Cracked frame again **update**
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,713
Likes: 31
From: Shreveport LA
LA Events Coordinator
Cracked frame again **update**
First let me say the crack now is not on the welds or around the welds but on the back part of the repaired lower control arm. The welds held perfectly. What I'm suspecting is when I hit that buckled piece of concrete, it ripped the lower control arm from the frame and put a hair-line crack on the back...that was unable to be detected. After the repairs were made and me driving it around our "lovely" streets of Shreveport (NOT!!!!) that the crack became very prominent. Since that's the only one so I feel MAYBE there won't be any more cracks. The welder who repaired the frame initially, has been building frames for race cars and off road vehicles, from scratch, for the past 25 years, so I feel comfortable about his knowledge of welding.
So today (Friday), my insurance company has agreed to hire a structural engineering firm to come out Monday to look at the Vette, exam the frame for it strength and integrity and whatever they recommend (fix or replace) pertaining to the frame, my insurance company will comply. They want me there when the engineers do their examination. I think that's great! ALL I want is to have the frame SOLID and the peace of mind it will not break, snap or crack when I'm driving. I'll keep you posted.
So today (Friday), my insurance company has agreed to hire a structural engineering firm to come out Monday to look at the Vette, exam the frame for it strength and integrity and whatever they recommend (fix or replace) pertaining to the frame, my insurance company will comply. They want me there when the engineers do their examination. I think that's great! ALL I want is to have the frame SOLID and the peace of mind it will not break, snap or crack when I'm driving. I'll keep you posted.
Last edited by vetteguy75; Apr 5, 2014 at 07:09 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 11,183
Likes: 3,334
From: North of Toronto - Ontario
Be interesting to see how this goes. The lower control arm mount is a "known" weak point in these cars, as with the cracking of the underside skin that goes out to the spring pocket.
The addition of gussets to one or both sides of the arm mount to add some strength in that area is a common practice. (well not common, but it's certainly well documented)
Hopefully the engineers don't call it for a design flaw and get the insurance company off the hook.
M
