Frame off/on restorations..?

[Stallion]

I don't understand. Obviously, you can take the body off, but when people say that it is a frame off restoration, what is that supposed to mean? I always kind of thought that when you restore/build/hotrod that the frame is there, and then you build up on that.

Any explanation?

 

[JohnZ]

TR, it's just semantics - same thing, just expressed differently. I've always used "body-off", as that's what you do - you lift the body off the frame. "Frame-off" seems like a backwards way to express it - gives visions of having the car upside-down and lifting the frame off :eyerole

 

[68Roadster]

JohnZ,
Along these same lines, what exactly has to be loosened up to remove the body?
Mine does not sit right as the alignment holes under the sill plates show and the tire sticks out of one back fender and inside on the other.
I tried removing all the bumpers, loosening all body mounts and jacking the body up under the rear cargo area but it would not budge. Did I miss something somewhere?

Thanks in advance.

 

[paintdaddy]

I dont think your problem is body positioning on the frame.I know you dont want to hear this but you either have a bent frame or a seriously bad alignment.

 

[TZ Racer]

I don't understand. Obviously, you can take the body off, but when people say that it is a frame off restoration, what is that supposed to mean? I always kind of thought that when you restore/build/hotrod that the frame is there, and then you build up on that.

Any explanation?

Take a look at our frame off restoration and you can see what it entails.

http://www.tropiczoneracing.com/Rebuild.htm

This was a 2 year project.

 

[68Roadster]

I dont think your problem is body positioning on the frame.I know you dont want to hear this but you either have a bent frame or a seriously bad alignment.

The alignment holes are off in such a fashion that re-aligning them would correct the tire sticking out problem. As for the alignment, it was done by a Moderator of this forum at a reputable shop. At that time it was discovered that the side yokes were worn and they are in the process of being replaced. Changing the camber does not fix the problem as I have tried that.
The car has never been wrecked so I'm sticking with the alignment hole theory.
I appreciate your input as this problem perplexed me for a long time unitl I thoroughly researched the assembly manual.

 

[paintdaddy]

Sorry bro I skipped over the part where you had said the alignment holes under the sill plates show the misalignment.You probably need to to some disassembly work and re align.With the rocker panels off chec the measurement between the side if the frame rails to the tabs that hold the rocker panels on.If you get those even on both sides you should be good to go.

 

[68Roadster]

P-Daddy,
No harm, no foul......when I discovered the holes off last year I went thru the motions to slightly move the body over. I had the bumperettes off replacing those so I removed the rest of the frt and rear bumper, loosened up the body mounts and tried lifting the rear up under the storage compmnt as recommended by Chris (69MyWay). I couldn't get the body to budge so I don't know if the rear mounts were not loose enuff or after 35 yrs everything is just stuck.
You have my curiosity peaked now so I think I will check the measurement off the frame rails as you described. That should defintely show the mis-alignment. I might try the "budge" again while the car is down for the rear end rebuild. Lots of room under there now!
Never ending fun!

 

[Stallion]

Take a look at our frame off restoration and you can see what it entails.

http://www.tropiczoneracing.com/Rebuild.htm

This was a 2 year project.

Nice Vette!!! :eek

Definitely 1st class work you did on that.