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Hi all, thanks ahead for answers. New here to the vette so I have a "which step first" type of question. My '76 will be a track day car. Not a show car, and not an original resto. I am just about to separate the body from the chassis. The car had some front end damage, and the passenger fender, and part of the hood surround are gone. I think I will need to replace the entire hood surround, and passenger fender. The drivers fender is still intact. I guess I won't know if the frame is bent until I have the body off and can measure?? My gut tells me I should not attempt the body work until the frame is verified straight. If I were to replace the nose now, before body/chassis separation, then find the frame is bent and needs straightening, I will have alignment issues upon putting the body back on the frame. So, is the proper sequence here as follows?:
1. Separate body and chassis
2. Restore chassis
3. Strip main body (minus nose) and prime/undercoat
4. Place body on chassis
5. Do nose body work, then prime
6. Paint car
Thanks again for sharing your knowledge!
So then straighten the frame (if needed), do the body work up front, then remove it to paint the body, and restore the chassis? What if I have all the body bolts out, the motor and trans unbolted? Seems like a lot to put it back to that point.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
You could just bring the frame in. They measure at points on the frame, not the body. Call your local shop and ask first. I had a buddy years ago that would explain the differences to me about frames vs unibody construction. He flipped quite a few totaled cars that had frame damage
C3 body off resto questions
