C3 General General C3 Corvette Discussion not covered in Tech
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

C3 frame interchangability

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 07:05 PM
  #1  
fyreline's Avatar
fyreline
Thread Starter
Supporting Lifetime
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 1,516
From: Syracuse NY
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C1 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2016 C1 of the Year Finalist
Default C3 frame interchangability

If I wanted to, say, put a 1971 C3 body on a later frame (like 1979 or so) - what issues would cause the most headaches? Who has done a job like this, and how did it go? Thanks.
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 07:19 PM
  #2  
The13Bats's Avatar
The13Bats
Race Director
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 11,608
Likes: 780
From: Eustis ( Area 51 Bat Cave ) Fl
Default

People do it while basically the same a lot of changes happened after 73 for the different bumpers and supports,

Here is a great basic run down,

c3 frames
Reply
Old Jun 21, 2018 | 07:51 PM
  #3  
bazza77's Avatar
bazza77
Melting Slicks
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
Likes: 633
From: perth western australia
Default

I just put my 69 coupe on a 78 frame , so far so good the 78 was the last year for the iron diff (I think?) so that's why I took this one , I tried for ages to get a 68-74 decent frame around here and I got tired of looking at crap when this one came along . Try and get an early one and save some hassle with the bumper supports as Bats said .

Anyway my body has the removable exhaust panel but the end outer tab on the 78 frame still caught on the glass as it comes down , not a big deal really but I cut the tab off anyway .Also recreated the side mounting holes for the rear bumper brackets before I dropped it on . I'm using new early body mount ali bushing kit and so far have 2 shims on each #2 and #3 mount and the steering column access hole lines up with the steering box well .

That's as far as I got with it , I still have to see if the tank fits back up in there , I'M SURE I will need to cut /fabricate on it to get things to fit , but I will deal with the challenges as they come .



Last edited by bazza77; Jun 21, 2018 at 07:54 PM.
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2018 | 09:10 AM
  #4  
fyreline's Avatar
fyreline
Thread Starter
Supporting Lifetime
Supporting Lifetime
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 4,273
Likes: 1,516
From: Syracuse NY
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C1 of the Year Winner - Unmodified
2020 C1 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2016 C1 of the Year Finalist
Default

Thanks for all the responses & help so far. You folks are the best!
Reply
Old Jun 22, 2018 | 10:19 AM
  #5  
bradleyb66's Avatar
bradleyb66
Burning Brakes
Supporting Lifetime
10 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 789
Likes: 129
From: Los Banos CA
Default

Originally Posted by bazza77
I just put my 69 coupe on a 78 frame , so far so good the 78 was the last year for the iron diff (I think?) so that's why I took this one ,
Actually, 79 was the last year of the iron diff - 80-82 have the batwing.
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To C3 frame interchangability





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 12:15 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE