63 FRAME ROT

[Jim H.]

Hi Group,
I have a '63 fuelie coupe that has a spot on the side rail that is soft due to poor drainage. My question is: I'll have it welding with plates to give this are strength, but will this effect and reduce its resale value? Other than this item the car is 95% original and very nice. Please advise or thoughts. Thanks in advance. I also have a '66 coupe 427/390hp which is very cool and is being restored right now if any of you have questions on this guy.
ciao,
Jim Hilton

ps just joined NCRS looking forward to the up and coming events.

[Harry Sadlock]

Re: 63 FRAME ROT

Jim, 63 Fuel cars are a rare breed. I would not worry about resale. I am sure that some would complain about it, just negotiate the complaint away. 63's were known for rust anyway. Most if not all have problems with the frame. Just ensure that the welder adds the plate in line with the current frame, grind the hell out of it to remove the weld marks, fill as necessary and paint. Most times the weld is not visible when the whole frame is restored.

Harry

38513

[Jim H.]

Re: 63 FRAME ROT

Hey Harry,
Thanks for the input. There is a Corvette restration shop just a few miles from that will do the work, but I'll make sure on the alignment.
Thanks,
Jim

[Jack H.]

There are more 'elegant' ways....

to 'restore' your rust damaged frame. The basic approach is to THOROUGHLY inspect the frame, since there's usually more than one place frame rot has begun once it's obvious in a given section.

Next, you can either acquire pre-cut sections from the catalog houses or seek a Corvette 'bone yard' to supply good/used sections taken from crash cars. You cut out the old section that's suffered damage and drill a couple of 'guide holes' through it upstream from the cut.

Now, cut the replacement section to match and TIG a steel strip inside so it matches up with the guide holes. Lay the replacement section into place and TIG it through the guide holes.

Weld the circumference of the parting lines to fully and permanently join the old and new sections. Then, grind the welds flush. If done correctly, the repair is permanent and undetectable and as good or better than new once the frame is painted/detailed....

[Jim H.]

Re: There are more 'elegant' ways....

Hi Jack,
Thanks for the feedback. This method sounds like a much more elegant way to fix the frame. I'm sure one of the three shops here can do it? Thanks again for the advise.
Ciao,
Jim

[bill stephenson]

Re: There are more 'elegant' ways....

------As Jack said, Jim, keep on looking for rust, as there will be more. The rule of thumb I have lived by for years is that if you can see the rust, there is ten times as much you cant see. I hope for your sake that this isnt true, but experience has proven this adage to be true many more times than untrue!...........Bill S

[Joe L.]

Re: There are more 'elegant' ways....

bill and Jim------

Yup.

[Stephen W.]

Re: There are more 'elegant' ways....

I'll share my experience with my 68 frame. I bought the car knowing the frame was shot so that was no surprise. I located a very decent used frame but when I was really cleaning it up I found a spot that was thin in the one side rail. No problem I have a lot of hands on sectioning frames so I bought the pieces from a vendor at Carlisle. After all the work of cutting, grinding and filling I was able to be satisfied with the repair. Add to this the cleaning prepping and painting the frame I have a nice frame. I sure wish I would have just bought the whole frame in the first place. At that time he wanted $3,600.00 for the coupe frame.

[Jim H.]

Re: There are more 'elegant' ways....

Thanks you guys for all the advise.
May be see you on the road.
Jim