........
switch frame on corvette
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
switch frame on corvette
I have a salvage title 94 and I've been dumping money into it. I bought it with a TON of performance parts running good for 4k. The reason it is salvage is because of a 15 mile an hour rear end. All that happened to the vette was the bumper was bent and the hinges on the hood were bent and lights were cracked. it has all been fixed.
I bought the vette to be a weekend quartermile car but now I am thinking resale value. I am still going to build the car up and my original plan was to buy another corvette, just a shell and swap everything over and junk the old shell.
Just out of curiosity, would it be a feasible option to just drop it off at a shop and have them switch out the frame?
How much do you think this would cost?
or am I better off just using up my garage for a few weeks switching everything over which was my original plan.
If i can just hand someone 2-3 grand to switch out the frame I would do it, just wanna know if I am in the ball park.
I bought the vette to be a weekend quartermile car but now I am thinking resale value. I am still going to build the car up and my original plan was to buy another corvette, just a shell and swap everything over and junk the old shell.
Just out of curiosity, would it be a feasible option to just drop it off at a shop and have them switch out the frame?
How much do you think this would cost?
or am I better off just using up my garage for a few weeks switching everything over which was my original plan.
If i can just hand someone 2-3 grand to switch out the frame I would do it, just wanna know if I am in the ball park.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 110
From: Brandon Fl
You will never see your money again if you are going to do this for resale value. Either leave it as is or if it bothers you and you plan on keeping it swap it over to another shell. No way in hell I'd mess with it.
Banned Loser
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 53,423
Likes: 250
From: They say you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius
2017 Corvette of the Year
2016 C4 of Year Finalist
Creator of the "Original" whining and crying thread
St. Jude Donor '14-'15-'16-'17
So you're thinking of swapping everything over for better resale value? That's just not going to happen.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,154
Likes: 2
From: Ft Myers Florida
Your better off parting out the car and taking the proceeds to buy an intact car.
Last edited by Y-ME; Aug 28, 2013 at 10:56 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,381
Likes: 2,736
OP has two identical threads.
My response on the other was:
If the "purpose" is a vehicle for yourself there's no reason not to just live with the "salvage" title and move forward. You don't mention where you're located but you should be able to have the vehicle inspected and certified by generally the State Police and registered. If it's already titled, tagged and you've got snapshots of the repair there may NOT be a significant loss in resale that would justify the buy of another and the swap.
If your interest is strictly potential "resale" then you'll need to purchase a like vehicle and do the swap you mention. The problem with this is you need to be sure the buy hasn't had more significant damage and just avoided the "total loss" appraisal.
You could potentially be in worse shape than you are NOW!
My response on the other was:
If the "purpose" is a vehicle for yourself there's no reason not to just live with the "salvage" title and move forward. You don't mention where you're located but you should be able to have the vehicle inspected and certified by generally the State Police and registered. If it's already titled, tagged and you've got snapshots of the repair there may NOT be a significant loss in resale that would justify the buy of another and the swap.
If your interest is strictly potential "resale" then you'll need to purchase a like vehicle and do the swap you mention. The problem with this is you need to be sure the buy hasn't had more significant damage and just avoided the "total loss" appraisal.
You could potentially be in worse shape than you are NOW!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 191
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sorry I didn't mean it like that. I just want to get out what I put into it. Say 5-6 grand. It has a brand new motor, It also has the c5 conversion body kit, roll bar, new carpets and new paint job ect... I am just looking to not take a loss and if switching the frame out can help me come out even on a sale (becuase its easier to sell a clean title car) then I will do that.
IF not, I am going to buy a new shell for 4 grand, swap over everything, and sell it for 9 and again make my money back. I want to buy a stingray and do a full on 383 stroker or LS1 swap. OR use it to buy a turbo kit for the audi S4 I am going to buy next year. I am waiting for the 2013 to depreciate its last long stride
IF not, I am going to buy a new shell for 4 grand, swap over everything, and sell it for 9 and again make my money back. I want to buy a stingray and do a full on 383 stroker or LS1 swap. OR use it to buy a turbo kit for the audi S4 I am going to buy next year. I am waiting for the 2013 to depreciate its last long stride
Last edited by twentyeggs; Aug 28, 2013 at 11:08 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 25,381
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I don't "get it" - why would you want to invest another $4K+ and the labor also to only realize the investment $$'s or less. The labor is a total loss if you do it!
There's an A$$ for every seat and if your work was/is of reasonable quality it should satisfy the "interested" buyer anyway. The "clean" title isn't exactly a big plus with 20 year old car. Besides you can justify the buy of it with the modifications you've made. Who would want to ruin a perfectly good C4 with the body conversion etc.
There's an A$$ for every seat and if your work was/is of reasonable quality it should satisfy the "interested" buyer anyway. The "clean" title isn't exactly a big plus with 20 year old car. Besides you can justify the buy of it with the modifications you've made. Who would want to ruin a perfectly good C4 with the body conversion etc.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
I don't "get it" - why would you want to invest another $4K+ and the labor also to only realize the investment $$'s or less. The labor is a total loss if you do it!
There's an A$$ for every seat and if your work was/is of reasonable quality it should satisfy the "interested" buyer anyway. The "clean" title isn't exactly a big plus with 20 year old car. Besides you can justify the buy of it with the modifications you've made. Who would want to ruin a perfectly good C4 with the body conversion etc.
There's an A$$ for every seat and if your work was/is of reasonable quality it should satisfy the "interested" buyer anyway. The "clean" title isn't exactly a big plus with 20 year old car. Besides you can justify the buy of it with the modifications you've made. Who would want to ruin a perfectly good C4 with the body conversion etc.
I bought the conversion because when I got the car the bumper was a mess all bent in and everything. So while I was looking at 350 dollar replacements I came across the c5 conversion bumper and I liked it better, it made the car look great in my opinion, so I threw down the extra 100
You guys don't like the conversion?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,022
Likes: 3
From: Chandler Arizona
Some c4 owners will give you a hard time about the c5 body panel conversion. It's your car, and if you like it, that's all that matters.
With that said, I think you're in for a bear of a project. The best thing to do is find a running example (for $4,000, that should be easy) and swap over whatever you feel you want to retain (like the engine). To make it easier, find another c4 that is the SAME model year. This will help alleviate any possibly yearly-based changes. Then sell off whatever you don't use.
With that said, I think you're in for a bear of a project. The best thing to do is find a running example (for $4,000, that should be easy) and swap over whatever you feel you want to retain (like the engine). To make it easier, find another c4 that is the SAME model year. This will help alleviate any possibly yearly-based changes. Then sell off whatever you don't use.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 21,543
Likes: 3,216
From: Park City Utah
You won't make (or even break even) any money if you pay anyone to do work on your C4. That is true about almost any major work on a C4. If you do it all yourself...you MAY just break even.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 5,139
Likes: 482
From: H-Town Texas
I guess I'm a little confused on exactly what it is you're trying to accomplish here. I'm guessing that you are trying have a car with clean and clear title in order to sell it?
At this point, I just feel that as long as the buyer can tag the car, the salvage title will cost you alot less than the time of trouble and of course expense of swapping everything over. Kind of like giving an old $50 bill just so you can have a crisp new $20 bill.
I believe there is alot more to removing the body from the frame on these cars than loosening a few bolts, lift and switch.
At this point, I just feel that as long as the buyer can tag the car, the salvage title will cost you alot less than the time of trouble and of course expense of swapping everything over. Kind of like giving an old $50 bill just so you can have a crisp new $20 bill.
I believe there is alot more to removing the body from the frame on these cars than loosening a few bolts, lift and switch.
Last edited by lt4obsesses; Aug 28, 2013 at 12:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
I guess I'm a little confused on exactly what it is you're trying to accomplish here. I'm guessing that you are trying have a car with clean and clear title in order to sell it?
At this point, I just feel that as long as the buyer can tag the car, the salvage title will cost you a lot less than the time of trouble and of course expense of swapping everything over. Kind of like giving an old $50 bill just so you can have a crisp new $20 bill.
I believe there is alot more to removing the body from the frame on these cars than loosening a few bolts, lift and switch.
At this point, I just feel that as long as the buyer can tag the car, the salvage title will cost you a lot less than the time of trouble and of course expense of swapping everything over. Kind of like giving an old $50 bill just so you can have a crisp new $20 bill.
I believe there is alot more to removing the body from the frame on these cars than loosening a few bolts, lift and switch.
This is exactly what i was trying to find out. Now that I know its a huge undertaking, when I am ready for another project car I will just sell this one as it is, or if its another corvette keep the engine and go to town! I like doing my own work on my cars but i know nothing about frame work and do NOT even remotely have the tools to do a frame swap. That is the only reason I even suggested paying someone else to do it.
I figured with a fully restored corvette on a clean title I should be able to get 10k for it easily which would actually make me money but after talking to you guys I found the title is really not that big of a deal for a good amount of people. So I am going to leave it alone!
Thanks for all of your impute! once again, you guys are invaluable.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 882
Likes: 52
I am at a loss on this. If the intent is to "wash" off the salvage tilte, how are you going to fix the serial numbers on the engine, transmission not matching the car. If you change the numbers, it will look like fraud. If the donor has a power train, then you have matching numbers, but to find a donor missing the entire body, w/o it being a salvage is a mystery to me.
These cars are not worth the kind of money and trouble that this entails.
These cars are not worth the kind of money and trouble that this entails.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 191
Likes: 0
I am at a loss on this. If the intent is to "wash" off the salvage tilte, how are you going to fix the serial numbers on the engine, transmission not matching the car. If you change the numbers, it will look like fraud. If the donor has a power train, then you have matching numbers, but to find a donor missing the entire body, w/o it being a salvage is a mystery to me.
These cars are not worth the kind of money and trouble that this entails.
These cars are not worth the kind of money and trouble that this entails.
As long as the DMV knows it is not fraud
You've never head or someone washing the title with a new frame? the title is linked to the frame of a car not the mechanics
Race Director
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 10,691
Likes: 71
From: Phoenix Arizona
Say what? I guess we have been stepping over the 'unibody rail' all this time, It has a full length frame, I've had to cut up a bunch of them. Other than a couple cross members to support the gravity challenged gold chain C4 drivers seats, the floor is all Fiberglass, how are you gonna Unibody that?
Your better off parting out the car and taking the proceeds to buy an intact car.
Your better off parting out the car and taking the proceeds to buy an intact car.
