C3 Frame

[Stefan H�llberg]

[William C.]

Re: C3 Frame

I owned a last week of production '68 and I believe it had the extra gusseting in the frame. Been a long time ago though...(30 years???)

[Terry B.]

Re: C3 Frame

Stefan,

All the 1968 bodies were made to accept the extra frame gusset at the kick up. It just involved making the battery box and the jack compartment beveled at the gusset side. The addition of the gusset was a feature long over due and has proved to be much needed for strength at the frame's weakest point.

I believe that GM had an extra amount of '67 frames so they used them until they ran out. I'm not sure if there is a specific date that anyone can say for sure. I would not be surprised if some of the early '68 test mules probably had the new and improved '68 frame. I will be curious what other '68 owners have to say about the presence of the gusset at the kickup on their frames and their build date.

[John C.]

Re: C3 Frame

Stefan

Rick Bizzoco in his 1969 Stingray Guidebook says the extra gusset was added to late 68 frames by vin 25,995.

My mid April built car (16,4xx) does not have them.

John

[Richard F.]

Re: C3 Frame

22511 has gussets. Latter part of June.

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 Frame

Stefan-----

If you are talking about just the frame gussets, generally considered a 1969 and later feature, being added to the 1968 frame as others have described, that was definitely done in late 1968 as has been described. If you are talking about a COMPLETE 1969 frame being used for later 1968 Corvettes, the answer is no. The 1968 frame differs from the 1969 in significant ways and a 1968 and 1969 frame are NOT functionally interchangeable. Would GM have modified a 1969 frame to make it usable on a 1968? I would say the chances of that are virtually nil.

[Jim T.]

Re: C3 Frame

No rear gussets on my FEB built 1968. Don't have the additional frame braces under/behind the dash for the convertible either.

[Chuck R.]

Re: My June built frame had the gussets *NM*

[Nick K.]

Re: C3 Frame

Serial number 27140, build date 4th week of July on my '68 roadster and it definitely has the gussets.