Frame problem ? _ Chapter 2

[Steve D.]

[Bill Clupper]

Re: Frame problem ? _ Chapter 2

From the sound of what you have learned just far, you may be seeing the tip of the iceberg. Body off, Blast or chemical clean the frame and then a close examination will show the full problem you will have to deal with. Sections are available to repair even fairly serious damage, or you could opt for a replacement frame, but you have seen enough to look much harder at the whole frame

[Wayne C.]

Yes! & Yes!

Ever see one of those old Keystone Kops movies where the old sedan roadster breaks apart in the middle and the driver goes right on down the street in the front half?

If nothing else, the flexing could cause a sudden failure in the brake lines or fuel line, and it can't be doing the fiberglass body any good to be flexing.

[James G.]

Re: Frame problem ? _ Chapter 2

While working for Dick Guldstrand a few years back, we got a 64 roadster in from Kansas. Car appeared OK, until customer wanted to have a new hot rod motor installed. Once on the rack we found a similar rust problem.

Customer said, weld and repair it. Ultimately, after much work and attempt to repair, the body was pulled........and it was discovered that so much of the frame had rusted from the INSIDE out that a new frame was purchased and a full body off restoration was done to vehicle. Customer has now $25000 of mechanical restoration plus a new rebuilt frame ( about $3500 ) and is now just starting on the cosmetics and wiring and interior. He will have probably $40000 into restoration on the "really good buy" $12000 car.

Be careful in what you do. If it is a long lost famous LeMans race car or something with great value, fine....keep fixing. But plan for the worse. These are 35 plus year old cars.....And many of them were driven hard and put away wet.
Save the Wave,
Jim

[Alan J.]

Re: Frame problem ? _ Chapter 2

I found a similar problem on my '65 a few years ago -- last year I removed the body and sent my frame (trailered it, actually) to Caledonia Corvettes in Michigan. They did a very nice job on the repair. I did all of the other work myself -- it's not at all out of reach if you have reasonable mechanical skills, good tech data, and a place to do it. The frame repair bill was about $2500, and I spent another $3500 in parts (new gas/brake lines, suspension parts, brakes, gas tank, chroming/plating, etc.) I did it in my house garage. The entire job took about 9 months.

A good frame for a midyear is pretty expensive -- $4000 plus, unless you get lucky or are very well connected. I found one outlet that sells "functional replacements" (converted late '60's - 70's frames) for about $3500. Repair pieces are pretty generally available too.

If you choose to fix your car, I'd be glad to share the things I learned along the way. This is an opportunity to REALLY get to know your car! Incidentaly, my single largest obstacle was getting the family to agree to the expense and "lost daddy time"...

Alan Johnson