Corvette frame
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1st Gear
Joined: May 2008
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Corvette frame
Does anybody know if a frame from a 1968 corvette coupe will be the same as a 1974 coupe. My 74 has a rotten frame and can get a 68 for a good price that has been sandblasted and painted. It is a complete rolling chassis minus powertrain.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,366
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From: Redondo Beach, California
The very front most part of the 68 and 74 frames have a different hole drill pattern. You cannot directly bolt the 74 front bumper hardware to a 68 frame. Probably a simple welding operation will allow the 74 hardware to be attached to a 68 frame.
Also, the early 68 frames do not have the large gusset beams at the rear wheel frame kickups. These beams are available and also can be welded in.
For 68 through 72 Corvettes look at AIM drawing UPC 14, Sheet A2. Try to get an AIM drawing for the 74, or look at a detailed drawing in a Vendors catalog showing the 74 front bumper hardware. You'll see what I'm talking about.
Also, the early 68 frames do not have the large gusset beams at the rear wheel frame kickups. These beams are available and also can be welded in.
For 68 through 72 Corvettes look at AIM drawing UPC 14, Sheet A2. Try to get an AIM drawing for the 74, or look at a detailed drawing in a Vendors catalog showing the 74 front bumper hardware. You'll see what I'm talking about.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
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From: North Easton Mass
The height of the body mounts are different between 68 and 74 frames also. 73-up used rubber body mounts instead of solid aluminum so the frame mounts were lowered to compensate for the thickness of the rubber. You could either use solid mounts or figure on the car sitting a little higher and cut/replace springs to adjust the ride height.
Rick B.
Rick B.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,366
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From: Redondo Beach, California
Don't think so. This was a topic of discussion on the NCRS tech discussion forum last November (?) The conclusion was that the heights of the number 2 and 3 body mounts (i.e. the height of the nut catcher cage) is the same for the 68 through 74 frames.
I currently own a 68 frame, a 70 frame, and a 74 frame. The 68 and 70 frames have a car sitting on top of them, but the I can see the 74 frame body mounts, and the nut catchers certainly appear to be the same height as the ones on my 68 (from memory). The nut catchers are only slightly higher than the nut inside for both the 68 and 70. The supposed difference between 3/8 inch aluminum pucks and the 1 inch rubber cusions did not result in a change in the dimension of the nut cage.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,758
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From: Medford, Or
Here are 2 pics of a late year 1968, 4 speed vette frame. Notice no gusset beams. GM started this in '69.
68/70Vette-is right on . A 68 frame is identical to a '67 frame except for the some small gusset at the rear crossmember of the frame.
68/70Vette-is right on . A 68 frame is identical to a '67 frame except for the some small gusset at the rear crossmember of the frame.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 4
From: Medford, Or
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: Redondo Beach, California
Incidentally, when you buy a frame you should be very careful as to the exact year it is. A big problem in a frame's history can arise if it is a GM parts "service replacement." For example, in 1979 I ordered a frame for my 69 from a local Chevy dealer's parts department. It was only in the last several weeks that I learned that the frame was actually a 1974 frame. What happened was that for the years 1969 through 1974, anyone ordering a frame from GM parts would simply get the current year's frame. Probably most people, llike me, are unaware of this. During the almost 30 years that I have owned this frame, I've been asked to sell it. I would have innocently sold it as a NOS 1969 frame to someones disappointment.
