Im a new member here, although I have browsed this board for the past year or so. My father and I have decided it was time to take the vette out of a long hibernation in the garage(and I mean long). Now that we are able to start this project, we discovered that the frame has rust damage. My guess is that the car will need a frame off restoration if we want the car to last. Do you guys think that this frame is salvagable?

From what we can see, with the body on, the worst rust damage is in front of the rear wheel, although we did not do a thorough inspection of the whole frame.
this is a little further down the passenger side of the frame.
this is the frame behind the front wheel on the passengers side
and here is a few large chips we managed to pull out from inside the frame.
Please tell me that this frame is still structurally sound.

 

The best way to tell about frames, is take a smaller screwdriver and see if you can tap it through the frame in various spots....look really carefully into those pockets the T-arms mount ....that will show you a LOT...look carefully at that cross piece there in front of the wheels.....
check the very front of the car too under the radiator...that mounting piece....

Off hand from what I have seen....well I have seen worse....it may not be as bad as you all are afraid of....needs a good blowing out and cleanup for sure....

you might try painting it a bit....

GENE

 

Try tapping it with a hammer around the rusted areas. Listen for a solid tap nothing muffled. I had a frame collapse in front of the rear wheel from a jack placed there. Frame sections can be replaced with the body on but eaier with it off. Look in the pocket where the #3 mount is to see if you have rust around the kick up that goes over the rear wheel. Look at the radiator support and front crossmember for rust through too.
Good luck,

Gary

 

I'm in the process of a frame-off right now... Unfortunately I can't see the images you posted???

Anyway, one of the trouble areas is just in front of the rear wheels. One forum member was able to lift the rear part of his frame many inches with the front staying entirely level... I'd say that's bad. Mine has some flaky rust but no holes. The metal is for sure thinner than it was from the factory but absolutely salvagible. However it will have increased chassis flex which will be more than off-set with the addition of an eight point roll-cage. And based on the weight of the shop vac I'm guessing the restored frame will be a good 20% lighter than stock, which is either good or bad depending on how you look at it. :cheers:


[Modified by ricketyray, 6:51 PM 5/2/2003]

 

the frame looks crispy, so do the rails from the birdcage (where the fiberglass sills are riveted to, the upper part in your pics), I think you will need to check your birdcage too. Let's hope it's in a better shape than rusty dave's stuff.

 

If you want to feel good - don't visit my web site (in sig).
If you want the dirty truth, sit down - make sure you haven't eaten in 4 hours :U -
and look at my '75 pictures.

If you grap the rocker channel - under door area and above frame - and you
can pull it in and out with movement - you've got big trouble.

Sorry - :seeya

 

I have seen far worse. Is it safe you ask? By the looks of it, it appears to have some life left. Though it is at the point where if you blast it, repair and repaint it now it may be the difference between some minor section welding now, and a whole new frame later if you let it go. Keep in mind these frames are getting more and more difficult to find. That means the prices are on there way up. Do what you can to save it.

 

To really evaluate the frame you need to get the body off. I see you are in Winfield, only 10 minutes or so from me. If you would like me to look at it I would be happy to. I am just finishing my 75 frame off project (going to the body shop monday). The area you really need to look at is above those triangle shaped gussets that brace the side rails to the main cross member in the rear. Road debris collects up there, and it's difficult to see with the body on. Also the rocker channels and bird cage. Had to replace both rocker channels in mine. Of course there is probably substantial rust on your brake and fuel lines as well. You know once you pull that body, you might as well figure on going all the way. I most likely won't be able to look at it for at least 2 weeks as I am having my prostate removed on May 6th, but please let me know how things are going, and good luck! :cheers:

 

mrvette: I did the screwdriver method around the sides and back of the car, and luckly I did not punch through the frame. Unfortunatly i have not been able to get under the car yet so i will need to check that out.

gtr1999: I also used the hammer method around the sides and back of the car. After removing some of the flakes of rust, i tapped on it and to my ear its seems like a solid "cling" noise. I just noticed lots of flakes fall from the car when doing that, and also i need to clear some chips away to hear a more solid noise.

Big Fish: My father and I are starting to develop an idea to get the body off from the frame, and build a body dolly to support it. What we were thinking of, is having the frame roll out from underneath the body dolly. However, this will probably take quite a while because of the many other house projects that my mother has planned for us. What really scares me is the rusted body mounts and all the objects going through the firewall, besides of couse the frame being questionable. I figured since i had the body off i would try and go all the way. I would of course most likely replace the fuel and brake lines while we had the body off and try and recondition all the pieces that could. Drop me an email when you are healthy and well rested, and i hope eveything goes well with the surgery. Take your time because my father tends to moves slow on projects.

Thank you all for the input


[Modified by JC Orange 72BB, 10:48 PM 5/3/2003]

 

I have a feeling this is what my frame looks like with the body off. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...category=34200

 

Actually, that looks like a reasonably solid frame. The area you really have to look at can just be seen on the lowest picture on the E-bay site, in the very lower right hand corner. Right above those triangles is where mine had problems.
:cheers: