Frame off or No frame off???
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Depends on the car, c3s have a few places rust likes to hide and reek havoc,
Some areas can not even been seen with body on frame,
And some things need the body off to fix correctly...
Some areas can not even been seen with body on frame,
And some things need the body off to fix correctly...
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 150
From: Forth Worth TX
How much Time & Money do you have? 
Depends on what you have and what you want to do with the car. Most frame off's cost more than what the final product is worth, this may or may not matter to you. Generally speaking, a frame off on a 1969 big block makes more sense than a frame off on a 1981. Back to my first sentence, Time & Money.
Depends on what you have and what you want to do with the car. Most frame off's cost more than what the final product is worth, this may or may not matter to you. Generally speaking, a frame off on a 1969 big block makes more sense than a frame off on a 1981. Back to my first sentence, Time & Money.
Last edited by Revi; Feb 10, 2018 at 09:41 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,168
Likes: 4,245
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi D,
I really think the "body on-body off' decision is determined by the individual's expectations of what the car will be when it's finished.
I started my restoration thinking the body would remain on the chassis, but after a couple of years work, and looking carefully at cars that had been restored with the body off the chassis, I decided that for me, lifting the body was both necessary and a good idea.
It turned out to be a very interesting and pleasurable experience for me.
I set a budget, $15,000, that both my wife and I were comfortable with.
The largest portion of that amount was devoted to having the car painted by someone else and having most of the chrome plated parts re-plated.
I worked for free.... and that was really fair because no one should have paid me considering how inept I was at doing almost everything.
I was able to finish the car staying with-in that budget but vastly underestimated the amount of time and specific skills it would take.
What the car can be sold for was never an issue because it simply doesn't matter. I did what I wanted to do to the car I wanted to do it to.
Everyone has to make their own decision.
Regards,
Alan
I really think the "body on-body off' decision is determined by the individual's expectations of what the car will be when it's finished.
I started my restoration thinking the body would remain on the chassis, but after a couple of years work, and looking carefully at cars that had been restored with the body off the chassis, I decided that for me, lifting the body was both necessary and a good idea.
It turned out to be a very interesting and pleasurable experience for me.
I set a budget, $15,000, that both my wife and I were comfortable with.
The largest portion of that amount was devoted to having the car painted by someone else and having most of the chrome plated parts re-plated.
I worked for free.... and that was really fair because no one should have paid me considering how inept I was at doing almost everything.
I was able to finish the car staying with-in that budget but vastly underestimated the amount of time and specific skills it would take.
What the car can be sold for was never an issue because it simply doesn't matter. I did what I wanted to do to the car I wanted to do it to.
Everyone has to make their own decision.
Regards,
Alan
Last edited by Alan 71; Feb 11, 2018 at 11:05 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,747
Likes: 713
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Few thoughts to consider IMHO,...
Few thoughts to consider IMHO:
1. Do you need to or want to replace all of the brake lines and fuel lines?
2. Do you want to do a 99.9% paint of the frame or settle for maybe a 75% frame painting?
3. Do you need to repair the frame?
1. Do you need to or want to replace all of the brake lines and fuel lines?
2. Do you want to do a 99.9% paint of the frame or settle for maybe a 75% frame painting?
3. Do you need to repair the frame?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 1,219
Likes: 365
From: Tolland CT
I feel like I need a t-shirt or something with this on it.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 9,063
Likes: 2,736
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Technically, I would say that if the frame needs rust repairs in the common areas, like rear sections of side rails, etc. then a frame off is necessary.
Otherwise, I think the answer to the question is how well do you want to perform a restoration? My goal was to rebuild the entire car to a condition better than GM did, making it more reliable and durable. If this is the standard at which you want to rebuild the car, you have to do a body off. I practically disassembled my car down to the single pieces, analyzed the parts, made decisions on how best to meet my goals, and then carried out the rebuild, one part at a time. Its time consuming and expensive, but I am very happy I invested the time and money in the 4.5 years it took me. I have a brand new 1977 Corvette for way less than the price of a 2018 C7. I think it is worth it, but you have to like this sort of thing.
So, I think ultimately, the decision for you is, how well do you want to rebuild / restore the car. Without a body off, you can only do so much.
Otherwise, I think the answer to the question is how well do you want to perform a restoration? My goal was to rebuild the entire car to a condition better than GM did, making it more reliable and durable. If this is the standard at which you want to rebuild the car, you have to do a body off. I practically disassembled my car down to the single pieces, analyzed the parts, made decisions on how best to meet my goals, and then carried out the rebuild, one part at a time. Its time consuming and expensive, but I am very happy I invested the time and money in the 4.5 years it took me. I have a brand new 1977 Corvette for way less than the price of a 2018 C7. I think it is worth it, but you have to like this sort of thing.
So, I think ultimately, the decision for you is, how well do you want to rebuild / restore the car. Without a body off, you can only do so much.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 1,748
Likes: 268
From: Central Wisconsin
Dougtov, are you comfortable with the extra work it will take? Are you pretty well set up for tools? How much room do you have to do this if you do pull the body off?
I am doing a body off right now and I would have not attempted it if it were not for this forum. Having all these knowledgeable guys here gives me the confidence to keep me going forward.
I am doing a body off right now and I would have not attempted it if it were not for this forum. Having all these knowledgeable guys here gives me the confidence to keep me going forward.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 650
Likes: 51
From: Beaver County PA
Simply, when your frame needs restored. If it doesn't, then you don't need a frame off.
Mine needed sandblasted, straightened and holes patched. It would have been unwise to spend all the time and money to redo paint, interior, etc. and have the frame break going down the highway.
Mine needed sandblasted, straightened and holes patched. It would have been unwise to spend all the time and money to redo paint, interior, etc. and have the frame break going down the highway.
Last edited by cabman72; Feb 11, 2018 at 11:53 PM.