New Reproduction Frames

[Timothy B.]

I am interested in hearing feedback from people about the vette products of Michigan reproduction frames.

How close to original are they and the quality of the part. Do they judge OK for NCRS?? Are they really year specific or generic and how much additional work is needed to make a correct looking frame??

What other suppliers are making frames or offer frame services that may be other options?

[Mike E.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

Tim--
We just hung a new frame under my unhit original 59. It is perfect, except for one hole that was not present for a brass brake block. They are year-specific and come from the original GM tooling and jigs. If the midyears are as good as the solid-axle ones, and I have no reason to believe that they are not, I highly recommend them. Even though I have a friend who has been a part-time employee there for a number of years, I had no "in"--they don't discount them.

The new one weighed about double what the old one did.--------(And the old one weighed about half of what it did when it was new)
Mike

[John H.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

What other suppliers are making frames or offer frame services that may be other options?

Tim -

Vette Products of Michigan is the only source for correct frames - Neal makes them about ten miles from me. There are other resto-mod frames out there, but nobody else makes "correct" ones. Neal bought all the original GM stamping dies from the A.O. Smith-Milwaukee frame plant many years ago.

[Timothy B.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

Mike,

That's good to know, I spoke with Neil on the phone and he said the only holes to be drilled are for brake and fuel line, no other welding. Did you have a rust problem with your no hit 59 car?

How did you address the serial #'s on the new frame??

I would like to hear from other members who have replaced bad frames with the Vette products frames.

[Doug Y.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

My friend purchased a new frame for his 1963 SWC last October and I am almost ready to drop the body on it. We were extremely impressed with the folks at Vette Products. The frame was painted black as per GM specs and every mount, bracket etc is absolutely correct. We ordered it and picked it up and brought back to Canada in 3 weeks. I will probably get a new frame next spring for my 1965 roadster as well. I would highly recommend Vette Products.

[Jerry W.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

Bought a new left front 62 frame horn from vette products....perfect fit....used an internal sleeve ...butt and plug weld union....looks totally original.

[Dick W.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

I have used several frame sections and one new frame from Neil over the years. I have nothing but high praise for his work. Now if everyone, furnishing reproduction parts, in the hobby had as good a product...........

[Timothy B.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

Doug,

On the new 63 frame did you find holes that were not on the original frame that maybe were used on later year frames..

Sounds like these guys got there act together, any other comments on the vette products frames..

I appreciate the info...

[Doug Y.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

Hi Timothy regarding your question. No we did not find any extra holes or brackets on the new frame that were not on the original 63 frame. We toured Vette Prods facility and it is extremely well organized. We saw the jigs and production line that Neil apparently purchased from GM, it is very impressive. They had frames from 63 64 65 66 67 on the floor and took time to show me the differences in each year. It was worth the trip (150 miles from London Ont)

[John H.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

When you have the Master assembly drawings for the frames for each year, it simplifies things - Neal has them all, for every year.

[Jack H.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

Mike,

That's good to know, I spoke with Neil on the phone and he said the only holes to be drilled are for brake and fuel line, no other welding. Did you have a rust problem with your no hit 59 car?

How did you address the serial #'s on the new frame??

I would like to hear from other members who have replaced bad frames with the Vette products frames.

I'm also very interested in any feedback in this thread, and particularly interested in anything related to bolded part above. I guess this can be a controversial subject with some, i.e. the old numbers matching vs truly original from day 1 arguments.

Options I've considered include:

1) Cut original frame pieces out, i.e. rectangular pieces containing the two VIN locations (C2), and then simply tack those pieces in addition on top of new frame where VIN should be, but the original VIN would technically be on the new frame. Obviously noticeable. Or just keep the old plates prior to pitching the old frame so you have them for proof of VIN.

2) If you or your shop were real good with a welder and grinder, I suppose you could cut out the new frame and stitch in the original pieces from option 1 and grind flush (tedious). Although I'd hate to cut into a brand new frame like that. It would also depend on the how structural the old pieces are, i.e. obviously if rusted or otherwise thin, forget it.

3) Else just not worry about VIN I suppose. I'd keep the old frame sections containing the VIN regardless.

Any other thoughts here??? I suppose restamping the new frame could be an option if replication is possible, but I've never heard of replicating frame stamps personally. Did Neal get those from GM too I wonder? Or if he purposely avoids this potential controversy.

[Loren S.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

Tim -

Neal bought all the original GM stamping dies from the A.O. Smith-Milwaukee frame plant many years ago.

If only he had bought one of the original railroad car sized GM broaching machines back then, he would be a retired multi-millionaire by now.

[Timothy B.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

Am I correct in assuming the frame serial stamp is the same as the engine and transmission stamp, is it done at the same time on the assembly line?

[John H.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

I've never heard of replicating frame stamps personally. Did Neal get those from GM too I wonder?

Jack -

No, he didn't - the frame VIN stamp tooling was at St. Louis, and was scrapped when the plant closed several years before he bought the GM stamping dies and started making frames.

[John H.]

Re: New Reproduction Frames

Am I correct in assuming the frame serial stamp is the same as the engine and transmission stamp, is it done at the same time on the assembly line?

Nope, it's different. The engine and transmission VIN stamps were done manually with a gang holder and a hammer on the Engine Dress Line, and the frame VIN was done with a large overhead-suspended pneumatically-driven tool on the Chassis Line that used a much larger font.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2002-2/13522/VINstamper833.jpg