Strange frame issue

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Jun 21, 2010 | 11:01 AM

gleninsandiego

Thread Starter

Safety Car

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 4,023

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From: La Mesa CA

Strange frame issue

I just picked up an unrunning 73 from a woman who owned it from the late seventies. She told me it had been in an accident in the front left fender 30 years ago. I have spent time trying to figure out the extent of the damage and repair, which has been very little and isolated to the front left fender. However, as I was taking a closer look at the front left frame between the drivers side door and drivers side front wheel, there are some minor dimples on the botom and side. The wierd thing is there is about a weld area about the size of your little finger on the outside area of the frame. I am trying to figure out how it got there. I assume it is from the accident but am having a hard time coming up with a scenario could twist the frame that much require that kind of weld when the rest of the frame and body appear to be so straight. Maybe it got bent in from the wreck and they pulled it out there and then welded over it? Here are some pictures from the top, the bottom and the side. Any ideas?

Jun 21, 2010 | 12:59 PM

Belgian1979vette

Melting Slicks

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 2,164

Likes: 7

From: Beringen

IMO the frame has had repair done to it. This area is typical.

Jun 21, 2010 | 02:02 PM

gleninsandiego

Thread Starter

Safety Car

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 4,023

Likes: 1,181

From: La Mesa CA

I spent some time talking to some body shop guys familiar with corvettes. Definitely some repair done, but also may have been a place they welded a tab to pull on. Going in tomorrow to the frame shop to check how good the repair was.

Jun 21, 2010 | 02:16 PM

Skip Burney

Burning Brakes

Joined: Jul 2008

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From: Brooklet Ga.

looks kinda like it was heated with a torch and straightened but not totally

Jun 21, 2010 | 04:28 PM

Alan 71

Team Owner

Joined: Sep 2006

Posts: 31,160

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From: Westminster Maryland

Hi GW,
I noticed in the second picture that the bottom cap of the charcoal canister is missing. It just vents to the air, so it's not a big deal now, but when you start driving and it rains it might get the charcoal wet and become an issue.
Regards,
Alan

Jun 21, 2010 | 10:34 PM

tnovot

Racer

Joined: Feb 2008

Posts: 497

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From: Streator Illinois

Aside from what needs to be done to get it running because of sitting a while, consider yourself very lucky if that is the only issue on a 37 year old car.
Terry

Jun 22, 2010 | 12:51 AM

gleninsandiego

Thread Starter

Safety Car

Joined: Jun 2004

Posts: 4,023

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From: La Mesa CA

This seems to be a common area for frames to be tweaked. Does anyone ever strengthen them there by adding on addtional metal in the form of plates or gussets?

Thanks

Jun 22, 2010 | 01:34 PM

Belgian1979vette

Melting Slicks

Joined: Mar 2002

Posts: 2,164

Likes: 7

From: Beringen

Quote:

Originally Posted by gwgwgw

This seems to be a common area for frames to be tweaked. Does anyone ever strengthen them there by adding on addtional metal in the form of plates or gussets?

Thanks

The frame is supposed to bend in this area if it gets hit. Besides adding gussets in a 2 plane frame, won't do much for stiffening the car. The only way to stiffen her up, is to add a 3 dimensional cage.