1964 coupe's frame

[Jack J.]

Presently, the body is raised and blocked up about 16" above the frame(body-off resto. in process). Preliminary visual observations indicate severe external as well as internal rust scaling. My concern is that the structural integrity has been compromised. Rust removal by acid bath was my first consideration and which would (sand blasting included)further "thin" the metal. I'm sure others have been there before and perhaps have elected to purchase a repro frame produced locally in Michigan. I see more pro than con if I choose to go this route. Expensive, yes, but I think the time,money and effort to repair and restore? the frame would negate the price of a new frame. As far as NCRS, are there any cons with a repro frame? Any personal experiences similar to mine would be greatly appreciated. The fact that the car has been idle for 27 years is the key culprit. Thanks in advance.

[Chuck R.]

Re: I've told this story more than once Jack

My 68 frame was swiss cheese and I elected to have custom bent steel fabbed to wrap the damaged areas without chopping the frame and risking mis-alignment.

About halfway through the fit and weld process (30 Hrs.) I happened on a web site in California advertising a 68 frame for $500.00 I couldn't resist and sent an e-mail to see if this was true or a farse. Worked out to be true.

With an additional $500.00 tacked on for shipping I had a rock soid, straight frame ready to cleanup delivered to my door.

As I've said before, I hate to give up on anything, but the math was just way too simple vs my labor to resurrect a frame that would be just so so when finished not to mention shooting the potential re-sale value of the car into the toilet. Not that I'm going to sell it anytime soon mind you

Hope this helps in some twisted way,

Chuck 32205

[Jack H.]

It's your call....

Midwest cars are notorious for rust damage due to road salt. Mine came from Michigan and Ohio. I kept the original frame on the '65 to preserve what was left of the original frame stamp numbers. My '71 was in SUCH bad shape that the RH frame rail fell apart in three section and the LH rail split in half when the body was pulled! She's now wearing a '69 donor frame from a Colorado Shark car (road salt has ALWAYS been banned in Colorado).

If you're in Michigan, then you have access to a number of pros (retired Fisher Body guys, Etc.) and there are frame shops in business to help you make the decision as to how much rust/rot/damage is too much + the teeter totter of labor to remove existing rust and fill surface pit for concours appearance vs. the cost of doing a simple frame swap.

But, without a calibrated eyeball looking SPECIFICALLY at your car, you'll only get generic pro/con advice as to the approachs. If you 'lose' the original frame then you've lost a piece of that car's automotive history, but sometimes that's the best/only way to go.... Stamped frame number derivates are NOT verified on any of the major Corvette concours show circuits due to inacessibility.

[Patrick H.]

Re: It's your call....

In addition, if he checks out Caledonia Corvettes and Classics (or whatever their name is this year; they're in Belding MI), Gary actually produces all the frame repair sections and will also either repair/restore your frame, swap you one, or work out some other arrangement.

Patrick