So, where do you go if your C3 frame needs replacing?

:banghead: :banghead:

 

Gotta find a straight parts car or a vette graveyard.....Oh, and maybe a private seller who has one, but that will be a pain to find.


[Modified by 88'Cubka, 12:23 PM 2/7/2003]

 

Or you can by a brand new replacement frame for $3500.

I found a vette dealer and got a parts car off of him for a good price.

 

There's got to be more to this story. Isn't your '69 a recent arrival? Do tell...... I hope it's not as dire as this subject sounds.

Shannon

 

There are a bunch of places that advertise in the many Vette mags. You should be able to find a donor frame quite easily.

 

Yep, there is more to the story.

I took the car into a corvette shop to have them look it over and create a top 10 list of things to attack.

Of course, when they got it up on the rack, the first obvious thing was that there is approximately only 1/3 of the metal left on the frame between the rear wheels.

It's completely my fault for not spending more time looking over the car, but realistically, without getting it up on a hoist you wouldn't be able to see a lot of the damage.

So, now, I'm considering a complete frame-off for it.

 

"there is approximately only 1/3 of the metal left on the frame between the rear wheels."

Between the rear wheels? If you're talking about the crossmember, those are available. Maybe you don't need a whole new frame.

 

Ooof, that's a hell of a uppercut! Sorry to hear of the extent of the corrosion. Usually it's the side rails that go. As others have said, you can get frame sections to weld in if the rest of the structure is solid. Otherwise the usual used parts folks can supply a decent used frame for a reasonable price.

My $0.02, even though you didn't ask for it...... If you go frame-off I'd suggest finding a 427 to put back in the car. Even if you choose to mod it, you'll get more money back with the BB than having a SB in an original BB car.

Another $0.02 on top of this, again unsolicited....... If you're going to pay a shop to do the frame off you're better off just selling this car any buying a more solid car to start with. You'll sink WAY more money into the restoration than the car will be worth with a non-original motor.

Not trying to kick you while you're down here, so PLEASE don't take offense. I'm just suggesting to take a careful look at what $$$ you'll have in the car when it's done and decide if this is the right car to sink the money in. I get a stomache ache every time I see an ad that reads "$35k invested, asking $17k OBO" :(

:cheers: Shannon


[Modified by sb69coupe, 3:45 PM 2/7/2003]

 

Nope, I saw what he was talking about. It's the main support beam running across the frame by the rear wheels. Also, the section that sits right by the differential and the rear spring is pretty bad. If he had put some strength behind his hammer swings, I would have many holes in the frame.

Just shoot me now.

 

Don't be too mad at yourself. I once bought a house with rotten sideing on it. It had been freshly painted and looked really good until I stuck my finger through it. :rolleyes:

 

I'm still confused about the problem area. Tell us where it is in relation to the pic
(courtesy GM). I am replacing both kickup side rails and the two rear crossmembers on mine. A lot less cost than a whole frame.

 

Two areas that are exceptionally bad are the frontmost cross piece that connects the two side rails. The second is the rearmost cross piece before the section that elevates for the rear wheels. So, it would be the cross section that has the bracket 3819297 in the middle.

The rest is pretty rusty as well. I'm not sure how bad it would be to just blast it and paint, but if I do a complete frame-off, I may be better off just replacing everything with new.

 

No offense taken. I just had a discussion with my wife (after I stewed about it for about an hour). I bought this car not only for the enjoyment of driving it, but also because I've always wanted it, since I can remember.

I do like the fact that the new engine has very few miles on it and I am hoping that I can find someone who might want it and offset the cost of an original 427.

This was also meant to be a learning process. we're moving soon to the Atlanta area and I notice A LOT of corvette junkies on the forum from Atlanta. If I take on a frame-off, it'll be of my own doing. I will not pay a resto shop 3 times the amount if I can do it myself. I'm hoping to make friends in Atlanta that may have done some of this work before and would be willing to teach along the way.

I'm not giving up on it, yet. I'll probably try and get as much out of it as I can over the spring and summer and map a plan of attack starting in the fall.

 

looks like a good parts car I on't know if the frames are the sme but it look like this car has allot of good parts on it. http://www.ubidcorvettes.com/

Good luck,IETEK

 

Sounds like repair is possible (not that I am an expert). Car looks nice in the pics. I would try to repair and enjoy driving the car, get familiar with the maintenance, rather than embarking on a 3 year project... :( MJ

 

I hate to be a voice of negativity here, but I'd sell it if I were you. I bought a 1972 coupe about three years ago and also didn't check it out like I should have and soon discovered it had a rotten frame. Well, to date I have well over $15,000 in restoration work into the car. As soon as you start tearing the frame apart you are going to want new gas lines, brake lines, bushings, oh and while I'm at it how about replacing the shocks, the exhaust, etc., etc., etc.. You also might want to check out the windshield frame, it's probably rusted as well. I'll admit I made a mistake in the car I picked out, but I made a bigger mistake not dumping it before I damn near bankrupted myself fixing it up. I am sorry to be so negative, but you are in for a long expensive restoration and you might want to cut your losses. :sad:

 

I assume you mean the '79?? The only thing that comes up is the home page, not a specific corvette.

 

A voice of reason is always helpful.

I already know aobut replacing the brake lines and fuel lines. And, i also know that I'll be in much deeper than I wanted to be. However, this is a car I've always wanted and ultimately, I need to resign myself to the fact that it will be off the road for a few year when I decide to take the plunge.

You notice I said when, instead of if.

I just don't think I'd be able to sell it without taking a loss, and now that I've seen the damage, I can't neglect to tell someone about it.

Guess I have a project to keep me busy while my wife is in nursing school.

:thumbs:

 

How about this one!!

63-82 corvette frame for sale. excellent cond. never had rust. Frame is modified for pro-street, or race. It features narrowed frame rails,6-pt. cage, set up for mustang ll front end, much more was done before finishing in show quality black "imron" paint. All work was professionally done. Need room in my garage. Will sell cheap!

:jester :jester :lolg:

 

My last post got me thinking.

Is there any MAJOR difference in the C3 frames? Could I take a late model C3 frame and mount the 69 body on it??

I've never even thought about that. Are the part numbers the same for all years?

Inquiring minds want to know.