Frame rust: where do I look?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Frame rust: where do I look?
I am checking out a 69 convert to buy. Where do I look for the infamous frame rust? I probably will not have the opportunity to get it on a lift.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,023
Likes: 2
From: TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Frame rust: where do I look? (4_inch_Bore)
Pockets where the trailing arms go into the kick up on the frame. Windsheild pillar posts. If you can, unscrew the kick panels inside the car and look for flake rust that's fallen down into the opening at the bottom the of the pillar post (though sellers generally don't like you going at their car with a screwdriver, that's one of the likeliest places to find rust).
JB
[Modified by JB, 12:17 PM 3/30/2002]
JB
[Modified by JB, 12:17 PM 3/30/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,023
Likes: 2
From: TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS TEXASTEXASTEXASTEXAS
St. Jude Contributor
Re: Frame rust: where do I look? (JB)
Oh, and hey, I see you're close to me there in San Antonio. Is that a big block vert, by any chance? And if so, what's the guy's phone number? You know, just so I can say Hi. :jester
JB
[Modified by JB, 12:31 PM 3/30/2002]
JB
[Modified by JB, 12:31 PM 3/30/2002]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 3,335
Likes: 1
Re: Frame rust: where do I look? (4_inch_Bore)
remove the rear tires. forward half of the wheel well has an inspection plate. remove it and look at the condition of the birdcage. those c3's love to rust there. most of the time this are is over looked. This is not an area you want to have to deal with fixing!
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 11,119
Likes: 672
From: SE Pennsylvania
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
Oldtimer
Re: Frame rust: where do I look? (Stingy74)
If you look at 'stingy74' pix you will see the famous drain hole on the left bottom side. Make sure these are open as well. This is where the rust starts in the trailing arms.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 7,072
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
Re: Frame rust: where do I look? (Ingar, Norway)
Look at my thread about the rear body mount fibgerglass cradles. Most of my '70 w/ 44k mi had just cosmetic rust and some minor scale in one patch. It didn't escape this though. :( Look at the shims on the T-arms and the condition of the arms themselves. I've seen some truly nasty ones. http://forums.corvetteforum.com/zerothread?id=268673
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio TX
Re: Frame rust: where do I look? (4_inch_Bore)
Thank you all very much for the tips.
I did not find any obvious rust in the places you indicated, but I did not buy the car (at least not yet).
It was described as "immaculate" for $18.5k. It was not. It looked ok cosmetically, but needs a complete interior, and drives like it has many miles on it (odometer reads 13k). I made an offer. Will see. Thanks again.
I did not find any obvious rust in the places you indicated, but I did not buy the car (at least not yet).
It was described as "immaculate" for $18.5k. It was not. It looked ok cosmetically, but needs a complete interior, and drives like it has many miles on it (odometer reads 13k). I made an offer. Will see. Thanks again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,407
Likes: 2
From: Carmichael CA
Re: Frame rust: where do I look? (4_inch_Bore)
It was described as "immaculate" for $18.5k. It was not. It looked ok cosmetically, but needs a complete interior, and drives like it has many miles on it (odometer reads 13k). I made an offer. Will see. Thanks again.
