Hi! So I’m looking for some advice on restoring my 79 vette, I recently found out the guy who sold it to me had it registered as a clean title when it was previously wrecked. My frame is straight and fine but the body is a wreck covered in bondo and poorly done fiber glass. As much as I know I’ll never get the money back out of it I have to fix it for the sentimental value that it holds. Can anyone tell me if it’s possible to put a new body (different shell) on the original frame? The damage is localized to the front end and possibly the driver side door. Would I be able to do a new front clip? I’m only 19 and I’m still learning as much as I can about this car so any help at all is greatly appreciated!

 

My first thought being you are 19 is to enjoy the car as is, post up a picture of the areas you're concerned about.

 

Any idea of how the damage was incurred? Do the doors operate correctly? Any idea of the condition of the birdcage?

Before you undertake any work, you need to fully assess what you are dealing with and develop a plan, including contingencies for unseen damages. Then develop a budget for accomplishing the plan, including contingencies. Far better to know what you are facing in advance than to realize when you are in deep that the water is still rising.

Always think it through before you act. There is an infinite amount of knowledge from members on this site but also be aware that along with advice comes a wide spectrum of opinions. Take each for what it is worth. You alone are the ultimate decision maker so do your homework before committing to any path.

Looking forward to helping out.

 

To answer your basic question,, Yes you can put new or like new used parts on that car.
Front clip,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, yes.
Doors,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,yes
Compleat body,,,,, yes

If its running and driveing now, enjoy it while you collect your needed parts.

 

As stated above, if everything looks correct and works correctly, then drive and enjoy it.
You could easily purchase another 79 and swap the bodies or purchase original 79 or aftermarket replacement parts.
I purchased my 73 with the purpose to do a complete body off restomod project.
I drove it for seven years while I collected parts, and built a complete new drivetrain.
Post some pictures of what you have so others can chime in!

 

How bad it damage? I am fixing a spot on my son's 74 front drinker side fender (wheel wells forward). Its easy to get it back to bare glass and do any repairs right without any excessive bondo. Just because it was wrecked does not mean it was totaled. Make the repairs... chances are you can still drive it the way it is until you have enough cash to get it resprayed to match. You can replace parts as needed. Fiberglass and new door....

 

As the other Members said...add pics of the car to this thread.

 

First, I would take the car to a tire or muffler shop and ask if they will put your car on their lift so you can do an assessment. (Offer them $10 bucks or tell em you might want to buy tires or exhaust from them)
Photograph and take a video of EVERYTHING to review later.
Do a full assessment of the damage to the frame, suspension, bumper brackets, etc. (This is done through measurements, cross squaring, etc.)
I would also assess the fiberglass damage from the back side. (Usually repairs are done poorly and you can see and feel hand laid roughness on the back side of the repair.)
Also look for fresh paint or undercoating on the fiberglass.
I don't recommend replacing the entire clip unless absolutely necessary. Usually you can graft repair panels in at bonding seams, and there are plenty of body panels available...I also recommend using used GM panels instead of aftermarket.
IF....After all of the assessments and skill learning, you decide to take this on with your skill set...
Start by sanding (grinding) the paint and bondo off the get back to bare fiberglass ...
There are plenty of resources, Google, Youtube, here, to help you in the restoration or to determine if the car is not worth the effort and expense.
Don't let your age stop you...I bought my first Corvette (1974 L-82 Coupe) at age 20 and did my own engine, paint and interior restoration. (Many frame off's came after that.)
Learned fiberglass repair from working on Corvettes and boats, and I even ended up teaching fiberglass mold making and fiberglass repair at a technical college.
We all started somewhere, and poor boys like me had to fix and restore what we could afford....But that is how we learned...Good luck!

 

Thank you guys so much, I truly do appreciate all the advice, I’m working on getting it back to a point that it’s safe to drive, brakes, electrical, all the normal stuff, so she will be loved until I can get to all the suspension and body work, the underside of the car is a mess all the bushings are trashed but we’ll get it cleaned up soon. I’ll have some pictures soon. For those that were wondering the doors open but are sticky, the hood will open and close but it’s not lined up right, it’s hard to see the damage from pictures truthfully, but it will have to be replaced as far as I can see. I’ll keep this thread updated because there’s a lot more to this project than just the body, but I needed advice to see if I could even save it and you guys solved that mystery. Thank you guys so much I really appreciate it! Pictures to come!!!

 

Agree with others advice here. Get the car safely driveable and enjoy it for some time while formulating a plan. If it were me, I'd do just one project at a time, so that the car is off the road for a minimal amount of time with each project. Good luck and come back here often for advice and help.