Hi, found you through link on www.corvette.com. I am in the Aiken SC area, and just purchased a 69 convertible. I don't have a clue on Corvette resources, my last 2 restorations were a 65 and 67 mustangs. I know all the ford trials and troubles! This car is all original, 350 3spd manual. Through web sites, seems only a little over 250 vettes were produced with the 3 spd, so a convertible 3spd might be rare, but also might not matter. The only options on it appear to be fm radio and side pipes, and hard top. Here is where I need helpful advice. The car was $1,500. The real problem is the frame is rusted so bad the doors are holding the rear end of the car on! Doing all the work myself, I think it is possible to restore and still be worth more than it would cost. If I wasn't going to do the work myself I beleive it would not be cost effective. I would hate to part out a complete original! Is this car worth it? Do you know where I can start on information on frame work? Are used/restored frames the best way? Where do you find them? It would be great if there is someone fairly close in SC who I could take the frame to and possibly have it fixed. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
C.S.,
I dont know any particualr dealer or company that sells frames but check out Hemmings News as they always have frames for sale from various people . I think I've seen good non rust free ones for 2,000 or so . A good resource for 1969 Vette restos is Rick Bizzoco's "1969 Stingray Guidebook". It has numerous pictures , numbers info etc. and is available through Corvette vendors such as Corvette Central. Good luck with your 69!!
Kenny -69 350/350 conv w/a.c -
Re: 69 convertible restoration
C.S.,
I dont know any particualr dealer or company that sells frames but check out Hemmings News as they always have frames for sale from various people . I think I've seen good non rust free ones for 2,000 or so . A good resource for 1969 Vette restos is Rick Bizzoco's "1969 Stingray Guidebook". It has numerous pictures , numbers info etc. and is available through Corvette vendors such as Corvette Central. Good luck with your 69!!
Kenny -69 350/350 conv w/a.cComment
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
Having a rusted out frame is not the end of the world for these cars, as long as the "birdcage", the inner structure of the fiberglass body, is still sound. It also depends upon how complete the car is. Do you have everything like the guages, top frame, seat frames, etc? In the long run, the cosmetics actually wind up costing the most to repair/ replace. You certainly got the car cheap enough to warrant replacement of the frame. First thing you'll want to do is either pull the body off, or at least get the car on a lift so you can see the full extent of the rust damage to the frame. If there's no one around who fixes the frames, your best bet may be to buy a solid used one. I would guess you should be able to get one for around $1500.00. (Well, there goes the price of the car.) Good luck!
BrandonComment
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
Having a rusted out frame is not the end of the world for these cars, as long as the "birdcage", the inner structure of the fiberglass body, is still sound. It also depends upon how complete the car is. Do you have everything like the guages, top frame, seat frames, etc? In the long run, the cosmetics actually wind up costing the most to repair/ replace. You certainly got the car cheap enough to warrant replacement of the frame. First thing you'll want to do is either pull the body off, or at least get the car on a lift so you can see the full extent of the rust damage to the frame. If there's no one around who fixes the frames, your best bet may be to buy a solid used one. I would guess you should be able to get one for around $1500.00. (Well, there goes the price of the car.) Good luck!
BrandonComment
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
Hi!
Caledonia Classics (formerly Caledonia Corvettes) and now in Belding, Michigan specializes in frame repair and replacement, and also manufacture a variety of frame AND "birdcage" replacement parts. They are 616-794-5026 or 888-245-5224. They can give you some good info, as well as let you know if your frame might be repairable.
PatrickVice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
71 "deer modified" coupe
72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
2008 coupe
Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.Comment
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
Hi!
Caledonia Classics (formerly Caledonia Corvettes) and now in Belding, Michigan specializes in frame repair and replacement, and also manufacture a variety of frame AND "birdcage" replacement parts. They are 616-794-5026 or 888-245-5224. They can give you some good info, as well as let you know if your frame might be repairable.
PatrickVice-Chairman (West), Michigan Chapter NCRS
71 "deer modified" coupe
72 5-Star Bowtie / Duntov coupe. https://www.flickr.com/photos/124695...57649252735124
2008 coupe
Available stickers: Engine suffix code, exhaust tips & mufflers, shocks, AIR diverter valve broadcast code.Comment
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
A short note, you might NOT consider putting the 69 on a lift , if rusted as badly as anticipated, you may indeed do more damage than good. Personally I would carefully attempt lifting the car with a floor jack a side at a time, Slowly. This could be an interesting car if it is a factory side pipe car with three speed. Best of luck
JerryComment
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
A short note, you might NOT consider putting the 69 on a lift , if rusted as badly as anticipated, you may indeed do more damage than good. Personally I would carefully attempt lifting the car with a floor jack a side at a time, Slowly. This could be an interesting car if it is a factory side pipe car with three speed. Best of luck
JerryComment
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
C.S., Parts Express, a Vette resto shop near Cleveland, Ohio, 440-748-1500, has a number of frames, one in particular still has the original factory frame coating. They will sell in either bare or rolling.
Pulling the body is no big deal, all you need is a dolly, and you can make one out of 2 x6's with casters, and 8 bruisers, 4 on each side, or you can purchase a body lift kit (straps) from any of the Vette catalogs for under a $100.00. Use a cherry picker withe the lift kit, but I pulled my body with the 8 bruisers. Be sure you have a keg, some brats & kraut ready. BTW, you can leave the steering column, but remove the seats.
You may end up pulling the body off, as your aluminum body mounts are probably in a million pieces, as was mine.Comment
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
C.S., Parts Express, a Vette resto shop near Cleveland, Ohio, 440-748-1500, has a number of frames, one in particular still has the original factory frame coating. They will sell in either bare or rolling.
Pulling the body is no big deal, all you need is a dolly, and you can make one out of 2 x6's with casters, and 8 bruisers, 4 on each side, or you can purchase a body lift kit (straps) from any of the Vette catalogs for under a $100.00. Use a cherry picker withe the lift kit, but I pulled my body with the 8 bruisers. Be sure you have a keg, some brats & kraut ready. BTW, you can leave the steering column, but remove the seats.
You may end up pulling the body off, as your aluminum body mounts are probably in a million pieces, as was mine.Comment
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
Our motto is 'restoration and preservation'. We could NOT suggest that you do anything other than jump in and start fixing 'baby'....
BUT, this sport isn't Mustang. It can get REAL serious and REAL costly! It can/does get under your skin. You won't be the first or last novice that reads himself to sleep at nights learning the lore. I'll give you some advice that might walk to the beat of a different drummer....
First, DO NOTHING with your car. You 'assume' this/that is 'untouched' and factory original. Ronald Regan told the Russians "Trust but verify". Join NCRS, join your local NCRS chapter (separate items) and go have your car judged 'as is' to find out what you've got.
Getting involved with your local chapter will introduce you to folks who have been there, done that, got the T-shirt AND know the in's and out's of who's who and got what in your local community. Why re-invent the wheel? I guarantee you, you'll save ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE in time/$ vs. the paltry $60 or so you spend in membership dues from this move!
Next, begin asking yourself what you want to DO with the car BEFORE you spend one more dime. See my post to this effect above ('62 Corvette).
Let NCRS work for you/with you. This is a 2-way street -- you'll give of your personal time AND you'll learn a cubic *&^load along the way. Too many jump in and start pulling this/that only to find out they shouldn't have, paid too much, or closed some avenue or another to them/the car as a result.
Last, if you think Corvette ownership is an 'investment', think again. Investment is an economic term and it implies a gain, yield, or return. There are few who have actually MADE MONEY (cost of capital and/or market shadow price weighted) from the restoration of their Corvettes. We do it because we LOVE these cars! It's the cars that bring us together, but, in the end, it's the NCRS people that count. It'll take a while before much of this sinks in, but trust me here....Comment
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Re: 69 convertible restoration
Our motto is 'restoration and preservation'. We could NOT suggest that you do anything other than jump in and start fixing 'baby'....
BUT, this sport isn't Mustang. It can get REAL serious and REAL costly! It can/does get under your skin. You won't be the first or last novice that reads himself to sleep at nights learning the lore. I'll give you some advice that might walk to the beat of a different drummer....
First, DO NOTHING with your car. You 'assume' this/that is 'untouched' and factory original. Ronald Regan told the Russians "Trust but verify". Join NCRS, join your local NCRS chapter (separate items) and go have your car judged 'as is' to find out what you've got.
Getting involved with your local chapter will introduce you to folks who have been there, done that, got the T-shirt AND know the in's and out's of who's who and got what in your local community. Why re-invent the wheel? I guarantee you, you'll save ORDERS OF MAGNITUDE in time/$ vs. the paltry $60 or so you spend in membership dues from this move!
Next, begin asking yourself what you want to DO with the car BEFORE you spend one more dime. See my post to this effect above ('62 Corvette).
Let NCRS work for you/with you. This is a 2-way street -- you'll give of your personal time AND you'll learn a cubic *&^load along the way. Too many jump in and start pulling this/that only to find out they shouldn't have, paid too much, or closed some avenue or another to them/the car as a result.
Last, if you think Corvette ownership is an 'investment', think again. Investment is an economic term and it implies a gain, yield, or return. There are few who have actually MADE MONEY (cost of capital and/or market shadow price weighted) from the restoration of their Corvettes. We do it because we LOVE these cars! It's the cars that bring us together, but, in the end, it's the NCRS people that count. It'll take a while before much of this sinks in, but trust me here....Comment
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