frames

[David Walker]

what frames will work on my 61 corvett iam getting a 61 vette with a bad frame and want to change it also has any put a olds cutlass frame on a old vette?

[John H.]

Re: frames

David -

The only frame that will "fit" your car properly is a '61-'62 Corvette frame, which is unique to the Corvette and was not used for any other car; used originals and new reproduction frames are available from a number of suppliers. Putting any other car's frame under it would be the mechanical surgery exercise of the century, and would destroy the car's value.

[David Walker]

Re: frames

Thank you i will keep my oringal frame and fix it.i have heard that they were putting 79 olds cutlass frame on old vettes..

[Patrick H.]

Re: frames

David,

There was a "kit car" in existence several years ago made to appear like a 1967 Corvette (but it had a trunk!) that used those frames. That company is no longer in business.

One of those kit cars was actually for sale on eBay recently.

Patrick

[Tom Parsons]

Re: frames-60/62?

John,
Are you ABSOLUTELY certain that a 60 frame is not the same as a 61-2?
As far as I can determine it is. The 60 was the first year to have BOTH the rear radius rods AND the rear sway bar which means the required brackets are are on all 3 years. Also, as far as I know, the rear cross members are the same.
What else could be different?

[Joe Pennington]

Re: frames-60/62?

Tom,
A change was made to the rear of the frame rails (bolt holes) and the rear crossmember, I believe, because of different bumper mounting brackets when the rear bumper design was changed in 61.

[John H.]

Re: frames

The kit car Patrick mentioned was made by the "Nice Car Company", and was designed to sit on a GM "A"-body frame; bad business plan, however - the trim and hardware parts to complete it cost more than the kit did, and after sinking $30K-$40K into one to finish it, you still had a "kit car" that was worth about $10K. Didn't take too many kit buyers to figure this out, and the "Nice Car Company" went bankrupt

[David D.]

Re: frames

John, The Nice Car Company did not go bankrupt (close, but no cigar), it was sold to Ck3 Design of Calgary, Alberta Canada, Sept/1996. FWIW Dave

[Patrick H.]

Here it is: the midyear kit car.

See link below.




CK3

[Tom Parsons]

Re: frames-60/62?

Joe, you are ABSOLUTELY correct! BUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, it just so happens that I have a customer's VIRGIN, VIRGIN, VIRGIN, survivor 62 in my garage. I have VERY , VERY carefully examined the rear of the 62 frame/cross member and my un-altered 56 frame. They APPEAR to be 100% identical in EVERY way-----------------------EXCEPT the 62 cross member has 4 additional holes (for 58-60 LOWER, inboard bumper braces) on the underside and 2 additional holes on each rear frame rail for 61-2 bumper brackets. Otherwise, AS BEST AS I CAN COMPARE, my 56 rear frame rails and cross member have exactly the same configuration as the 62. Thus, a 60 frame COULD be used under a 61-2 if the required holes were added. The 62 even has the holes on top of the cross member for 56-7 style rear bumper brackets. Oh, and also, 2 holes need to be added to the outside of the frame rails for the 61-2 type rear exhaust pipe hanger.

[James F.]

Re: frames-60/62?-Tom

Tom,
I would expect the rear spring frame hangers to be slightly different between the '56 and '57-'62. '56 spring eye tube center should measure 3 1/2" from CL of the frame crossmember. '57-'62 should measure 3". Also '57-"62 hanger bracket legs have a dog leg back to crossmember, the '56 bracket legs are straight. I'd like to know if the '56 you are referring to is a very late build. If so, this could give me an idea when when the '56-'57 and later bracket changes occured. Regards.