dont know

 

Found out guys that the backing plate on that side has a hole in it and is very rusty,so the hole corner is somewhat ready to rust out.

 

Here's a video in which the topic of frame rust is discussed. I found the remark about how much steel may be lost through rust to be an eye opener. My take is if the frame has rusted through in one area, it's quite possible a significant amount of steel may have been lost in other areas which may not be apparent. Thin walls will weaken the frame. Maybe not to the point where it will break apart but may cause added flexing or possibly future cracking? Yes, this is a sales video aimed to sell frames but he does bring up good points to consider.

 

The first C3 I bought many years ago looked very similar to your picture. At the time I bought it I didn't know the extent of the rust. I will guarantee there is going to be a good deal more decay than your photo is showing. I did enjoy the car and drove it that way for a couple years however. When I sold it virtually everyone pointed out the need for major frame repair. If you have any thoughts about sinking a good deal of money in this, I would keep looking.

 

That 'says' it right there.

You are not worried about it being a full blown perfect car. Because I can only ASSUME that 'taking it to shows' means local shows where they are not going crazy on judging every little piece.

Driving it and getting joy out of it means just that. You do not want PERFECT car that just sits in the garage that you look and and let friends come by and see sitting there.

AS for the rust...this area shown is not good but that is just a photo and more thorough investigation would be needed. YES...I am sure that there is more rust somewhere......and I also have customers whose frames have rust issues and they enjoy them and keep them protected as much as possible.....thus...the rust does not go NUCLEAR. If rust is kept dry...it greatly slows down the process even though it has started. If driven in wet weather all the time and in salt...common sense would dictate that the rust will accelerate.

If the car after you looking at it has basically a good frame that is solid and you can not find major issues...then the choice is yours. As you wrote: "get my money or most of it back"...tells me that you are not all caught up n trying to make a buck off of it. And it seems that this Corvette is for your pure enjoyment.

BUT keep this in mind...NOT all people think like you and many are looking for an INVESTMENT and if they see problems....they will try to beat you down on the price if and when you go and sell it in the future.

NO...they are wasp nests....mud dobbers or dirt dobbers as they are called in my area. An INSTANT indicator of a car not being moved for some time.

DUB

 

I purchased mine with rust in that same area. It was one of the reasons I got a good price on it. Not a crisis as long as you know the deal going in.

I am still driving my car with said rust issue, but mine IS NOT as bad as what is pictured. It doesn't look like there's a lot of metal left there.

The risk is that you end up with a Corvette Taco. If that particular portion of the frame gives out, there isn't much else holding the "kickups" to the rest of the frame but some gussets that aren't intended to hold the two halves together.

If the rest of the car is absolutely stellar in EVERY respect other than this, then maybe it would be worth taking the dive. But that would seem odd, wouldn't it? Everything to be freaking awesome except for this horrible cancer in this one spot? I mean...there's metal under the body not far from that spot that is probably pretty crappy looking too. You just need to look deeper to see it.

For me, a 20k car is no joke. I'd rather purchase a SOLID $20k car that had some other issues (paint issues? some interior issue? old suspension rubber?) than a $20k car who's ONLY issue is an item that needs to have the body removed to correctly address.

 

There will worse in the pocket areas . Frame killer. Looking at that almost asuredly will have lots mor you can t see.

Removing the body is not small potatoes . Your committed to a huge under taking.....that leads to restoration of everything. Very expensive.

You would be better off with perfect frame and birdcage car..no rust .....and fixing everything else ....

 

Been reading other replies and I am of another opinion than some. My 68 looked very simular. Rust in the same area, bird cage in great shape. The rest of the frame had surface rust with the usual pitting. After check and probing I felt the frame really was in more than acceptable condition. I sandblasted the frame, cut out the bad area (like yours) welded in patches, ground down the welds, primed the complete frame and will be applying the finish paint in the spring due to getting side track with a boat reconditioning project. The frame came out just fine. As long as that area is truly the bad area, I would not let it stop the purchase as long as the price is in your comfort zone and you are confident in your ability to make the repair or farm it out, and won't be a very expensive repair. This is the hobby. Good luck.

 

Here is the some of the back side of the same place.
Thanks guys

 

I TOTALLY agree with your statement. My earlier point, though, was that this is a tough place to start a relationship with a $20k car.

The only way to fix it right (either with support plates or complete replacement with aftermarket frame segments) is to remove the body from the car.

Absolutely...if this is the deal and you're going into it eyes open and you feel THAT strongly about the rest of the car, then go for it.

I could process this repair myself on my car for

 

I would say that you still have to remove the body to do it right . Are you up for that ? If not you will only de-value the car by trying to patch it.

 

Honestly.....patching this area ...being where it is ...is not that bad. And I could do it and make it so you could not tell that it was patched....but then again...I know how to do it so you can not tell. Not bragging...just stating a fact. And this ares a being located on the side of the rear frame...I could cut and section in a piece without the body having to come off....and that is under the assumption that when I cut out the bad area....the parent steel of the frame was still thick enough to accept welding and still having structural integrity.

WOULD I DO IT....depends. If it was a challenge to see if I could and you could not tell...YES I WOULD.

Would I do it if it were my Corvette....unknown... because I would have to remove the body and see if there is other areas that raise a concern IF more were found and IF I were trying to bring it back and restore so it can be judged.

DUB

 

I waited to late he sold the car to another guy and the guy that bought it said he was going to repair the spot for now.

 

Pass for 20 grand. There are others out there. It takes time to find the right one.