Point of no Return
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth TX
Point of no Return
I am removing my engine this weekend and having the car towed to a local frame shop. It's a 78 and the passenger side lower a-arm is cracked on the bottom and sliping from the side of the front crossmember. I am probably looking at a new lower a-arm but once the car is in the shop I want them to check, be it rust or warping, the integrity of the rest of the frame. (front to back)
They do not provide ultrasonic testing, and I thought I sensed over the phone a little bit of pride about the fact that they don't.
I have a lot of work I plan on doing on this car and I want to make sure it's worth the work. The frame looks pretty good, a little surface rust here and there, but nothing big. But I can't tell for sure because I'm not an expert.
Can you guys give me some advice as to how I can go about getting peace of mind on my frame and move on to the funner things in life? Any shops in my area you know of, any self-tests I can perform (outside of removing the body :nono: ), anything at all would be greatly appreciated, now and in the future when I'm cruising again. :D Thanks!
- David
They do not provide ultrasonic testing, and I thought I sensed over the phone a little bit of pride about the fact that they don't.
I have a lot of work I plan on doing on this car and I want to make sure it's worth the work. The frame looks pretty good, a little surface rust here and there, but nothing big. But I can't tell for sure because I'm not an expert.
Can you guys give me some advice as to how I can go about getting peace of mind on my frame and move on to the funner things in life? Any shops in my area you know of, any self-tests I can perform (outside of removing the body :nono: ), anything at all would be greatly appreciated, now and in the future when I'm cruising again. :D Thanks!
- David
Parrothead
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 48,231
Likes: 289
From: Margaritaville Embassy
St. Jude Donor '08-'09,'13, '14
Re: Point of no Return (Slick McFavorite)
if they don't use ultrasound, how DO they do it? I know you can magnaflux an engine block, can you do the same with a frame?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth TX
Re: Point of no Return (Markm10431)
They said an ultrasound is only as good as the person conducting it. Probably true. The guy I talked to said all they check is the dimensions and hidden rust is something you can't really check for. (I assume he means I can't check it unless I pull the body)
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 1,281
Likes: 7
From: West TX
Re: Point of no Return (Slick McFavorite)
You might check with these guys (just north of I-20 if you exit Winscott Rd.). They specialize in Corvettes and restoration.
Automotive Performance Unlimited
7341 West Vickery Boulevard Suite B
Benbrook, TX 76116
817-763-8115
You could also check with Lee Baird. http://www.arleesclassicautos.com He's a great guy and can no doubt steer you in the right direction. He's in Weatherford.
Rob
[Modified by robNdfwTX, 11:08 PM 5/10/2004]
Automotive Performance Unlimited
7341 West Vickery Boulevard Suite B
Benbrook, TX 76116
817-763-8115
You could also check with Lee Baird. http://www.arleesclassicautos.com He's a great guy and can no doubt steer you in the right direction. He's in Weatherford.
Rob
[Modified by robNdfwTX, 11:08 PM 5/10/2004]
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,119
Likes: 213
From: Pittsburgh PA
Re: Point of no Return (Slick McFavorite)
Aren't all the Vettes in Texas clean as to rust? I've always thought a Texas car would be as clean as an AZ or CA car. No?
A 78 with a bad frame is a real bad investment. They made close to 47,000 of them. If the frame is bad, sell it and find a better-framed C-3 to improve. Few Vettes are a good investment, and I'm not in it for the return. But you do have to be somewhat careful or you can get hurt bad.
:cheers:
A 78 with a bad frame is a real bad investment. They made close to 47,000 of them. If the frame is bad, sell it and find a better-framed C-3 to improve. Few Vettes are a good investment, and I'm not in it for the return. But you do have to be somewhat careful or you can get hurt bad.
:cheers:
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth TX
Re: Point of no Return (foundvettelifeisgood)
Thanks Rob, I'll try both of those places tomorrow.
The vette I own is actually a California Car that was sold to my uncle in Lewiston, Idaho who kept it in a garage and barely drove it. I'm going to find out how long it was in Idaho/California, but it's been here in texas 3 years. 1 year it was out in the texas weather, another it was outside with a car cover, and the last year it's been in a garage. Anyways, as I said, the frame looks ok, I just want to make sure with an expert. :cheers:
The vette I own is actually a California Car that was sold to my uncle in Lewiston, Idaho who kept it in a garage and barely drove it. I'm going to find out how long it was in Idaho/California, but it's been here in texas 3 years. 1 year it was out in the texas weather, another it was outside with a car cover, and the last year it's been in a garage. Anyways, as I said, the frame looks ok, I just want to make sure with an expert. :cheers:
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 2,131
Likes: 4
From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
Re: Point of no Return (Slick McFavorite)
This sounds really crude and low tech but tap the frame lightlye all over with a hammer. You should get a distinct ringing sound from it just about anywhere you tap. If you get a dull thud you've probably got a great deal of rust that is flaking inside the frame rails. The places where they typically rust the worst is in the frame rails back by the rear kickups and in the lower portion of the kickups. Also check the crossover in front of the differential. You will also want to check the "birdcage" i.e. all around the windshield frame (especially down near the base of the windshield in front of each door) and the rails under the door sills.
Just because the car is in Texas now doesn't mean that it hasn't spent some years up north in the salt, slush, and crap.
Just because the car is in Texas now doesn't mean that it hasn't spent some years up north in the salt, slush, and crap.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 115
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth TX
Re: Point of no Return (LemansBlue68)
I've already removed the transmission crossmember and done some scrubbing on it. Looks like new steel where I worked it. But inside, right where it bolted on to the side of the main frame there was some dirt build-up that came away in little pebble-size chunks. Could be rust to my untrained eye, then again most of it is on the bottom where gravity would take dirt, and it's only in the area right where it bolts and not all along the inside. I'll double check near the pick-ups because I think I heard some dull thud action and also look inside the holes the factory cut for mounting side-exhaust. This was the advice given to me by Chuck @ Automotive Performance Unlimited when I called him. Helpful guy.
Also for anybody listening he told me to not remove the radiator tray (metal slab that divides the motor radiator from the transmission radiator). He said that's the only thing holding the body together in the front and if your remove it, then your body will stretch. :mad
I'll get back with you guys on how long it was in Idaho, how much it was driven there, in what weather, and hopefully I can find out what city the Vette was in when it was in CA. Hopefully not a salty city. :thumbs:
Also for anybody listening he told me to not remove the radiator tray (metal slab that divides the motor radiator from the transmission radiator). He said that's the only thing holding the body together in the front and if your remove it, then your body will stretch. :mad
I'll get back with you guys on how long it was in Idaho, how much it was driven there, in what weather, and hopefully I can find out what city the Vette was in when it was in CA. Hopefully not a salty city. :thumbs: