Topic: Body up, but not off.
in Forum: C3 Body
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Had my S.A. up on the rack yesterday for oil/lube and it's first close 'UP' inspection.
I found the oil pan had been ..(continued in the motor section)...
Small oil leak..(valve cover)... and the frame in good overall condition for 51,000.
So, I got to thinking
...sure would like to clean that frame up a bit and buy some high dollar stuff from eastwood to make it look cool when I take it in for some work on her bottom.
...sure would like to clean that frame up a bit and buy some high dollar stuff from eastwood to make it look cool when I take it in for some work on her bottom. There is a lot of stuff that obviously has to be delt with during a body-off, but what about a body-up....say about 12 inches?
Now springtime is almost here and i'm not about to do any of this STUFF until next winter, but I thought it was an interesting idea for someone that wants only to spruce things up a bit and it would be a good time for new body mounts and brake lines.
Any comments
.....Rich
.....Rich SPONSOR AD:: (Our Sponsors help support C3VR)
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
For the same amount of effort, you can go ahead and take the body all the way off, and do the job even easier/better. That is, of course, if you have the room to put the body AND the chassis. 
I detailed the chassis on the '74 body-on. Took my time, and spent about 4 months on it, cleaning, and documenting markings on parts, etc. The only place you can't really get to is the very top of the frame under the cabin. Everything else is accessible. The next NCRS meet I took it to after doing this, the Chassis Judges told me it was "Obvious" I had done a body-off...
I had to tell them that it wasn't. One of them stated, "It's TOO clean!" 
Why go thru all the hassles of moving the body up 12" just for a detail? My opinion is you can clean it very well without that.
I detailed the chassis on the '74 body-on. Took my time, and spent about 4 months on it, cleaning, and documenting markings on parts, etc. The only place you can't really get to is the very top of the frame under the cabin. Everything else is accessible. The next NCRS meet I took it to after doing this, the Chassis Judges told me it was "Obvious" I had done a body-off...
I had to tell them that it wasn't. One of them stated, "It's TOO clean!"
Why go thru all the hassles of moving the body up 12" just for a detail? My opinion is you can clean it very well without that.
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56 
My Link 
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
I do have the room for a body off but probably not the mojo but, You have planted the seed of "hmmmm" into my thoughts.
If your car has always been in Texas, I'll bet when you started your frame resto, it was a lot better than mine is presently. My frame is in good condition for the mileage but those Texas cars just don't rust.
My sister & bro-in-law live in Decatur Texas and he sells Ford trucks. He gets vehicles in on trade that are 20 yrs old and 300,000 miles on them and the bodies and frames are in great shape.
Thanks for the "food for thought"
....Rich
....Rich
Lifetime MemberModerator
Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/
Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight"
#2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto
Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
[QUOTE=jayare]
...My sister & bro-in-law live in Decatur Texas and he sells Ford trucks.....
Gee...sorry to hear that...
My '74 was originally from Indiana...it came to Taxes in around '78-'79, I think...
It's true, I don't know what condition your frame is in...you got me there!
Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56
My Link
(click for Texas-sized view!) NCRS
"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"
Might be time to replace the brake/fuel lines at the same time. The body needs to be lifted to do it right. Body mounts can be changed by lifting 3-4 inchs but I found out my car needed way more then that when I started. Besides, if you can lift it an inch, you can lift it a mile.
Good luck with yours.
Brian - NCM Lifetime Member
73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System
Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans
Borgeson Steering box
Besides the obvious body mounts and steering rag joint,what else comes apart or gets removed to take body off the frame? In my case motor/trans/exhaust is not in car,and I realise gas filler connections have to go as well.
I think they call it "KISS" (keep it simple)