Looking for Advice, Info...

[crzipilot]

Hello,

Actually a ford guy so know pretty much nothing about vettes.

Anyways, was cleaning out my father in laws barn up in the mountains, and around back we find a frame. We inquire to him about it, and he says it's a '58 corvette rolling frame he bought some time ago.


So time to unravel the mystery.... Need to find vin and decode it, and figure out if it is what it is...etc etc.

Reading posts, it looks like a vin should be stamped around the drivers side frame rail?

Also if it turns out to be a '58 frame, what are the options of doing something with it, given that it's in decent condition? Obviously we could sell it, or build it back up.

What are the main options / routes people take to building them??? From what I've seen it looks like anything other than original, it's suggested to simply buy an aftermarket frame and go from there?

Just looking for options and suggestions...

Thanks

 

[SebringBill]

First, the serial number (as you found out, stamped on the top of the frame right about where your butt would sit - say not too far in front of the kickup for the rear axle) should start like this: J58S10XXXX if it's a 58 frame (XXXX being the actual production number). If it's a 59: J59S10XXXX. If it's a 57: E57S10XXXX. It's been known to be stamped twice on occasion.

If you're thinking restorod and it is a good solid frame (check the kickup area mentioned earlier and the rear crossmember) there are a number of aftermarket mfgrs that make C4/C5 suspension components adapted to your chassis for greater driving enjoyment; I'm sure others will chime in with names.

 

[crzipilot]

If we were to do anything with it, I suppose that's what we had in mind. Or find someone that would or could use an older frame for their project. It'll be a few weeks before I'm back up in the mountains again to pull the frame out and get a better look at it.

From the bit of looking I've done, it seems even on the restorod direction, it seems easier to just buy an aftermarket chasis and such and go from there?

Or your saying there's an equal amount of aftermarket kits to adapt the older frames, without too much fuss?

Funny I see your in sarasota, that's where I spend the other half of my time. Been there since '76

 

[SebringBill]

Then ya better look me up when you return! Been here full-time since '78.

For a restomod you're probably better off with a new frame. I'd be willing to bet there are more than a few people around that would be interested in a 58 frame.

 

[firstgear]

If we were to do anything with it, I suppose that's what we had in mind. Or find someone that would or could use an older frame for their project. It'll be a few weeks before I'm back up in the mountains again to pull the frame out and get a better look at it.

From the bit of looking I've done, it seems even on the restorod direction, it seems easier to just buy an aftermarket chasis and such and go from there?

Or your saying there's an equal amount of aftermarket kits to adapt the older frames, without too much fuss?

Funny I see your in sarasota, that's where I spend the other half of my time. Been there since '76

you really have a couple of paths you can go down. You can purchase an after market frame (Billy Dawson, SRIII or Art Morrison to name a few) or you can take your frame and add to it via Jim Meyers Racing (they are a couple of others for the front end) or you can keep the stock set up and get some traction bars etc. I went the Jim Meyers Racing route with front and rear suspensions added to my stock frame. There are pluses and minuses to each approach in my opinion.

stock frame with front cross member added from JMR

fussing with the rear suspension set up from JMR, Ford 9" with 4 link

fresh powder coating on the frame

TKO 600 5 speed

finished car.....

over 1200 photos from start to current
1960 Corvette Streetrod/Project Car album

 

[firstgear]

Hello,

Actually a ford guy so know pretty much nothing about vettes.

Anyways, was cleaning out my father in laws barn up in the mountains, and around back we find a frame. We inquire to him about it, and he says it's a '58 corvette rolling frame he bought some time ago.


So time to unravel the mystery.... Need to find vin and decode it, and figure out if it is what it is...etc etc.

Reading posts, it looks like a vin should be stamped around the drivers side frame rail?

Also if it turns out to be a '58 frame, what are the options of doing something with it, given that it's in decent condition? Obviously we could sell it, or build it back up.

What are the main options / routes people take to building them??? From what I've seen it looks like anything other than original, it's suggested to simply buy an aftermarket frame and go from there?

Just looking for options and suggestions...

Thanks

links to JMR installation instruction sheets....

front
http://www.jimmeyerracing.com/instructions/Corvette.pdf

rear
http://www.jimmeyerracing.com/instructions/Corvetterearendkit.pdf

 

[crzipilot]

I appreciate all the advice from two years ago. FINALLY got the frame out from underneath dirt/briars and everything else this weekend and not really sure what we have. Looks like someone did a bad hack job on the rear frame, and I think took the stamped serial number with it. It looks to have the original rear end.

Don't think there is any desire to build off it, or resto it. Passenger side frame rail is pretty bad condition.

Again don't really know much about Chevy (play with mustangs myself) but knowing how it's harder to find stuff for the older cars, I've been able to negotiate a reprieve from the scrap yard for the frame etc.

Looks like original rear end. Steering box, and front suspension.

So any suggestions on what to do with this?

 

[crzipilot]

Last of the pics...

 

[Tom Bryant]

I don't see much usable there. A few parts could be blasted and sold to a restorer but it would be far easier to buy a new repop or custom frame to build than to try to resurrect that one. That's probably where the body went in the first place. It sure makes you curious as to what they were doing with it with those rear modifications.

Tom

 

[crzipilot]

Ya not sure what they were doing to the rear on this thing.

Was just trying to find out if people would be looking for the front end stuff and the rear. Would rather it see another life then end up at the scrapper....