Frame question
Racer
Joined: Aug 2023
Posts: 340
Likes: 3
From: US
Great advice.
Ouch...I won't lie.....$17k for a 75 that has a rusted out frame and needs a full restoration is a big kick in the *****...
You just have no room to justify the expense...You can be $30k into a car like this, and will never get that out of it...
I don't know the condition of the body, engine, interior, but if you have to put any money in these areas, it can eat your lunch quickly..
I guess if I were in your position, I would just sit down and do the math...Assess what the parts and labor will cost from here to finish the project.
If you plan to keep the car and don't mind having 30k into it, then who cares what it may sell for in the future...
.Maybe you can continue and replace the frame, do minimal / clean, paint and reinstall...and put it back together on the cheap...
The alternatives is to sell it as is...But if you already have the body off, you are already beyond the point of no return...
Then you get into the "Might as wells"...Fuel line, gas tank, front and rear suspension, brakes, brake lines, ball joints...It all adds up quickly.
Third option is to part it out...You may get close to recouping your investment so far, but it is a hassle to sell individual parts...
Wish I had better option ideas...but I think the best way forward requires a realistic assessment, make a plan, then don't look back!
Whatever you decide, keep us posted... Your experience may help others...
Dale
You just have no room to justify the expense...You can be $30k into a car like this, and will never get that out of it...
I don't know the condition of the body, engine, interior, but if you have to put any money in these areas, it can eat your lunch quickly..
I guess if I were in your position, I would just sit down and do the math...Assess what the parts and labor will cost from here to finish the project.
If you plan to keep the car and don't mind having 30k into it, then who cares what it may sell for in the future...
.Maybe you can continue and replace the frame, do minimal / clean, paint and reinstall...and put it back together on the cheap...
The alternatives is to sell it as is...But if you already have the body off, you are already beyond the point of no return...
Then you get into the "Might as wells"...Fuel line, gas tank, front and rear suspension, brakes, brake lines, ball joints...It all adds up quickly.
Third option is to part it out...You may get close to recouping your investment so far, but it is a hassle to sell individual parts...
Wish I had better option ideas...but I think the best way forward requires a realistic assessment, make a plan, then don't look back!
Whatever you decide, keep us posted... Your experience may help others...
Dale
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 26
From: Blue ridge Georgia
Ouch...I won't lie.....$17k for a 75 that has a rusted out frame and needs a full restoration is a big kick in the *****...
You just have no room to justify the expense...You can be $30k into a car like this, and will never get that out of it...
I don't know the condition of the body, engine, interior, but if you have to put any money in these areas, it can eat your lunch quickly..
I guess if I were in your position, I would just sit down and do the math...Assess what the parts and labor will cost from here to finish the project.
If you plan to keep the car and don't mind having 30k into it, then who cares what it may sell for in the future...
.Maybe you can continue and replace the frame, do minimal / clean, paint and reinstall...and put it back together on the cheap...
The alternatives is to sell it as is...But if you already have the body off, you are already beyond the point of no return...
Then you get into the "Might as wells"...Fuel line, gas tank, front and rear suspension, brakes, brake lines, ball joints...It all adds up quickly.
Third option is to part it out...You may get close to recouping your investment so far, but it is a hassle to sell individual parts...
Wish I had better option ideas...but I think the best way forward requires a realistic assessment, make a plan, then don't look back!
Whatever you decide, keep us posted... Your experience may help others...
Dale
You just have no room to justify the expense...You can be $30k into a car like this, and will never get that out of it...
I don't know the condition of the body, engine, interior, but if you have to put any money in these areas, it can eat your lunch quickly..
I guess if I were in your position, I would just sit down and do the math...Assess what the parts and labor will cost from here to finish the project.
If you plan to keep the car and don't mind having 30k into it, then who cares what it may sell for in the future...
.Maybe you can continue and replace the frame, do minimal / clean, paint and reinstall...and put it back together on the cheap...
The alternatives is to sell it as is...But if you already have the body off, you are already beyond the point of no return...
Then you get into the "Might as wells"...Fuel line, gas tank, front and rear suspension, brakes, brake lines, ball joints...It all adds up quickly.
Third option is to part it out...You may get close to recouping your investment so far, but it is a hassle to sell individual parts...
Wish I had better option ideas...but I think the best way forward requires a realistic assessment, make a plan, then don't look back!
Whatever you decide, keep us posted... Your experience may help others...
Dale
ok call me stupid lol but here we go
engine needs rebuilt $ 3000
transmission needs replaced $ 2500
trailing arms need rebuilt $ 1500
all new suspension front rear $ 4500
all new gas and brake lines $ 500
new gas tank and sending unit $ 500
all new wire harness $1750
misc parts and hardware $ 7000
body needs repaired $ 15,000
frame fixed $ 2000
new glass $ 450
new paint brandywine $ 12,000
new interior $ 3500
and thats probably not going to finish it. So yeah i am crazy as a run over snake lol
Pro
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 728
Likes: 346
From: Smyrna, TN
Nope....Not gonna call you that...
When I do some foolish things that cost me money, (and I have done plenty) I like to call it "Tuition in the school of hard knocks"...
But I am glad you have taken a realistic assessment before you got too far into it...
Now....We are here to help you...
Your numbers are very close to what I would expect since I have restored a few C3's frame off ...
You might be a bit high on some of your misc lines, but things like tires and exhaust aren't on your list...so you are probably pretty close.
So how to proceed? I think there are plenty of very knowledgeable guys and gals on this forum that can offer sage advice...
Personally, I think a full restoration is off the table...It just doesn't make sense to be upside down that much on this car.
I also wouldn't want to mess with the hassle of selling parts...That is just me. I have too many other things to do with my time...(Like buying parts. LOL)
But that may be an option you wouldn't mind doing...
I think I would probably put it back together unrestored, only getting the absolute minimum necessary parts, (many of them used) just to get it back on the road.
Then I would sell the car and find a better candidate...
But I would do the same exercise as you did before.
I would make a new list of the bare minimum to get the car back together and on the road again. I would use as many good used parts as I could...
Does the engine really need to be rebuilt? Trans? Paint?
Just make a list to see what that path would look like money wise, keeping in mind what other cars are selling for. in similar condition..
Then I would make a third list of the prices you could get from parting out the car...
These lists will give you the data you need to compare and make an informed decision and a sound action plan...
Keep us posted,
Dale
When I do some foolish things that cost me money, (and I have done plenty) I like to call it "Tuition in the school of hard knocks"...
But I am glad you have taken a realistic assessment before you got too far into it...
Now....We are here to help you...
Your numbers are very close to what I would expect since I have restored a few C3's frame off ...
You might be a bit high on some of your misc lines, but things like tires and exhaust aren't on your list...so you are probably pretty close.
So how to proceed? I think there are plenty of very knowledgeable guys and gals on this forum that can offer sage advice...
Personally, I think a full restoration is off the table...It just doesn't make sense to be upside down that much on this car.
I also wouldn't want to mess with the hassle of selling parts...That is just me. I have too many other things to do with my time...(Like buying parts. LOL)
But that may be an option you wouldn't mind doing...
I think I would probably put it back together unrestored, only getting the absolute minimum necessary parts, (many of them used) just to get it back on the road.
Then I would sell the car and find a better candidate...
But I would do the same exercise as you did before.
I would make a new list of the bare minimum to get the car back together and on the road again. I would use as many good used parts as I could...
Does the engine really need to be rebuilt? Trans? Paint?
Just make a list to see what that path would look like money wise, keeping in mind what other cars are selling for. in similar condition..
Then I would make a third list of the prices you could get from parting out the car...
These lists will give you the data you need to compare and make an informed decision and a sound action plan...
Keep us posted,
Dale
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 26
From: Blue ridge Georgia
Nope....Not gonna call you that...
When I do some foolish things that cost me money, (and I have done plenty) I like to call it "Tuition in the school of hard knocks"...
But I am glad you have taken a realistic assessment before you got too far into it...
Now....We are here to help you...
Your numbers are very close to what I would expect since I have restored a few C3's frame off ...
You might be a bit high on some of your misc lines, but things like tires and exhaust aren't on your list...so you are probably pretty close.
So how to proceed? I think there are plenty of very knowledgeable guys and gals on this forum that can offer sage advice...
Personally, I think a full restoration is off the table...It just doesn't make sense to be upside down that much on this car.
I also wouldn't want to mess with the hassle of selling parts...That is just me. I have too many other things to do with my time...(Like buying parts. LOL)
But that may be an option you wouldn't mind doing...
I think I would probably put it back together unrestored, only getting the absolute minimum necessary parts, (many of them used) just to get it back on the road.
Then I would sell the car and find a better candidate...
But I would do the same exercise as you did before.
I would make a new list of the bare minimum to get the car back together and on the road again. I would use as many good used parts as I could...
Does the engine really need to be rebuilt? Trans? Paint?
Just make a list to see what that path would look like money wise, keeping in mind what other cars are selling for. in similar condition..
Then I would make a third list of the prices you could get from parting out the car...
These lists will give you the data you need to compare and make an informed decision and a sound action plan...
Keep us posted,
Dale
When I do some foolish things that cost me money, (and I have done plenty) I like to call it "Tuition in the school of hard knocks"...
But I am glad you have taken a realistic assessment before you got too far into it...
Now....We are here to help you...
Your numbers are very close to what I would expect since I have restored a few C3's frame off ...
You might be a bit high on some of your misc lines, but things like tires and exhaust aren't on your list...so you are probably pretty close.
So how to proceed? I think there are plenty of very knowledgeable guys and gals on this forum that can offer sage advice...
Personally, I think a full restoration is off the table...It just doesn't make sense to be upside down that much on this car.
I also wouldn't want to mess with the hassle of selling parts...That is just me. I have too many other things to do with my time...(Like buying parts. LOL)
But that may be an option you wouldn't mind doing...
I think I would probably put it back together unrestored, only getting the absolute minimum necessary parts, (many of them used) just to get it back on the road.
Then I would sell the car and find a better candidate...
But I would do the same exercise as you did before.
I would make a new list of the bare minimum to get the car back together and on the road again. I would use as many good used parts as I could...
Does the engine really need to be rebuilt? Trans? Paint?
Just make a list to see what that path would look like money wise, keeping in mind what other cars are selling for. in similar condition..
Then I would make a third list of the prices you could get from parting out the car...
These lists will give you the data you need to compare and make an informed decision and a sound action plan...
Keep us posted,
Dale
Pro
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 728
Likes: 346
From: Smyrna, TN
Well...It looks like you are well into it! lol
I see you have a nice lift and tool box...That tells me you wrench some..
What is your skill set? Can you do paint and body?
Engine? Chassis? Willing to learn and try?
At least the bird cage looks pretty good on that top corner...
Does the rest look like that? Did you remove the front clip to get to a rusted A-pillar?
I'm gonna let some other's chime in on this one...
But in the meantime, I think you need that good spreadsheet of realistic costs for minimal restoration...as well as one for part out...
More pictures will help generate better opinions in the forum...
Cheers,
Dale
I see you have a nice lift and tool box...That tells me you wrench some..
What is your skill set? Can you do paint and body?
Engine? Chassis? Willing to learn and try?
At least the bird cage looks pretty good on that top corner...
Does the rest look like that? Did you remove the front clip to get to a rusted A-pillar?
I'm gonna let some other's chime in on this one...
But in the meantime, I think you need that good spreadsheet of realistic costs for minimal restoration...as well as one for part out...
More pictures will help generate better opinions in the forum...
Cheers,
Dale
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 26
From: Blue ridge Georgia
Well...It looks like you are well into it! lol
I see you have a nice lift and tool box...That tells me you wrench some..
What is your skill set? Can you do paint and body?
Engine? Chassis? Willing to learn and try?
At least the bird cage looks pretty good on that top corner...
Does the rest look like that? Did you remove the front clip to get to a rusted A-pillar?
I'm gonna let some other's chime in on this one...
But in the meantime, I think you need that good spreadsheet of realistic costs for minimal restoration...as well as one for part out...
More pictures will help generate better opinions in the forum...
Cheers,
Dale
I see you have a nice lift and tool box...That tells me you wrench some..
What is your skill set? Can you do paint and body?
Engine? Chassis? Willing to learn and try?
At least the bird cage looks pretty good on that top corner...
Does the rest look like that? Did you remove the front clip to get to a rusted A-pillar?
I'm gonna let some other's chime in on this one...
But in the meantime, I think you need that good spreadsheet of realistic costs for minimal restoration...as well as one for part out...
More pictures will help generate better opinions in the forum...
Cheers,
Dale
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 26
From: Blue ridge Georgia
Well...It looks like you are well into it! lol
I see you have a nice lift and tool box...That tells me you wrench some..
What is your skill set? Can you do paint and body?
Engine? Chassis? Willing to learn and try?
At least the bird cage looks pretty good on that top corner...
Does the rest look like that? Did you remove the front clip to get to a rusted A-pillar?
I'm gonna let some other's chime in on this one...
But in the meantime, I think you need that good spreadsheet of realistic costs for minimal restoration...as well as one for part out...
More pictures will help generate better opinions in the forum...
Cheers,
Dale
I see you have a nice lift and tool box...That tells me you wrench some..
What is your skill set? Can you do paint and body?
Engine? Chassis? Willing to learn and try?
At least the bird cage looks pretty good on that top corner...
Does the rest look like that? Did you remove the front clip to get to a rusted A-pillar?
I'm gonna let some other's chime in on this one...
But in the meantime, I think you need that good spreadsheet of realistic costs for minimal restoration...as well as one for part out...
More pictures will help generate better opinions in the forum...
Cheers,
Dale
front clip is still on. Don’t even want to go there I have already added up my new parts receipt they total over 7,000 dollars that I have spent already. All parts are on a shelf waiting for next step. When the frame gets done
oh and I just got the new mono spring the other day finally.
only saving grace is that I also have a 73 coupe that most of the parts I have will fit on it.
Pro
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 728
Likes: 346
From: Smyrna, TN
If I am seeing this correctly, the first three pics are of #2 frame & body mount (A-pillar) on the passenger side?
Or are they #3 mount on Driver's side?
It is almost unrecognizable...Is that a piece of sheetmetal bonded over the hole in the frame?
Looks like they bondo'ed the crap out of the frame to hide the rustout and then undercoated over it...??? or roof tar?
And it looks like several layers have been applied...
From these pics, it looks like that frame is toast...
I hate to see the stuff people do to deceive others...
The A-pillar bottoms are repairable...
Or are they #3 mount on Driver's side?
It is almost unrecognizable...Is that a piece of sheetmetal bonded over the hole in the frame?
Looks like they bondo'ed the crap out of the frame to hide the rustout and then undercoated over it...??? or roof tar?
And it looks like several layers have been applied...
From these pics, it looks like that frame is toast...
I hate to see the stuff people do to deceive others...
The A-pillar bottoms are repairable...
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 26
From: Blue ridge Georgia
If I am seeing this correctly, the first three pics are of #2 frame & body mount (A-pillar) on the passenger side?
Or are they #3 mount on Driver's side?
It is almost unrecognizable...Is that a piece of sheetmetal bonded over the hole in the frame?
Looks like they bondo'ed the crap out of the frame to hide the rustout and then undercoated over it...??? or roof tar?
And it looks like several layers have been applied...
From these pics, it looks like that frame is toast...
I hate to see the stuff people do to deceive others...
The A-pillar bottoms are repairable...
Or are they #3 mount on Driver's side?
It is almost unrecognizable...Is that a piece of sheetmetal bonded over the hole in the frame?
Looks like they bondo'ed the crap out of the frame to hide the rustout and then undercoated over it...??? or roof tar?
And it looks like several layers have been applied...
From these pics, it looks like that frame is toast...
I hate to see the stuff people do to deceive others...
The A-pillar bottoms are repairable...
other are of both driver and passenger side # 2 body mounts
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,234
Likes: 7,827
From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
2025 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Those sections of frame are definitely repairable. But how is the rest of the frame? The number 2 mounts in the bird cage are definitely repairable, they sell inserts for these as this is common.
but how is the windshield frame?
If the damage is isolated to these areas it's definitely fixable.
As far as how much your sticking into it money wise, I'd hate to add up what I've put into mine over the years. And it's on going.
Sounds like you'll have a nice car in the end.
but how is the windshield frame?
If the damage is isolated to these areas it's definitely fixable.
As far as how much your sticking into it money wise, I'd hate to add up what I've put into mine over the years. And it's on going.
Sounds like you'll have a nice car in the end.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 178
Likes: 26
From: Blue ridge Georgia
Those sections of frame are definitely repairable. But how is the rest of the frame? The number 2 mounts in the bird cage are definitely repairable, they sell inserts for these as this is common.
but how is the windshield frame?
If the damage is isolated to these areas it's definitely fixable.
As far as how much your sticking into it money wise, I'd hate to add up what I've put into mine over the years. And it's on going.
Sounds like you'll have a nice car in the end.
but how is the windshield frame?
If the damage is isolated to these areas it's definitely fixable.
As far as how much your sticking into it money wise, I'd hate to add up what I've put into mine over the years. And it's on going.
Sounds like you'll have a nice car in the end.
the weld shop said he would tackle the frame but if he got into deep with cutting the frame up he would tell me first that I should consider getting another frame.
Old Pro Solo Guy
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 8,094
Likes: 4,447
From: Marlton NJ
I had a pro welder stop by my house garage for some work. Couple hours work. Welded a bracket on for just beer money. Like $100-200.
You could do most of the cutting/grinding prep work etc. like I did.
He works on Nuclear power plants and such so this was just a fun little diversion project for him.
Tap it with a hammer and/or screwdriver all over. Thin/weak spots ring different or not at all.
Vette Products of Michigan has the old GM molds and has individual frame parts available, main rail repair sections, as well as complete brand new frames.
They are the mfgr that all the vette suppliers buy from.
http://www.vetteproducts.net/
You could do most of the cutting/grinding prep work etc. like I did.
He works on Nuclear power plants and such so this was just a fun little diversion project for him.
Tap it with a hammer and/or screwdriver all over. Thin/weak spots ring different or not at all.
Vette Products of Michigan has the old GM molds and has individual frame parts available, main rail repair sections, as well as complete brand new frames.
They are the mfgr that all the vette suppliers buy from.
http://www.vetteproducts.net/