navy2kcoupe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2006
- Messages
- 799
- Location
- West Central FL and SE Mass.
- Corvette
- 2000 Navy Blue Coupe A4 Z51
Need replacement frame
- Thread starter BarryK
- Start date
minifridge1138
Well-known member
That's harsh. My '82 had some issues when i bought it, but luckily the seller took responsibility and fixed the problems. If I wasn't 1,000+ miles away then I would show up with tools and get to work.
Anyone know how to get in touch with Overhaulin' ? This sounds like a perfect episode.
Anyone know how to get in touch with Overhaulin' ? This sounds like a perfect episode.
gmjunkie
Well-known member
Barry,I want to see some Photos!!! Some Real Close ups,and some of the Body and Door Fit!!!! I'm a Frame and Alignment Specialist by Trade!!!!I was also a Instructor for Continental Collision Repair Systems for about 8 years!!
This photo is out of Professional Automotive News (Florida/Georgia Edition) March/1989!! Yeah,Thats really me,I had Hair and Teeth back then!!!
- Thread starter
- #24
Hi all
sorry it's been a while but wanted to update the thread.
We had a club member go look at the car and from his observation the car was hit in the front side once and was repaired (very poor fiberglass body repair also). The frame didn't appear to be bent but he could see a large cranck on the one side right behind the A-arm in the vicinity of the power steering mount. Not having the car on a lift he was limited to what else he could see underneath but that one crack is a definite and with one of the pictures he took of that crack and surrounding area we can see at least one more crack also.
I have a very good local guy (mechanic) that does a lot of work on older Vettes and other street rods, etc in the area. I explained the situation to him and he felt bad enough for this kid that he offered to reweld the frame for no charge. The kids mother than called him and explained where they had already previously taken the car to be looked at, etc and once he heard that a certain shop (body shop) had already inspected the frame and called it unrepairable he said he knew that shop and the owner and trusts him a lot and if the guy already claimed the frame was unrepaiarable (this guy counted 22 cracks in the frame!) than it definitely is as this guy doesn't BS around or play games and knows his stiff well so now we are definitely down to a frame replacement.
We should have the car up to one of our club members house this week and we will personally inspect the car once again and than start into the teardown process and pull the body off.
Once we have the body off we will have a good indication of what our "parts list" for the project will need to be. Assuming the body has never been off the car before I'm already figuring on things like all new replacement body mount bolts, body mount cushions, and other "small" hardware items like that.
We will also check the condition of things like the brake and fuel lines, etc.
We are still trying to locate a 80-82 frame for the car at a reasonable price but we have some time yet until we will be ready and need it.
Once we are able to get our "parts list" together that we will need for the project we will see how much the kid can afford to purchase and the rest we will try to cover via donations and/or any cooperation we will try to get from some of the various parts vendors.
Craig, here is an image of the one area that we already saw with a crack. Once we have the car here I'll be able to get others including the door jamb areas, etc:
sorry it's been a while but wanted to update the thread.
We had a club member go look at the car and from his observation the car was hit in the front side once and was repaired (very poor fiberglass body repair also). The frame didn't appear to be bent but he could see a large cranck on the one side right behind the A-arm in the vicinity of the power steering mount. Not having the car on a lift he was limited to what else he could see underneath but that one crack is a definite and with one of the pictures he took of that crack and surrounding area we can see at least one more crack also.
I have a very good local guy (mechanic) that does a lot of work on older Vettes and other street rods, etc in the area. I explained the situation to him and he felt bad enough for this kid that he offered to reweld the frame for no charge. The kids mother than called him and explained where they had already previously taken the car to be looked at, etc and once he heard that a certain shop (body shop) had already inspected the frame and called it unrepairable he said he knew that shop and the owner and trusts him a lot and if the guy already claimed the frame was unrepaiarable (this guy counted 22 cracks in the frame!) than it definitely is as this guy doesn't BS around or play games and knows his stiff well so now we are definitely down to a frame replacement.
We should have the car up to one of our club members house this week and we will personally inspect the car once again and than start into the teardown process and pull the body off.
Once we have the body off we will have a good indication of what our "parts list" for the project will need to be. Assuming the body has never been off the car before I'm already figuring on things like all new replacement body mount bolts, body mount cushions, and other "small" hardware items like that.
We will also check the condition of things like the brake and fuel lines, etc.
We are still trying to locate a 80-82 frame for the car at a reasonable price but we have some time yet until we will be ready and need it.
Once we are able to get our "parts list" together that we will need for the project we will see how much the kid can afford to purchase and the rest we will try to cover via donations and/or any cooperation we will try to get from some of the various parts vendors.
Craig, here is an image of the one area that we already saw with a crack. Once we have the car here I'll be able to get others including the door jamb areas, etc:
gmjunkie
Well-known member
Well Barry,If any of the other 21 cracks are as Bad as that 1,It's Defiantly Toast!!!!hnoes That Crack is caused form being Over Heated,and then Over Pulled!! Check out the steering box Real Good when you get it apart,That is probly the only thing that has held it from breaking completely Off!!!hnoeshnoeshnoesWhat a Death Trap!!!:ugh:ugh
hnoes That Crack is caused form being Over Heated,and then Over Pulled!! Check out the steering box Real Good when you get it apart,That is probly the only thing that has held it from breaking completely Off!!!hnoeshnoeshnoesWhat a Death Trap!!!:ugh:ugh
P
Piet
Guest
BarryK said:
I believe the frame changed in either '78 or '79? Can anyone confirm?
YOIKS!... The seller definately had to know what he was selling. Fixing a crack is one thing.... fixing 22 cracks is another.BarryK said:
Cheering you on from the sidelines!
- Thread starter
- #27
Craig
that's what we figured too..... the body shop that repaired the car previously from the accident overheatd the frame and caused it perhaps.
Piet
yes, it was changed in '80 so we need an '80-'82 frame.
And the seller DID know what what was wrong with the car when he sold it and did not disclose the problem but it's been a number of months now so the younf man has no recourse with him at this point
that's what we figured too..... the body shop that repaired the car previously from the accident overheatd the frame and caused it perhaps.
Piet
yes, it was changed in '80 so we need an '80-'82 frame.
And the seller DID know what what was wrong with the car when he sold it and did not disclose the problem but it's been a number of months now so the younf man has no recourse with him at this point
oceangal
Well-known member
damn, not even with small claims court? Even if he paid more than what they allow, small claims court around here has a max of $2500. and that might go a long way towards repairs. And if the jerk doesn't show, typically they award what the plaintiff is asking.
oceangal
Well-known member
I would try this...
http://courts.delaware.gov/Courts/
up to 15k. I think with photos and evidence of what others have seen and tried and a young kid with a dream....I know what I would decide
I have never heard before about a Justice of the Peace hearing cases
http://courts.delaware.gov/Courts/
up to 15k. I think with photos and evidence of what others have seen and tried and a young kid with a dream....I know what I would decide
I have never heard before about a Justice of the Peace hearing cases
- Thread starter
- #30
Oceangal
the young man lives in NJ. I don't know what state the seller was in.....
Any legal preccedings would have to be between the kids parents ( he's only 17) and the seller and I'm NOT getting involved in that aspect of the car at all. We are willing to help hom as much as we can and supply labor and education so he learns but other than that anything legal is out of my realm of involvement.
the young man lives in NJ. I don't know what state the seller was in.....
Any legal preccedings would have to be between the kids parents ( he's only 17) and the seller and I'm NOT getting involved in that aspect of the car at all. We are willing to help hom as much as we can and supply labor and education so he learns but other than that anything legal is out of my realm of involvement.
gmjunkie
Well-known member
I know here NC if I sell a car like that,They can sue me for 3 times what they paid for it and GET IT and my Dealers License!!
hnoeshnoes(And they've got 3 years to do it!!)Gry Ghst
Well-known member
Standing by;waiting to see what happens.Good luck with helping that young man.Bad ........to the seller that is just not right!
- Thread starter
- #33
well, good news finally, I managed to find a frame and at a VERY reasonable price!
Someone referred me to another person that has three 80-82 frames and they had already spoken to this guy about our situation and the story behind it. When I called up to inquire about the frame the seller said he already heard the story and felt bad for the young man and offered me one of the frames for only $650. I think that is a very fair price, and even better yet he is only a few hours driving distance away. He is in North Central PA about 45 minutes north of Williamsport so we don't have to worry about the cost of shipping via freight and that prohibitive cost.
We are going to get one of our club members who volunteeered to go pick up the frame and we will get it down here soon and than we can really get this project started.
On top of THAt, less than an hour later someone else contacted me and offered to donate at no charge a '78 frame. We would need to modifiy the '78 to work with an '80 body but depending on how much that would cost us to do and have that frame sandblasted it may be worthwhile and still end up saving us money.
In either case I think the search is over for a frame and now we can really get the ball rolling on this project. We got the car up to us last week so we are going to need to start disassembly very soon.
Someone referred me to another person that has three 80-82 frames and they had already spoken to this guy about our situation and the story behind it. When I called up to inquire about the frame the seller said he already heard the story and felt bad for the young man and offered me one of the frames for only $650. I think that is a very fair price, and even better yet he is only a few hours driving distance away. He is in North Central PA about 45 minutes north of Williamsport so we don't have to worry about the cost of shipping via freight and that prohibitive cost.
We are going to get one of our club members who volunteeered to go pick up the frame and we will get it down here soon and than we can really get this project started.
On top of THAt, less than an hour later someone else contacted me and offered to donate at no charge a '78 frame. We would need to modifiy the '78 to work with an '80 body but depending on how much that would cost us to do and have that frame sandblasted it may be worthwhile and still end up saving us money.
In either case I think the search is over for a frame and now we can really get the ball rolling on this project. We got the car up to us last week so we are going to need to start disassembly very soon.
navy2kcoupe
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- West Central FL and SE Mass.
- Corvette
- 2000 Navy Blue Coupe A4 Z51
SWEET! :cool Now let the FUN (and PICTURES!!!) begin!
Andy
Andy
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Barry, I hope that you or somone is keeping very good notes on all of this. What you have in the making is an excellent magazine article about how one portion of the Corvette community came together to help out a new member!
Whenever the car is finished, it's going to be an excellent PR piece for both the Corvette community overall and the group you're associated with!
gmjunkie
Well-known member
My Thoughts Exactly!!!! Document,Document,Document!!!! But I'm sure Barry Will!!!!!!Barry, I hope that you or somone is keeping very good notes on all of this. What you have in the making is an excellent magazine article about how one portion of the Corvette community came together to help out a new member!
Whenever the car is finished, it's going to be an excellent PR piece for both the Corvette community overall and the group you're associated with!
P
Piet
Guest
Barry.... PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Document.
I just got my 1978 on the road... but have plans for taking the body off this winter. I would like to clean up the frame, replace bushings etc...
I would love to see your pictures of removing the body etc, and hear about lessons learned.
Congrats on the frame!
I just got my 1978 on the road... but have plans for taking the body off this winter. I would like to clean up the frame, replace bushings etc...
I would love to see your pictures of removing the body etc, and hear about lessons learned.
Congrats on the frame!
Wow...!
Good story, Barry. Please keep us posted. I, too would love to see this "body-off" in pictures. Very interesting.
It's a darn shame that jerk who sold this car to a young man with a dream. He needs a swift, hard kick in the a$$.
I would be happy to contribute to help this young fellow out so he can have this car done up right.
Kudos to you and your club for doing the right thing. Very cool.
Rick
:gap
Good story, Barry. Please keep us posted. I, too would love to see this "body-off" in pictures. Very interesting.
It's a darn shame that jerk who sold this car to a young man with a dream. He needs a swift, hard kick in the a$$.
I would be happy to contribute to help this young fellow out so he can have this car done up right.
Kudos to you and your club for doing the right thing. Very cool.
Rick
:gap
- Thread starter
- #39
guys
those of you that know me from here and have followed my own escapades with my own '65 and '78 know that I photo-document EVERYTHING, usually to excess.
you can be sure that we plan on documenting as much as we can on this project and yes, we are already planning that when we are finished that we want to put together a nice story with some of the photos for submission to one of the major corvette magazines.
As a club we are doing this to help out this young man and hopefully show him a more positive side of the Corvette hobby than he was "introduced" to by the seller of this car. Out goal is nothing more than that, it's NOT to gain publicity in a magazine for our club but it IS a good human interest story that we think a magazine and their readers would find interesting and worthwhile so that is in our plans. We will also be sure to list parts vendors, and others, that help us in this project and contribute in terms of donations, significant discounts, etc that help us in this project as they would deserve the recognition for their participation.
Barry
those of you that know me from here and have followed my own escapades with my own '65 and '78 know that I photo-document EVERYTHING, usually to excess.
you can be sure that we plan on documenting as much as we can on this project and yes, we are already planning that when we are finished that we want to put together a nice story with some of the photos for submission to one of the major corvette magazines.
As a club we are doing this to help out this young man and hopefully show him a more positive side of the Corvette hobby than he was "introduced" to by the seller of this car. Out goal is nothing more than that, it's NOT to gain publicity in a magazine for our club but it IS a good human interest story that we think a magazine and their readers would find interesting and worthwhile so that is in our plans. We will also be sure to list parts vendors, and others, that help us in this project and contribute in terms of donations, significant discounts, etc that help us in this project as they would deserve the recognition for their participation.
Barry
navy2kcoupe
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 16, 2006
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- 799
- Location
- West Central FL and SE Mass.
- Corvette
- 2000 Navy Blue Coupe A4 Z51
Barry, start by posting a picture of this "new" Vette owner with his soon to be good-to-go ride, so that all of us can see who we're dealing with here. By the way.......what does he say about all this willingness to help him out?
Andy
Andy
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