I have a '95 vette that I picked up cheap due to body mishaps and mileage. I'm getting kinda tired of the whole bent frame look though. Doesn't affect driving, BUT, it's bent about 1" in the very rear of the car. Car is completely level all the way 'till about the driver's side rear tire, the front of it, and from then to the very rear of the car, the differnce is about 1". Not the best look, anyway, someone who hasn't seen the car quoted me like $160-$180, but of course, they haven't seen the car yet. Also, just wondering about some body repairs. Most of my body panels don't match up right, there are gaps here and there (previous owner trashed my girl), how easy to fix issues like this for a shop? Damage wise I've only got one spot, about 2" x 2" on the back right fender that's like chipped out of the fiberglass. I also need some hood alignment. Anyone throw out some numbers for me on body/frame/fiberglass repair? I'd post some pictures but don't have any of the good shots on my computer. Let's just call it each body piece is off maybe 1 centimeter at either end, like it's missing a bolt or something and kinda sagging almost.

Hope that came out right, thanks for any tips and any estimates y'all may have. Plan on getting an estimate from a pretty good shop up here in about 1 month since I'm not currently driving my car for this month.

 

with something as important as frame straigtening i wouldn't be going with the cheapest quote, i'd be looking for the most experienced shop with the most modern equipment

 

I agree 100%, but I at the same time don't wanna find a good shop (which I have) and then get charged double or if I find another place find out they're quoting double, etc etc.

 

Frame work. Say $75 per hour. Two hour minimum. With all panels removed, typically about 3 hours. You pay for set up time no matter what.

If you have some way out piece, assuming it is possible to repair, usually no more than 4-5 hours.

dlmeyers 90 coupe zf6 3 speed shocks

 

Depending on how bad the frame is out be ready for some fiberglass repair.

Putting things back usually moves other things around which can cause

other panels to get cracked. Plan on it..

 

Find a good shop and go there. Make sure they don't crack your transmission while they are bending the frame back. (depending how bad its bent.)
I had that happen to a race car of mine a while back.
Now when we bend the frame I take the drivetrain out.

 

I believe there is also an aluminum sub-frame back there as well, above the main main frame.

This may be a replace piece- or it least it was for mine after an accident and a failed repair job.

Good luck.

 

I don't have first hand experience with Vettes and bend frames but my step dad own a body shop.

I don't want to say this to discourage you but I would never buy a Vette with a bent frame unless I got a really good deal. My step dad owns a body shop and has fixed lots of Vettes. He told me SMC fiber glass is the worse type of fiber glass to fix, after you fix it, a few months down the road the repaired spots seem to seep back through the paint and you can see were it was fixed.

A vettes frame is also very hard to fix, its got lots of structures in between the two main columns and the alignment will never be he same. These cars are very precise machines. I would buy a mini-van with a Bend fame, but not a Vette.

Did you find out if the frame was already realigned? it is possible that this is the best they could do.

One of my friends vette is also almost 1 inch lower on one side because of the same reason, and his frame was re-aligned the best my step dad could, and he has over 30 years of experience in body work and re-aligning frames.

Good luck!


[Modified by TheStef, 3:23 PM 6/29/2004]

 

Well, got the car for $6,000 through a whole-saler friend of mine, so figured no big loss if the body/frame needs some work

I guess, hopefully they'll be able to bend it back some without screwing up something else on the car. Guess I just gotta risk it.

The shop where I plan on doing this at was recommened by another shop who works on cars for pretty much everyone I know, so I trust they're work, plus spoke to the owner of the other shop and he seems like a stand up guy.

Thanks for all the replies

As for body work, if the fiberglass errors only end up being hidden for a year or less I'm pretty sure this shop will fix it. If the repairs can make it a couple years that'll be fine, because at that point I'll be able to afford to just replace all the damaged pieces.


[Modified by BowTieBlood, 3:33 PM 6/29/2004]