How far did Bubba go?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Corona CA
How far did Bubba go?
I purchased my first vette a couple years ago and as I didn't know anything about them, I got a real winner. At some point my 74 was in a wreck. So the first thing I did was take it to a corvette shop here in town and had the frame straightened. I have been told that it is straight now. While straightening they had to disconnect the passenger side fender from the bumper (I was told that the previous owner had raised this fender in order for the body to look straight).
Further problems found:
1. After further investigation I have found that the fender on the driver side (I believe original) is 23" at the bottom from the door to the front (just behind the front tire) and the passenger side is 21". WOW, a different fender on each side?
2. The wheel on the passenger side is about 2" away from the rear of the fender, the driver side is about 4" (with a shorter fender the passenger side would be further away, right?)
3. The engine is tilting towards the driver side.
So, either Bubba has messed with the motor mounts and the A arms for the wheels or the frame is still tweaked, correct?
Sorry for such a long post, I just don't know where to go with this car now.
Further problems found:
1. After further investigation I have found that the fender on the driver side (I believe original) is 23" at the bottom from the door to the front (just behind the front tire) and the passenger side is 21". WOW, a different fender on each side?
2. The wheel on the passenger side is about 2" away from the rear of the fender, the driver side is about 4" (with a shorter fender the passenger side would be further away, right?)
3. The engine is tilting towards the driver side.
So, either Bubba has messed with the motor mounts and the A arms for the wheels or the frame is still tweaked, correct?
Sorry for such a long post, I just don't know where to go with this car now.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,711
Likes: 2
From: Rochester NY
Wow.... sorry to hear that your first Vette experience started off this way... I hope I never have that happen....
Before I bought my first Vette, I joined this forum and just read and read... I had a good understanding of what to look for before leaving the house. My First Vette a 1998 C5 was a Great car!
Now I am shopping for a C3 and have started to read indepth about that model and the differences in C3 production years.
I wish you luck in your repairs, and it sounds like you will have a sound Vette when done. But don't spend a fortune on making it right, it might be cheaper to get another Vette...
Before I bought my first Vette, I joined this forum and just read and read... I had a good understanding of what to look for before leaving the house. My First Vette a 1998 C5 was a Great car!
Now I am shopping for a C3 and have started to read indepth about that model and the differences in C3 production years.
I wish you luck in your repairs, and it sounds like you will have a sound Vette when done. But don't spend a fortune on making it right, it might be cheaper to get another Vette...
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,653
Likes: 80
From: Lakeland Florida
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 65
Likes: 0
From: Long Valley NJ
I am in the process of a frame off restoration of a 69 conv. The frame sounds like it is really messed up. 
It sounds like to really straighten the frame you may have to pull the body. The Frame may be twisted. You really have to love the car to pull the body. I agree with Jbristow it may be time to sell. Once you pull the body you may find more problems that you may not want to see. 
It sounds like to really straighten the frame you may have to pull the body. The Frame may be twisted. You really have to love the car to pull the body. I agree with Jbristow it may be time to sell. Once you pull the body you may find more problems that you may not want to see.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
with these guys, your frame needs serious work. How did the shop verify that it was straight? If the motor is tilted, it ain't.Body needs to come off for this, there is Lot of stuff wrong there. If your standing in front of the car does it look straight? Hood Align right?
Post some pics when ya can, it requires subscribing to a pic host site like Photobucket, you up load your pics there. Then copy the img code over there and paste it over here in your post.
I figured it out, you can too.