Victorzo6

Hello, i am currently in the process if rebuilding salvaged corvette zo6. the vehicle has a small crack in one of the welds of the frame all the way in the front near the radiators, and im going to end up having it re welded. The welder states that he needs to know what the frame is made of, however i am not sure if the frame is all aluminum or if its aluminum with something else. if anyone has any information that would be of great help

charles7970

badhabit_wb

If it's repairable GM will have a procedure to repair it. That's where I'd look to figure it out.

This might help as well

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...e-welding.html

GUSTO14

Here's a pretty good picture of the fame where it transitions from the hydro formed sections to the cast pieces of the frame.







Good luck... GUSTO

Resonator

While highly pure aluminum does exist, any aluminum used in machinery and structures will be aluminum alloy, which contains other elements, added in specific quantities in order to result in a metal with the desired properties for the application. Your welder is correct that he needs to know what aluminum alloy he is welding in order to do it properly. (Some aluminum alloys are almost impossible to weld. However, as the Corvette frame comes welded together in the first place, clearly it is possible to weld.)

According to the thread linked to earlier in this thread, a pulsed MIG welder and 5554 welding wire are required according to the GM repair manual. But a welder is going to want more information than just that.

I would try and get access to the repair manual to get the most thorough information on the proper welding procedure. Structural welds need to be taken seriously. Good luck.