Frame grafting
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Henrietta New York
Frame grafting
1) Front end hit on an 81 frame. Confirmed it cannot be straightened.
2) A low mileage car (72K). Frame is virtually rust free with factory numbers ( yellow stenciled numbers clearly visible).
Question to the experts: Can a frame graft be performed with a donor front section and be safe? Has anyone done one that can offer advice on how to do it? It will need to be cut at aprox. 6 inches behind the # 2 body mount. If this has been done and is OK to do, What year front sections will work for the 81? Thank you
Joe
2) A low mileage car (72K). Frame is virtually rust free with factory numbers ( yellow stenciled numbers clearly visible).
Question to the experts: Can a frame graft be performed with a donor front section and be safe? Has anyone done one that can offer advice on how to do it? It will need to be cut at aprox. 6 inches behind the # 2 body mount. If this has been done and is OK to do, What year front sections will work for the 81? Thank you
Joe
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Will be just as good as original. If hiring it out make sure you use a certified welder that has been taught the proper proceedures. Probably best to sleeve the inside of the frame at the joints for best outcome. Won't be noticeable when done.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Originally Posted by Joe45
1) Front end hit on an 81 frame. Confirmed it cannot be straightened.
2) A low mileage car (72K). Frame is virtually rust free with factory numbers ( yellow stenciled numbers clearly visible).
Question to the experts: Can a frame graft be performed with a donor front section and be safe? Has anyone done one that can offer advice on how to do it? It will need to be cut at aprox. 6 inches behind the # 2 body mount. If this has been done and is OK to do, What year front sections will work for the 81? Thank you
Joe
2) A low mileage car (72K). Frame is virtually rust free with factory numbers ( yellow stenciled numbers clearly visible).
Question to the experts: Can a frame graft be performed with a donor front section and be safe? Has anyone done one that can offer advice on how to do it? It will need to be cut at aprox. 6 inches behind the # 2 body mount. If this has been done and is OK to do, What year front sections will work for the 81? Thank you
Joe
Sell your good 72 frame and buy a good 81 frame. By the sounds of the work you are doing you might as well pull the body and graft it over to another frame. Sure you can weld a 72 front to a 81 but you need to rework all the mounting points for the 81 specific items/bumpers etc. And then you will always wonder just how good a job you really did? Plus teh fact ath you will need to get the frame checked for straightness after you are done with the graft. Get an 81 frame. They are a lot more common then a 72 frame and also a lot cheaper.
In either case good luck and I hope you get your 81 back on the road soon.
Pete
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
yes they can be cut and welded together the cut will be done like this
__________----------- so it overlaps new and old, one half is new frame and one half is old frame for about 12-18" or so i would guess ....it may be cheaper just to put it on a good frame though
__________----------- so it overlaps new and old, one half is new frame and one half is old frame for about 12-18" or so i would guess ....it may be cheaper just to put it on a good frame though
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 548
Likes: 0
t can be done, and it can be done safely....just look at how many hot rods have front clips from other vehicles in them.
take time, measure, measure, measure, tack, measure measure, measure, and make sure you know what you're doing with a welder. you dont need to sleeve anywhere near 18" of frame, IMO.
further, you can't really "sleeve" the frame inside of another and keep the measurements and squareness. you will need to run a sort of "patch" or "bridge" channel to tie the frames together INSIDE the two frame sections across the butt joint.
take time, measure, measure, measure, tack, measure measure, measure, and make sure you know what you're doing with a welder. you dont need to sleeve anywhere near 18" of frame, IMO.
further, you can't really "sleeve" the frame inside of another and keep the measurements and squareness. you will need to run a sort of "patch" or "bridge" channel to tie the frames together INSIDE the two frame sections across the butt joint.
Last edited by Nemesis_152; Jul 22, 2006 at 05:51 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: Henrietta New York
Thanks guys..Just so I understand, I can cut both rails where needed, weld inside both rails a bridge type piece ( I see they sell an internal type 6" sleeve for frame rail replacements, cut the front 1/2 of donor frame to get correct measurements and weld together. I was thinking of plug welding front and back rails together first( to the internal sleeve pc.) prior to welding the sections together around the rails. Make sense?
thanks again
thanks again
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
when i say overlap i don't mean that the new section lays over the old section rather it would look like a "half lap" wood joint and then you weld it up, i like the idea of the bridge inside of it also you can cut holes in the new piece and weld those to the "bridge" piece underneath
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
