c3 frame
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
c3 frame
looking for some help. i have a 77 corvette and the frame is gone. it is automatic. i want to know if a 79 frame with a standard tran will fit. someone told my that the crossmembers are welded in on standard and bolted on automatic. just want to know if that makes a difference before i by the frame. hate to get it and the tran wont bolt up or something.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
The trans will bolt up but if you ever have to remove the trans for any reason it will not come out. You would have to remove the engine to get it out. If it is welded in you could always cut it out and make it removeable yourself. I did this on mine because I am using a 6 speed. Not really a big job to do.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,246
Likes: 114
From: Watkins Glen NY
What year did the vettes with manual transmissions start being manufactured with automatic/removeable crossmembers in? I thought it was by 1979.
If that's the case, the 79 frame you are looking at will be good to go.
If that's the case, the 79 frame you are looking at will be good to go.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
Yeah, my understanding is all '63-'79 with automatic transmissions only and all '80-'82's had removable crossmembers. So in your case it sounds like a '79 frame will have a welded in crossmember. TKO sells a kit to convert a welded on crossmember to a bolt-in if you are so inclined.
I'm into the 1st year of my '80 frame-off restoration. My frame was toast as well. I kept my diff and fuel tank crossmembers plus the front frame extension, but replaced the frame with another from an '80. The previous owner wanted to hire a restore shop to rebuild the car. When he was quoted over $30,000.00 he sold the car to the local Corvette shop for parts. I guess his loss was my gain. Interestingly, I had a bit of a struggle getting the original diff crossmember to match-up with the existing holes in the replacement frame. Stupid me, I just assumed that it would line-up nicely. But it all came together in the end.
I'm into the 1st year of my '80 frame-off restoration. My frame was toast as well. I kept my diff and fuel tank crossmembers plus the front frame extension, but replaced the frame with another from an '80. The previous owner wanted to hire a restore shop to rebuild the car. When he was quoted over $30,000.00 he sold the car to the local Corvette shop for parts. I guess his loss was my gain. Interestingly, I had a bit of a struggle getting the original diff crossmember to match-up with the existing holes in the replacement frame. Stupid me, I just assumed that it would line-up nicely. But it all came together in the end.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
