C2 frame

[Lawrence S.]

I am conducting a frame off of my 67 roadster. I expect I have a bad frame. Before I removed the body I found a few body cracks under the sill plates near the seatbelt retractor. Also when I jack up the car in front of the frame kickup an excessive amount of "flex" door gap widens on the car. But when I look at the frame with the body off it does not look so bad. My gut tells me to get rid of the frame especially since I have a good line on another, but the frame just does not look so bad. I also considered just repairing what I have, but again my gut kicks in and I go back to getting rid of the frame. The car is an Ohio, VA car----bad road conditions. Any comments or ideas are appreciated.

Lawrence

[Tracy C.]

Re: C2 frame

Lawrence,

The condition you decribe is fairly common on roadsters as there is no top to prevent the frame/body from flexing. If the frame looks good and is solid when you rap on it with a ball pean hammer, I'd say your frame is fine.

tc

[Gary Schisler]

Re: C2 frame

You can also conduct the ball pean test. Take a small ball peen (ok, what is it pean or peen?) hammer and tap along the frame listening for dull sounds which is rusted or rotted out areas. Clear metallic sounds are generally good metal. Check for the kick up areas just forward of the rear wheel wells as well as the ends of the frame.
Gary

[Randy R.]

Re: C2 frame

Sandblasting should reveal any serious rust problems. It will also reveal any broken welds, etc. The gap behind one of the doors on my 67 roadster is wider than I would like. This was present before the body was lifted off the frame. I am hoping new body mount cushions will correct this. I do know that the body flexes when lifted with a frame hoist. I would examine the frame after sandblasting before throwing it out.