Body off?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
Body off?
Where is the breaking point to removing the body? This car was in poor running condition when I purchased it 9 years ago, and now is the time to really dig into it. I've pulled and disassembled the engine after it had major oil leak problems and terrible performance issues.
The frame and birdcage seem to be in OK condition. The body is in poor condition: the doors rub the front quarter panels, and a crack in the rear wheel well. The bumpers are junk, naturally.
I am replacing both suspensions and the steering. I need a new gas tank. I'd like to replace the gas and break lines as well.
With the corvette forum as the jury, do I have grounds to pull the body off its frame?
The frame and birdcage seem to be in OK condition. The body is in poor condition: the doors rub the front quarter panels, and a crack in the rear wheel well. The bumpers are junk, naturally.
I am replacing both suspensions and the steering. I need a new gas tank. I'd like to replace the gas and break lines as well.
With the corvette forum as the jury, do I have grounds to pull the body off its frame?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 2,560
Likes: 5
From: the land of a never ending frame-off resto-mod. May Visa have mercy on my soul.
May Visa have mercy on your soul. You just need a few things to get started: Money, more money, a place to do it, and lots more money.
Plan on 2-3k for suspension and steering rebuild.
500-700 for trans rebuild.
600 for the rearend-bearings, seals, and set-up.
2k-5k for the engine depending on build.
Brake lines, gas lines, radiator and hoses etc...
Body mount kit, u-joints(6), gas tank.
Wiring harnesses about 2k.
Interior replacement(who wants 30 year old crap in there). 2500.00
Lots of misc. hardware, parts, tools that you will need, first aid supply's.
An incredible amount of sweat equity, frustration, dealing with idiots, and little assistance.
Go for it. 5 years and I am gettin closer to a finish.
Plan on 2-3k for suspension and steering rebuild.
500-700 for trans rebuild.
600 for the rearend-bearings, seals, and set-up.
2k-5k for the engine depending on build.
Brake lines, gas lines, radiator and hoses etc...
Body mount kit, u-joints(6), gas tank.
Wiring harnesses about 2k.
Interior replacement(who wants 30 year old crap in there). 2500.00
Lots of misc. hardware, parts, tools that you will need, first aid supply's.
An incredible amount of sweat equity, frustration, dealing with idiots, and little assistance.
Go for it. 5 years and I am gettin closer to a finish.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
May Visa have mercy on your soul. You just need a few things to get started: Money, more money, a place to do it, and lots more money.
Plan on 2-3k for suspension and steering rebuild.
500-700 for trans rebuild.
600 for the rearend-bearings, seals, and set-up.
2k-5k for the engine depending on build.
Brake lines, gas lines, radiator and hoses etc...
Body mount kit, u-joints(6), gas tank.
Wiring harnesses about 2k.
Interior replacement(who wants 30 year old crap in there). 2500.00
Lots of misc. hardware, parts, tools that you will need, first aid supply's.
An incredible amount of sweat equity, frustration, dealing with idiots, and little assistance.
Go for it. 5 years and I am gettin closer to a finish.
Plan on 2-3k for suspension and steering rebuild.
500-700 for trans rebuild.
600 for the rearend-bearings, seals, and set-up.
2k-5k for the engine depending on build.
Brake lines, gas lines, radiator and hoses etc...
Body mount kit, u-joints(6), gas tank.
Wiring harnesses about 2k.
Interior replacement(who wants 30 year old crap in there). 2500.00
Lots of misc. hardware, parts, tools that you will need, first aid supply's.
An incredible amount of sweat equity, frustration, dealing with idiots, and little assistance.
Go for it. 5 years and I am gettin closer to a finish.
Am I ready?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
I should probably clarify, this isn't for a full frame-off restoration. I am not interested in refurbishing every single part on this car. This will not be a numbers matching, keep it stock job. Interior, suspension, engine, steering and brakes are the main points. I won't be sandblasting, etching, and rewelding frame (unless something awful is found).
Pro
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 533
Likes: 18
From: Boca Raton Florida
I should probably clarify, this isn't for a full frame-off restoration. I am not interested in refurbishing every single part on this car. This will not be a numbers matching, keep it stock job. Interior, suspension, engine, steering and brakes are the main points. I won't be sandblasting, etching, and rewelding frame (unless something awful is found).
If you go to the trouble of taking the body off, you'll be finding all kinds of "awful."
The first time the words "As long as we've got it this far apart" come out of your wife's or your mouth, the fun begins. You'll find a powdercoater who will do your frame for a couple of hundred. He'll even sandblast it for you. May as well have the new offset trailing arms done at the same time.
Welcome to the "it won't cost that much" club!
Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 613
Likes: 3
From: Fleetwood PA
If I added up every 10 or 20 or 30 dollar "as long as I have it this far" item I bought for my frame on resto(not even getting into the bigger dollar stuff) I'd probably commit myself to an institution. I can't imagine a frame off. You think it won't end up like that, but it will. New bushings for that are only 20 bucks...new bolts for this are only 30 bucks...new bearings for those are only 40 bucks....and so on and so on for ever and ever.
That being said.....there is no greater satisfaction than knowing it looks or runs or handles as well as it does because of what YOU have done.
I painted,rebuilt the motor and trans,and did the suspension all on my own. Is it all absolutely perfect....no....but it looks better, runs better, and handles better than a lot of the cars out there.
That being said.....there is no greater satisfaction than knowing it looks or runs or handles as well as it does because of what YOU have done.
I painted,rebuilt the motor and trans,and did the suspension all on my own. Is it all absolutely perfect....no....but it looks better, runs better, and handles better than a lot of the cars out there.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
I would be concerned about the "doors rubbing the front quarter panels", above anything else you've found. This condition can be due to the birdcage being rusted to the point that the door pillars begin to sag. You really need to dig deep and check out that birdcage well before you spend a bunch of buck$ on your project. If you are certain everything is solid with the frame/birdcage, the door realignment should not be a problem.
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Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
Thanks 7T1. The doors rub because the previous owner had hit a deer, but nonetheless its worth a full investigation. I've checked the major spots and they seem to be in solid shape.
Regardless, this project will get completed. The car is nearly a family heirloom. I fear castration if I junked it.
Regardless, this project will get completed. The car is nearly a family heirloom. I fear castration if I junked it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,438
Likes: 41
From: Raleigh NC
St. Jude Donor '13-'14
I think I'm going to make the plunge this weekend.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,375
Likes: 6,375
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
Pro
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 590
Likes: 2
From: Fairfield CT
Well, I didn't count the shims when I pulled the body and they fell all over the garage floor. I'm using polyurethane body mounts from VB&P. How many shims should I use as a baseline, and how/where do I measure to adjust the number of shims.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,871
Likes: 6
From: Sault Ste. Marie Ontario
Start with two per mount as a baseline and increase/decrease according to your gaps.
