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Hello to everyone, the attached pictures are of a purchase I have made of a 1978 Corvette frame. Just wanted to get some feedback on what you guys think of the condition. Also planning to modify this to allow for a 1976 style gas tank, because that’s the year I own. Underneath my 76 looks like it sat at the bottom of the ocean for years. It’s that bad I’m looking to rebuild and start from a roller frame.
Looks like it's got a lot of old under coating on it. A lot of people on this forum just hate that. Looks a lot like my frame! Some may not like all that old under coating. But you can bet in the places it hasn't chipped off. There's a solid frame under there.
Problem is these frames like to rust from the inside out. So no amount of photos will enable any of us to truly judge this frame.
The frame doesn’t look too bad. A good picture to have would be of the area in the front of the rear wheel well, that’s a common rust point. I would be looking at the birdcage in the regular places too.
Those control arm bushings are completely shot, and as far as the undercoating goes personally I would be cleaning all that nasty old stuff off and redoing it, or just hitting the underside with regular paint.
The frame doesn’t look too bad. A good picture to have would be of the area in the front of the rear wheel well, that’s a common rust point. I would be looking at the birdcage in the regular places too.
Those control arm bushings are completely shot, and as far as the undercoating goes personally I would be cleaning all that nasty old stuff off and redoing it, or just hitting the underside with regular paint.
As far as your music taste goes… Drake?
This is the level of rust underneath. 😞 This happened last summer hasn’t moved since. Luckily I didn’t cause any damage to the body.
Well that trailing arm is shot. But really can't see any of the frame in that photo. But if that exhaust system is representative of the frame..........
Really, really does make one wonder about the bird cage!
Yes the 78 and 76 bodies are different at the back , to get a 76 style tank to line up with the filler hole in a 76 body its not where a tank sits and is fastened to a 78 frame.
I put a 78 frame under a 69 with a 77 style tank (same as a 76 style ). So I was pretty close to your problem anyway. Its not really that big of a deal to make up an extra cross bar to support the tank . I did mine 5 years ago and don't have many pics handy , but I could get some if you want when you get to that part .
Yes the 78 and 76 bodies are different at the back , to get a 76 style tank to line up with the filler hole in a 76 body its not where a tank sits and is fastened to a 78 frame.
I put a 78 frame under a 69 with a 77 style tank (same as a 76 style ). So I was pretty close to your problem anyway. Its not really that big of a deal to make up an extra cross bar to support the tank . I did mine 5 years ago and don't have many pics handy , but I could get some if you want when you get to that part .
Well that trailing arm is shot. But really can't see any of the frame in that photo. But if that exhaust system is representative of the frame..........
Really, really does make one wonder about the bird cage!
This is the driver side floorboard.
I take back my prior statement about the rest of my 76’ being in good condition. A few of you guys kept mentioning something about the birdcage condition. I got curious and lifted up this old carpet. This is what I found so let’s say this represents the birdcage.
While you’re in there I would remove the sill plate and kick panel. Looking at the body mount and frame around it should give you an even better idea of what your birdcage looks like.
While you’re in there I would remove the sill plate and kick panel. Looking at the body mount and frame around it should give you an even better idea of what your birdcage looks like.
Glad you’re not trying to fix that one! I certainly wouldn’t take on that job!! But then I’m not as good of a mechanic as most of the guys here… 😉🤣❤️
Im bringing this one back! After I have the body removed, I plan on cutting out the old and having someone weld in these new steel floor pans. How hard could that be for a skilled welder? 😂
i would start with a better body. that guy is waaaaay worse than just the floor pans. roll down to post 107 and read. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ispreloading=1 you need a 3 bay garage to do this. 1 bay for frame, 1 for body and 1 for all the stuff you pull off. you need a mig welder and the ability to use it on automotive sheet metal. and you need 3 years of spare time. or you need to pay somebody MORE than twice what this car will be worth when finished and you STILL need those 3 years to wait while they restore it in their spare time. it is called body shop jail. your car is pushed to the back of the shop and forgotten. or body is pulled and THEN it is forgotten while all the parts end up on somebody else's car. get out of this car NOW! if you lose 10k you are still making out better than if you try to proceed down this slippery slope that ends at a cliff.
Last edited by derekderek; Aug 1, 2024 at 10:04 AM.
i would start with a better body. that guy is waaaaay worse than just the floor pans. roll down to post 107 and read. https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ispreloading=1 you need a 3 bay garage to do this. 1 bay for frame, 1 for body and 1 for all the stuff you pull off. you need a mig welder and the ability to use it on automotive sheet metal. and you need 3 years of spare time. or you need to pay somebody MORE than twice what this car will be worth when finished and you STILL need those 3 years to wait while they restore it in their spare time. it is called body shop jail. your car is pushed to the back of the shop and forgotten. or body is pulled and THEN it is forgotten while all the parts end up on somebody else's car. get out of this car NOW! if you lose 10k you are still making out better than if you try to proceed down this slippery slope that ends at a cliff.
Thanks for the feedback. Next I will start building my roller frame starting with a new front suspension.
78’ Frame Feedback Please
