77 good frame - will a vert body fit

keywestjack

keywestjack

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Apr 24, 2008
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258
Sorry about the title being some what unclear. I have a good 77 frame (from a previous project). I am thinking about using it as I have all the drive train, on a custom build. Thinking about a convertible. Are the frames the same? What kind of alterations? Where to find a reasonable vert body? I will probably start this project this summer. Thanks, Jack
 
All C3 frames are basically the same. There is a post in the tech section here that shows the differences in some selected years from early to late.
 
What year conv are you wanting to build? The frames are close between the years but not the same and depending on what year car you want to build will depend if a 77 frame will work or not.
Justin
 
That is exactly it. I am just in the planning stage (a new one for me, planning). I have the 77 frame. It is in great shape along with the suspension and drive train. I know that convertibles were not offered after sometime like 1975, but wondering if the frames were compatible. If so, then I might be looking for a good vert body (with solid bird cage), for a frame transplant. What do you think or am I wasting my time? Your ideas are appreciated. Jack
 
Wow - well that is fortuitous ... I was just logging in to post a 77 frame question. Totally similar question. I hope you don't think I'm hijacking the thread but here goes.

I have a restored 77 frame and drivetrain - 350hp, 4 spd, fiberglass spring, all new everything ... por'd and pretty much ready for the body. Except that, I prefer the metal bumper body. So, I picked up a couple of 70 bodies and titles and would like to drop a 70 couple body on the frame. I thought the front and rear frames were different because of the bumper mounts and I thought the gas tank was different. I have a 68 bb project that is stalled and I thought the 77 would be a good driver. Now, my interest has changed and I'd like get a 90/91 ZR1 driver but would have to get the body on the 77 frame to make it sellable so as to reduce the out of pocket on a zr1. Is this the right place to post this question or should it be in psychiatry section???

Anyway, I have the 77 body, the 70 body, a second 70 firewall back and the restored frame/drivetrain. zip 18901

I have a 68 and I guess I could just map out and compare the front and rear frame(s) to get started. I'll look for other posts but if anybody has a bing, bang, boom response as to what else is needed, I'd appreciate the info. I'd like to get this on the front burner.

Thanks very much,
Tim
 
Tim said:
Wow - well that is fortuitous ... I was just logging in to post a 77 frame question. Totally similar question. I hope you don't think I'm hijacking the thread but here goes.

I have a restored 77 frame and drivetrain - 350hp, 4 spd, fiberglass spring, all new everything ... por'd and pretty much ready for the body. Except that, I prefer the metal bumper body. So, I picked up a couple of 70 bodies and titles and would like to drop a 70 couple body on the frame. I thought the front and rear frames were different because of the bumper mounts and I thought the gas tank was different. I have a 68 bb project that is stalled and I thought the 77 would be a good driver. Now, my interest has changed and I'd like get a 90/91 ZR1 driver but would have to get the body on the 77 frame to make it sellable so as to reduce the out of pocket on a zr1. Is this the right place to post this question or should it be in psychiatry section???

Anyway, I have the 77 body, the 70 body, a second 70 firewall back and the restored frame/drivetrain. zip 18901

I have a 68 and I guess I could just map out and compare the front and rear frame(s) to get started. I'll look for other posts but if anybody has a bing, bang, boom response as to what else is needed, I'd appreciate the info. I'd like to get this on the front burner.

Thanks very much,
Tim
Click to expand...


You know what they say about good minds.:cool:
 
denpo said:
Tim said:
....Anyway, I have the 77 body, the 70 body, a second 70 firewall back and the restored frame/drivetrain. zip 18901...
Click to expand...
Got any spare front clip? Let me know ;)
Click to expand...

Hey Den,
Yeah, from the looks of your avatar, ... you definitely need at least a front windshield !!! ... too funny.

Um ... uh ... well, uh yeah. I do have the 70 that i thought i would use and then I have the whole 77 body all glued together and very nice. But you're way up there in the north woods. i dont know how practical that would be shipping something like that.
 
Tim said:
... i dont know how practical that would be shipping something like that.
Click to expand...
It won't.
Nevermind, that was more a Joke that anything else, seeing you listing all those vette body parts made me feel dizzy.

Or maybe grabbed too much air by the nose, got stuck in the brain. I definitely need a windshield :rofl:
 
Understand, but it will depend on what year you want to use body wise. The 77 frame will work great for a 74-77 body, but when you get a year Vette that had chrome bumpers in the rear, the very back crossmember on the frame is different for those bumpers. If you get a 78-82 body the gas tank is going to be sitting in the wrong spot so you are really narrowed down to a 74-77 body unless you want to do welding on the frame and change the crossmember in the rear. I have seen it done where an older body is used, example your 70 body on the 77 and they did not change anything on the frame, but they shaved the bumpers mounts on the body so that it did not have the spots for the bumper anymore. If you are going to have a heavily modified car this mod looks really good if done right, but it would look odd if you still had a chrome bumper in the front. I would stick with the 74-77 body. Second you can have a conv, the frame was no different, but the windsield frame does have supports on it for the conv. You can buy these at Carlisle or Bloomington. Any salvage shop that works with older Corvettes should have them also. It is a bracket that bonds and rivets to the center console and then you will have rods that bolt to that to the corner of the windshield frame. Hope this helps
 
J. Abbott said:
Understand, but it will depend on what year you want to use body wise. The 77 frame will work great for a 74-77 body, but when you get a year Vette that had chrome bumpers in the rear, the very back crossmember on the frame is different for those bumpers. If you get a 78-82 body the gas tank is going to be sitting in the wrong spot so you are really narrowed down to a 74-77 body unless you want to do welding on the frame and change the crossmember in the rear. I have seen it done where an older body is used, example your 70 body on the 77 and they did not change anything on the frame, but they shaved the bumpers mounts on the body so that it did not have the spots for the bumper anymore. If you are going to have a heavily modified car this mod looks really good if done right, but it would look odd if you still had a chrome bumper in the front. I would stick with the 74-77 body. Second you can have a conv, the frame was no different, but the windsield frame does have supports on it for the conv. You can buy these at Carlisle or Bloomington. Any salvage shop that works with older Corvettes should have them also. It is a bracket that bonds and rivets to the center console and then you will have rods that bolt to that to the corner of the windshield frame. Hope this helps
Click to expand...

very helpful!
 
J. Abbott said:
Second you can have a conv, the frame was no different, but the windsield frame does have supports on it for the conv. You can buy these at Carlisle or Bloomington. Any salvage shop that works with older Corvettes should have them also. It is a bracket that bonds and rivets to the center console and then you will have rods that bolt to that to the corner of the windshield frame. Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Picture of convertible supports:

448dc0a6d65b0e.jpg
 
BBShark said:
J. Abbott said:
Second you can have a conv, the frame was no different, but the windsield frame does have supports on it for the conv. You can buy these at Carlisle or Bloomington. Any salvage shop that works with older Corvettes should have them also. It is a bracket that bonds and rivets to the center console and then you will have rods that bolt to that to the corner of the windshield frame. Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Picture of convertible supports:

448dc0a6d65b0e.jpg
Click to expand...

I have bars #2 & 4 in place, removed the others as being a PIA years ago....

never noticed anything for them being gone.....'72 vert.....:harhar:
 
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