C3 New Frame
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
C3 New Frame
I have a 69 coupe and it looks like it has seen it's fair share of Canadian winters, lots of salt on the roads and it looks like it may have sat in some field for a while. The Frame is OK, some areas are a little thin nothing a weld in patch can't fix. I was wondering about a frame replacement. Has anyone replaced an entire Frame? Who is one of the better places to get one from? Anyone know of a fabricater in Eastern Canada (Ontario) or North Eastern States NY, Penn, Mich. Any tips on Frame replacement. And the big question any idea what it would cost.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
I was wondering about a frame replacement. Has anyone replaced an entire Frame? Who is one of the better places to get one from? Anyone know of a fabricater in Eastern Canada (Ontario) or North Eastern States NY, Penn, Mich. Any tips on Frame replacement. And the big question any idea what it would cost.
http://coopersgarage.piczo.com/1973c...linkvar=000044
The cost depends on how much you can do yourself and how much shopping around/scrounging you can do.
You are much further ahead if you can do it yourself as I think shop rates would make it prohibitive to have it done in a resto shop.
The second problem is once you take it apart you will find yourself in the "While I'm at it" mode replacing all the bushings, brake,fuel lines, triling arms etc
Its getting tougher to find a good used frame these days though they are out there, If I could do it again I would probably go with a SRIII frame with C4 suspension.
http://www.sriiimotorsports.com/196382corvette.html
Or if you would like to keep it original you can check out various vendors by doing a google for "Corvette Frame"
http://www.tracyvette.com/frames.html
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
I have a 69 coupe and it looks like it has seen it's fair share of Canadian winters, lots of salt on the roads and it looks like it may have sat in some field for a while. The Frame is OK, some areas are a little thin nothing a weld in patch can't fix. I was wondering about a frame replacement. Has anyone replaced an entire Frame? Who is one of the better places to get one from? Anyone know of a fabricater in Eastern Canada (Ontario) or North Eastern States NY, Penn, Mich. Any tips on Frame replacement. And the big question any idea what it would cost.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,273
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi GGHG,
I've looked at the frames that 'Vette Products of Michigan' builds and brings to their spot at Carlisle. They look really good. This is the link that Paul posted.
Regards,
Alan
I've looked at the frames that 'Vette Products of Michigan' builds and brings to their spot at Carlisle. They look really good. This is the link that Paul posted.
Regards,
Alan
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 7,032
Likes: 2
From: Newburgh NY
You could buy a good used frame for a couple thousand and transfer all your parts over. Figure another 2 to rebuild your trailing arms, brakes, bushings, etc. etc.
For about 10k, you can get a good tube frame with C4 susension, rack and pinion steering, better brakes, and coilovers all around. Requires some body mods to make it work as opposed to a replacement original which of course does not.
Just depends on your budget and what your goal is with the car.
SRIII Tube Frame
For about 10k, you can get a good tube frame with C4 susension, rack and pinion steering, better brakes, and coilovers all around. Requires some body mods to make it work as opposed to a replacement original which of course does not.
Just depends on your budget and what your goal is with the car.
SRIII Tube Frame
Last edited by 78Vette-SA; Nov 1, 2008 at 04:48 PM.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Morris Illinois
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
I know theres a company in Niagara falls Ont. that makes some replacement frames. Cant remember the place but I delivered a load next door couples of weeks ago and they were fabricating some.
i checked the map but not sure if Collier's the one I'm talking about.
Ok I found them and it's Collier. The name I had was Davert and the adress is the same.
i checked the map but not sure if Collier's the one I'm talking about.
Ok I found them and it's Collier. The name I had was Davert and the adress is the same.
Last edited by Michelp; Nov 1, 2008 at 10:43 PM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Unless it's an original car I would take this opportunity to change to later model parts with a frame from Steet Shop or similar. LS power, C4 or C5 suspension (and steering and brakes), etc.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
He has a 69 and used frames for chrome bumper cars that are in good condition are getting much harder to find and more expensive. The price difference is shrinking between used frames and repro frames for chrome bumper cars, and if you are not doing a NCRS restoration the repro frames offer options that make mods much easier. For example, if you want to put a C4 suspension or a LS motor in the car some of the repro frame companies can provide a frame with all of the mods and brackets that you will need. Saves a lot of time and head-scratching figuring out how to make things fit.
Rick B.
Rick B.
