68 Vette frame rust
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jul 2019
Posts: 26
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68 Vette frame rust
I found this 68 I really like and the price is reasonable. The engine runs good no smoke, the Muncie 4 speed shifts good. Everything seems to work, it needs bushings and suspension refresh. The big concern is rust. I can’t find any holes in the frame but I’m laying on my back poking around. I got a few pictures, I read about the bird cage so I might be able to get the owner to let me take the kick plate out. I see a bit of rust color near the vin where the rubber meets the glass. Is there a particular place I should poke on with a screw driver to see if it’s bad. Would you run away, it’s a convertible with a decent rag top.
Last edited by Supersport327; Jul 15, 2019 at 05:41 PM. Reason: Pictures did not post
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2017
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From: The Buckle of the Bible Belt. Joplin Mo
I found this 68 I really like and the price is reasonable. The engine runs good no smoke, the Muncie 4 speed shifts good. Everything seems to work, it needs bushings and suspension refresh. The big concern is rust. I can’t find any holes in the frame but I’m laying on my back poking around. I got a few pictures, I read about the bird cage so I might be able to get the owner to let me take the kick plate out. I see a bit of rust color near the vin where the rubber meets the glass. Is there a particular place I should poke on with a screw driver to see if it’s bad. Would you run away, it’s a convertible with a decent rag top.
You will want to check all the body mounts to be certain. There are 8 of them. Two can be accessed from inside behind the kick panels. If the current owner doesn't want to open it for you to look, I would pass. Honestly the car looks like it needs a frame off. You will want to consider that when negotiating a deal. Frame restoration can be time consuming and expensive, considering you have a place to take everything apart and store it while the work is done.
What are your intentions for the car, should you purchase it.? Daily driver, restoration or resto mod.? Got any pictures of the shiny side or the interior.?
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Intermediate
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Thanks for the reply! So my intentions would be to lift the frame off and have it blasted and coated. The guy wants 16k for it, he was asking 18,900 and I offered 14k but he countered with 16k. It has a numbers matching 327 and Muncie 4 speed. It’s a day 1 production sequence number, he has the protecto plate and original owners manual. If the frame has any bad issues I would probably need to get it cheaper.
Obsessed
Joined: Apr 2019
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From: Valencia, Spain
2025 C3 ('68-'73) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Looks pretty good to me. Engine compartment and engine look like they are part of a car that’s been well taken care of and maintained.... Have a look at the sticky 10 rules for buying a C3. Go to post #133
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...-corvette.html
Last edited by Daveinspain; Jul 15, 2019 at 08:03 PM.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
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Look at the rear body mounts in the rear tire well, look at the rear kick up at the front of the rear tire. Those generally are the 2 worst places if it was driven in bad weather conditions. You can look around the windshield, have him cycle the wipers and then stop them with the override switch under the dash and look around in the wiper area.
Then check the kick panels for the front body mounts. Looks like a lot of surface rust so far
Great price for matching numbers
Then check the kick panels for the front body mounts. Looks like a lot of surface rust so far
Great price for matching numbers
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From: Crossville TN
There are some 'changes' under the hood, but nothing earth-shaking. The rust wouldn't bother me, unless it looked a LOT worse in the birdcage area.
That '68 car had International Blue as one of the exterior colors. That car is NOT International Blue. It looks like it was repainted Bridgehampton Blue (factory color in '70-71). I like both of those colors; but if you wanted an original color, that car doesn't have it. But, it looks terrific.
That '68 car had International Blue as one of the exterior colors. That car is NOT International Blue. It looks like it was repainted Bridgehampton Blue (factory color in '70-71). I like both of those colors; but if you wanted an original color, that car doesn't have it. But, it looks terrific.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
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Thanks 7t1, He does have the original intake and valve covers. I’m going to get some pictures of inside the kick panels. I don’t think he would let me take the window trim off. I have an HF inspection camera I might be able to get up in there. I am concerned after seeing the horror stories on here. I see some better 68s with nice Ca. frames on eBay for not much more than the 16k he is asking. I’m starting to think I should buy d lower and stick with 14k offer.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,960
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From: Pittsburgh PA
what engine, base or L79? I'm guessing base since you didnt say.
I don't see anything in those pictures that would scare me as far as the rust.
one odd thing I see, very last picture, by the drivers hood hinge it that some kind of big flat patch on the firewall?
I really dont think 16k is a bad price for that car. nicely optioned vert.
I don't see anything in those pictures that would scare me as far as the rust.
one odd thing I see, very last picture, by the drivers hood hinge it that some kind of big flat patch on the firewall?
I really dont think 16k is a bad price for that car. nicely optioned vert.
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Intermediate
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Thanks for you input Tiger Joe! I don’t know what that is on the firewall. I wonder if a repair was performed. Thanks for pointing that out, I hope someone wasn’t trying to fix an issue under that. Your the 2nd person that didn’t think the rust was that bad so that is encouraging. I’m going to see if he will let me tap on the frame lightly to test for major flaking Saturday. Rusty frames scare me especially on one I’m not familiar with. The guy advises I can come and check the 8 chassis mounting areas.
Is my vette stock?? HAHA
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 20,211
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From: Im not allowed to tell you
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
16K?!!!! Buy it before I do!!!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: meraux LA
I see nothing that would scare me off on this vette. Is it close to you to see? If so take a water bottle with you, pour it by the upper corners of the fenders on the windshield. If you see water drip in the middle of the floor boards, around where your shins would be, there may be some rust in the lower windshield frames. This is just a way to check without pulling everything apart.
Looks to be a very well cared for driver. Get it and enjoy it.
Looks to be a very well cared for driver. Get it and enjoy it.
