Do you think this frame is fixable?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
I did a frame swap on a '72 coupe some years ago, in a local vette shop, that car was bought out of California, and sure it WAS RUST FREE, but the frame had about 500 lbs of extra steel patched over/under/around/through the OEM steel....it was hit HARD in front once, even though the car drove/looked/handled just fine.....there was not a straight seam or oem weld on that entire front end....
so we swapped frames....took a week, lotsa work....pulled the body in a day, then rolled frame out to work the rest of it....
took 2 days to get body back on frame and put back together again....
all 50 billion bolts,
so we swapped frames....took a week, lotsa work....pulled the body in a day, then rolled frame out to work the rest of it....
took 2 days to get body back on frame and put back together again....
all 50 billion bolts,
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,562
Likes: 2
From: Spring Texas
IMHO, that frame can be repaired. That being said, I think you can get a good serviceable frame for less than the repairs to that frame. You're in Arkansas, I would guess that decent frames are available not too far away in Tulsa. A little farther away, in Waco Texas is Uptmors Corvette Salvage. They usually have frames for sale. They do business on ebay and their prices seem reasonable
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
it could be a bent a-arm. if they replaced the front clip it could have been put on that way. that big dent looks like it was caused by a floor jack. i'd take it some where or get a measurment sheet for it and see how it measures out.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 23
From: Kansas
Yes Sir; I know how I felt when I took my twisted frame to an excellent frame shop and they told me that it wasn't a problem to fix the frame, once the body was off, but then I would have to cut the body apart, where it had been repaired on the twisted frame,. to let it down on the frame straight. At that time I had 8K in it. I was a grown man crying. I canned it and found another complete car and used everything I could salvage from the existing one. I would never of been happy with the other car. Two years later, I'm glad that I did it. Sorry about your car. Have a great one on what ever you decide. Have the frame checked by a Frame shop, before you go any further. Gene
Last edited by doctorgene; May 24, 2009 at 12:01 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,669
Likes: 3
From: Kingston Ontario
Have you established what the problem is with the frame? Is it in fact damaged?
I'm just saying; it would be a crying shame to replace the frame and then find out that the front clip had previously been installed incorrectly.
I'm all for doing a body-off; however, I would like to know it was for the right reasons. Your issue, may in fact, be a relatively inexpensive fix like a bent, twisted or broken front suspension component. Have someone local over to your house for a look if you can't bring the car to a shop.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 286
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola Fla
frame?
Do not know any shop in Jonesboro,but on yellow fevers recommendation and what grandmaster said,Memphis is not to far to go if he can fix your frame,your only a phone call away.You have to determine if it is the frame or a body work alignment problem.Does your car drive right,do your tires have wear alignment issues? You have to determine the best path for repair when you know all of your facts.
with them,good luck on which way you go.
with them,good luck on which way you go.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,889
Likes: 23
From: Kansas
There is a 1980-82 Frame on E-Bay for 450.00 that goes in a hour. Item # 380-125-703-466 It's pick up only, but there is a Co. that will pick her up for you and bring it right on down., ( Uship.com ) Gene
