67 convertible frame

[Lawrence S.]

A local corvette shop left my car on a rack suspended from the ground for 8 days. The resulting effects were that the body panels in front of the rear tires buckled out. When I saw this I was furious, he claimed that I had a weak, rusty frame which actually caused the damage. I didn't agree and drove off. When I got home I immediately got under the car with hammer and screwdriver in hand tapping the frame trying to find weak spots. I did not find any holes or areas that I could tap the screwdriver through the frame. However, when I jack the car up with a floor jack in the required location on the frame the gap between the door does separate. So bad that the door will not open when the car is jacked up just below the gap between the door and jamb. The shop still claims that my frame is "thin" I don't know what to believe. This guy has been in business 12 years and he said that he has had cars on the rack for many days. Your comments are appreciated.

LJ

[Wayne K.]

Re: 67 convertible frame

Lawrence,

Sorry to hear of your demise. I think it is normal to get some body flex when jacking at one jack point but not to the degree that your talking about and if the garage had the vehicle on a four point hoist positioned correctly I don't think that this should have happened unless your frame has lost some of its integrity. I have had my vehicle on four properly positioned jack stands for longer than that and haven't experienced any ill effects.

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 convertible frame

Lawrence-----

First of all, the effect on your door fitment when the car is jacked up is quite normal for both Corvette coupes and convertibles of C2 or C3 vintage. However, the problem is temporary and should disappear when the car is back on the wheels.

The problem with the body panel buckling that you describe is NOT normal. However, I can tell you that this should not occur just because the car is left on a hoist or otherwise jacked up regardless of the duration of the circumstance. For example, my 69 convertible (with a frame virtually identical to the one under your 67) was on jackstands, a situation exactly comparable to a car on a frame hoist, for about 2 years with no problems, whatsoever.

I would have to agree with the Corvette shop that the root problem with your car was caused by deterioration of your frame. This judgement is re-inforced by the fact that the buckling of the body panels occurred in the area in which it did. This area is exactly where Corvette frames are most susceptible to damage and exactly where I would expect the manifestation of the frame problems to appear on the body.

Usually, Corvette frames which suffer from corrosive damage are damaged from the INSIDE. Such damage is not always easy to detect. The fact that you were not able to penetrate the frame with a screwdriver does not mean that significant corrosion-induced weakening has not occurred. Personally, I don't think that the kind of damage that you described could have occurred as a result of extended suspension on a lift or jackstands if your frame was basically sound.

A very unfortunate "fact of Corvette life" is that Corvette frames are very susceptible to corrosion-induced damage. This problem increases by about an order of magnitude for Corvettes that have been operated for any length of time in an area of the country where salt is used on the roads. A 67 Corvette is up to 36 years old now and just because you may not live in an area of the country where salt is used, the car may not always have lived in such an area. Once corrosion-induced deterioration begins, it, unfortunately, proceeds inexorably. 36 years is a LOT of time for the process to proceed and significantly weaken the frame. I realize that all this may come as a great shock to you, but that's the way it is. Wishing that it be otherwise will not make it so. Believe me, you are far from the first person to experience this shock. That's why I ALWAYS recommend that folks purchasing Corvettes focus the majority of their pre-purchase inspection on the condition of the frame. Damaged frames, either due to corrosion or previous collision damage, whether "repaired" or not, are the absolute greatest problem that a Corvette can suffer from. If I were purchasing a used Corvette, I would not even CONSIDER one that showed ANY evidence, whatsoever, of frame damage, REGARDLESS of price. In fact, the reality that this sort of damage is so prevalent in Corvettes is exactly the reason that I long-ago gave up any interest in purchasing a used mid-year Corvette.

[Lawrence S.]

Re: 67 convertible frame

Thanks for the response. Now the big question. Is this repairable or does it sound like I need a new frame. Additionally, how much flex should there be between the door and the jamb. I have owned the car for 10 years and have had it on jack stands many many times, but only for a few days.
The body panel bow is about 1/4 inch.

[Bob R.]

Re: 67 convertible frame

Long Island Corvette sells complete C-2 frames as well as repair sections. Several of the other suppliers of Corvette parts also sell frames and sections. Depending on where the damage is the repair might not be that difficult. Long Island Corvette phone number is 800-466-6367.

[Elko P.]

Re: 67 convertible frame

I just had the frame on my 66 convertible completely redone by Caledonia
Corvettes & Classics. I'm very happy with the results. It did take a couple of months to do, but it was worth the wait. They make alot of the parts for the frames there. It's a good idea to have a shop like Caledonia do the welding as they have a jig to put your frame in. That's all they do. Their # is 800-245-5224. Talk to Gary. He's the owner. Good luck.

[William N.]

Re: 67 convertible frame

I would also consider the Birdcage of the body besides the frame. I had a car with a rotted Birdcage at the base of the "B or Lock pillar and the rear of the body would flex down a good 10 degrees. I would advise removing the inner B pillar trim and inspecting the base of the pillar where it attaches to the rocker panel. If corroded, it relys only on the fiberglass to hold the back of the body up.

[Joe L.]

Re: 67 convertible frame

Elko-----

For frame repair, Caledonia is the way to go.