Somewhere under the Vette body is the frame.
Time to dig it out to get to work on it.
As I was working on the frame, a good friend stopped by to show me his new 2015 Corvette. What a cool car! Great inspiration for me to complete my Vette.
This is the disc that will bolt up to the diff carrier to add support
I look forward to hearing the Big Block through these. I plan to have these ceramic coated, but that will have to wait until I can save up for it.
I have the frame out on the driveway flipped over so I can start with cleaning the underside.
Looking back into the garage. I can't wait to have the body back on the frame!
The frame sees the light of day
I removed the differential
Here the frame is surface rust free under the engine mounts. You can see where I added gussets to the lower A-Arm mounts
I finished prepping the frame for paint. As I was wire wheeling the frame, I found a couple of areas that needed some more welding. Here I am welding one of the front body mounts. The factory spot welded the mount on top and bottom. I completed those welds and added vertical welds to add strength.
What better place to start wire wheeling the frame than my initials that are welded into the frame.
Once I get the surface rust wire wheeled off, then it is paint time.
Final coat of top coat drying. I sprayed two coats of primer and two coats of top coat. I sanded the last coat of primer with 400 grit before spraying the first top coat.
View from the street
First coat of primer
The fuel lines showed up! With this, I now have everything I need to complete the frame in order to drop the body back on.
After letting the last coat cure for a day, I ran a tap tho clean out the body and suspension mount treads of paint.
The frame has been in sort of a hibernation for several years. The last time I worked on it I had "mocked up" the front suspension. I had a good momentum going, then I found I had Kidney Cancer. This was in the Fall of 2011. The next Spring my daughter wrecked her Jeep Cherokee and I shifted my garage focus to repairing Kermit, the Jeep Cherokee. I ended up buying another wrecked Jeep Cherokee for parts for Kermit. As I finished Kermit, the garage had filled up with left over Jeep parts. I tried to sell or give away most of those parts but still had jeep parts everywhere. At the first of 2016, I had committed to getting the Vette body back on the frame, so I saved up for frame paint and fuel lines. I already had the complete suspension and brake lines. I now have the frame paint and the fuel lines are on the way.
When I welded the frame and added gussets I welded my initials under the frame that is under the driver's door. I added the number 1 since my son is Jr.
The frame is now ready for the first coats of primer.