on bumper cars. If thats what you want don't give up. There are plenty of them out there. In this economy I bet you find a decent one sooner than you think.
It took 4 years to find our 71 !
It took 4 years to find our 71 !