I'm replacing my old rusted 66 frame with a new one from Vette Products of Michigan. any suggestions as to what I should do with the old rusted one I'm replacing? I plan to cut out number and weld into the new frame.
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
if its that bad scrap yard is paying 9 cents a pound or there maybe sections that are salvageable and can be cut out and sold for other frame repairs -
Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
As Bill mentions in the latter part of his reply, I'd go the route of trying to do something positive/constructive with it. I think you may be surprised. A friend of mine had his heavily rusted mid-west salt-belt C3 frame swapped out with Vette Products frame several years ago. He gave the old frame to guy doing the work who put it on eBay or Craigslist or similar. Honestly and accurately represented of course with lots of pictures of just how bad it was. He was able to sell it for more than he expected. I don't remember the amount, but it was much more than scrap, and somebody was glad to get it for parts/repairs/etc. I guess things may be changing on that front with the popularity of the resto-mods with aftermarket frames and more used frames hitting the market, but maybe still worth a try.
BTW Ryan, I'd love to get a PM from you concerning your thoughts and experiences regarding the Vette Products frame. I've solicited input in the past, mostly positive, but would love another and more recent data point. I may be going down that road myself. Thanks in advance if you have the time and inclination.Comment
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
Maybe a better discription of the frame problems and/or pictures could let us be more informative. Typically it is the rear of the frame that takes the rust beating. Particularily the 3rd and 4th x-members and the rear portion of the side rails. These components are available in the after market and can be replaced by some of the more enthusiastic members here.Steve L
73 coupe since new
Capital Corvette Club
Ottawa, CanadaComment
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
Steve funny you say that i replaced the foot section under driver door 2 years ago and patched an area of the kickup. found out that the car was used to tow a small boat in the late 70's. the rear differential member had sea shells in it. had holes drilled in rear bumpers for tow hitch.Comment
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
I think it depends on how long you want to hold on to it. I once thought I would hold on to all the old but possibly good steering gear sets, ring & pinion sets, etc but just ended up with a thousand pounds of scrap metal since I wasn't going to reuse them and wouldn't try to sell them to someone knowing they might be borderline at best. Original yes, scrap no question and into the barrel they went - I might have recovered $10 on the lot.
With new frames and frame parts available, if yours is rusted it might be best used to practice flame cutting on.Comment
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
If the VIN is visible, would you not want to cut it out and save it?Comment
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
You can still see the VIN, or at least part of it. Cutting the VIN stamp out and welding it in is the "correct" way for both judging and value. It's part of the difference between a "replacement frame" and a "reproduction frame".Comment
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
So your saying there's a difference between the two? Replacement frame and reproduction frame appear to be the same thing....mincing of words. Cutting and welding in the original VIN # changes nothing....judged or not.
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
Two simple reasons to cut VIN:
1) So YOU retain it
2) So NOBODY ELSE has it.
VIN's are something sacred in my book and should be retained. Whether or not you take the time to morph it into your new Vette Products is a personal choice IMHO, but one I would probably make myself.Comment
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
I would think that a replacement frame would be an original frame from received from a donor 66 while a reproduction frame is a new frame that is supposed to fit a 66.
The vendors claim the reproduction frame parts are the same but I can tell that they are not. I've had this experience with a C3 frame parts.Steve L
73 coupe since new
Capital Corvette Club
Ottawa, CanadaComment
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
Cutting out a VIN from your original rusted out frame, then grafting onto a doner frame from the same year is probably pushing it for originality and boarders on fraud.
Cutting out a VIN from your original rusted out frame, then grafting onto a reproduction frame, I would think is is fraud.
Restamping your original frame because the numbers have been obliterated because of rust would probably be Ok, BUT would lead to a lot of questions since it could be construde as fraud.Steve L
73 coupe since new
Capital Corvette Club
Ottawa, CanadaComment
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Re: What to do with an original 66 frame.
Please provide more details on this. I've asked many questions here about the Vette Products frames, talked to them personally, have received some nice pics from JH from his Vette Products plant tour, etc. and have been assured they are right using original GM tooling, at least for C2's. I do have one C3 data point, besides yours which I'd like to hear more about, that the bends didn't look quite right, i.e. more bulges/ripples than originals. Anyway, I'd like any/all input in order to help chose between a Vette Products frame, a used frame (very risky IMHO), and repairing or back-halving my original.
I see your point, but do not necessarily agree, at least not that confidently and definitely. To me "FRAUD" comes into play when you intentionally misrepresent something and/or purposely deceive someone else for personal gain. I don't ever plan on selling my car to being with, and I would never misrepresent what I know is real vs not real, born with car vs not born with car, or otherwise. I do see the gray area where other parties get involved, i.e. somebody does what is suggested here and then later somebody else tries to misrepresent it a for profit flip by claiming original, so its definitely not black and white.
Where do you draw the line? What if you only replace the rear frame section, which is another option in many cases of rusty frames? If you keep more that 1/2 of the original frame is it okay to graft VIN in your opinion? Never okay if the original frame is modified/repaired?
However, back to my original point, which was that I would never sell anything from my car that had my car's VIN number on it. I would either remove or obliterate it prior to selling those pieces. That was the input I was providing. As I said in the post, the adding it to the new frame is a personal choice, and that comment was based on the controversial nature of this subject.
BTW, the whole frame replacement topic has been discussed many times here. I have a few bookmarks noted due to my personal interest in the subject. Here is just one:
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...duction-FramesComment
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