Plastic Fantastic 2

[BBShark]

A bare frame for a C3 is 285lbs.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Any chance you can get a weight on the frame and the body separate? Just that they are apart now and would be useful. I'm going to post a "CG Guestimator" I put together in another thread.

Cheers - Jim

I'm not sure a frame weight would be accurate because I've front and back halfed it.... I'll see about the body - though that said, the brake system, interior and about half the dash is in place and there's a huge hole where the back used to be.....

 

[phantomjock]

Any numbers as long as we know the limits are helpful. BBShark - thanks for the Frame weight. My "guesstimate" was about 85# light (using the Camaro numbers).

Cheers - Jim

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

a bit further



and now flip the frame over




lots easier to weld this way


​​​​​​​as for weight, didn't get to the body, but the frame has to be 500# as pictured

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

the snow is great, best of all, I get more time on thisedited
front end disassembled

mental note, that makes the rear heavier....edited
so let's disassemble it as well

I did get more welding in on the frame rails

what is that term - it's a 50/50 chance you did it wrong... wrong, I think it's more like 100%... in the case I have to cut the e-brake cable bracket to remove the rear assemblies

it's apart


and now, because of the snow, I'm wondering if I should just clean it well then paint it... I'll have to decide after tomorrow - there is a bunch more welding to do.... once that's done, it'll be time to get it clean so I can paint and start reassembly for real.... which is good, I'm running out of places to stash C3 parts.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

thread protectors


hey look, cheap disks explode - it's why I wear expensive, safety gear


welding up final holes


Tomorrow, grinding then hoping the snow goes away enough to take the frame to be blasted.... if not, I'm sure I'll think of something

 

[phantomjock]

There was mention of the "kit" opportunity this build sort of indicates. Maybe a set of dimensioned drawings of each end, a bill of materials, and a tip-sheet would be useful. Maybe not everyone has the skills to do this job, but with the drawings they could hire someone who can.

Open Source? Sold as a plan set? There are several folks here on VM that could help with making a good set of drawings, Solidworks, Rhino, or even SketchUp that could be pdf'ed to a useful size.

Just early morning thoughts over coffee.

Cheers - Jim

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

most of it is already available with those C5 plans I posted earlier. The last of it would be locating the pins from the datum line.... I'll measure it again, then all of it is available if someone wants to do the work.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

caution, there is some snark contained within this - it's not for this site, but for some reason (other forum) people think their opinion is quite something. My apologies, but you folks are great and it's not intended towards you

today started with deciding I'm not using this (still).... it's an aftermarket, bolt-in cross member but I think the stock, welded cross member is stronger

So I did what was naturally the next step, I cut out more of the frame (so the purists will cry, I guess)
just for the record, this isn't a discussion - this is what I'm doing, like it, hate it.... don't care.



as I cut it apart, nothing popped out of shape - which is good, considering how pretzelled this frame is


and just like that, 40# lighter



now to figure out how to put the upper shock mount back... no... how much floor I'm willing to cut out to put the shock in the right place


​​​​​​​isn't there anymore.

 

[rtj]

Thanks for the warning.

Personally, I always want to do as much as I can myself and learn. Some people can’t understand that concept.

Anyways, it looks like you are making progress and will be out driving the wheels off soon.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

I don't know what it is - maybe snow is boxing people in? but there have been an overabundance of trolls recently. One of the more memorable asked me how I grafted on the C5 front, so I pointed him to the relevant pages - his response "well, we'll have to agree to disagree" about what? I asked, he said what "it won't work"... uh, it's already in the car, what doesn't work? it won't fit.... :club: but there's pictures - "we just have to agree to disagree" .... of course, I'm a nice guy - I told him to go away and never come back... like that's going to work.... :clobbered:

 

[rtj]

Your “friends” from pirate 4x4 joined that corvette forum to troll you, maybe? I seem to remember they didn’t think your land cruiser suspension would work.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Your “friends” from pirate 4x4 joined that corvette forum to troll you, maybe? I seem to remember they didn’t think your land cruiser suspension would work.

I do attract them by the short-bus full.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

goal here is to take the sharp edges off - I don't care about pretty


so close to blast... tie bar for the rear coil overs and offedited
​​​​​​​

 

[Red77]

Keep up the good work, don't let the trolls on CF get you down. The anti-troll spray still works well here at VetteMod. ;-)

 

[mfain]

Keep up the good work, don't let the trolls on CF get you down. The anti-troll spray still works well here at VetteMod. ;-)

Agree!

 

[SRountree]

Best way to prove them wrong is to keep doing what ur doing looks great BTW...

I love watching these builds. I'm just a bolt on guy... lol

 

[phantomjock]

Looks purdy to me - a little paint or powdercoat - Beauty! Set the suspension components off with a little contrast - ohh show car go fast!

Cheers - Jim

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

time to start bending up some DOM


as shock mount braces


​​​​​​​

good night frame

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

17 gallon tank....



move the frame up to where I can work on it easily



and fasten it in place







a

and sometimes you just gotta take a break and park on the snowbank
​​​​​​​

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

then there was time to hack up a lung..... err... I mean cut some fiberglass

because the floor can be lower and because I want to put a seatbelt/roll bar in place.... I cut the rest of the floor out




the plan is move the battery to the passenger side, lower that wall behind the driver/passenger then lower the floor - in part because I can, but also because I eliminated the battery box to put the Camaro rear suspension in place.... this give opportunity for improvements - also decent speakers and luggage space (not installing a stereo for those just joining in - HOWEVER, I've found when it comes time to sell - it makes it a lot more sellable if the possibility is there...)

 

[rtj]

Will you lower the whole body with thinner spacers, or just the floor?

Some guys even put in the body rake, sort of like greenwood did only less, by adjusting the body spacer thickness.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

Will you lower the whole body with thinner spacers, or just the floor?

Some guys even put in the body rake, sort of like greenwood did only less, by adjusting the body spacer thickness.

I'm not lower the body to the frame, just the rear floor. The problem would be the flares are set for its current body height. That said, it's pretty low with the new suspension.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

last few things.... first brace the shock mount


then box the end




all that is left is finishing the tank mount, then off to blast.edited I expect to haul it there on Friday.editededited
in other news I finally pulled the trigger on the Miller multimatic 220.edited I'll offset the cost by selling my other tig machine and probably my mig as well (I say that with a lump in my throat because that machine is kick-ass and I really don't want to see it go)

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

final welding




time to blast.... after I find one....edited

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

a bit of machining the spindles



it doesn't take much, now to redrill the holes

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

back to the tank



there's a muffler hanger that, if closed, would make a great tie-down-pull-point, so I did



one more body test fit



I'm glad I did, more clearance work necessary


final fill of holes and making sure all the welding is done


front looks good enough


there.... apart and ready for blast and paint



and on the trailer for a ride to blasting.... getting the trailer out was an adventure... ugh


back on its dolly


then spent a bit of time tonight milling on the other spindle
​​​​​​​

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

about the frame dimensions. I will publish the numbers here, and likely only here, once the car is done. I'm getting really tired of working on this stuff, then having others claiming credit for 'figuring it out'.... it's happened several times on other projects - so if they're really doing it on their own, I'll know.... but for now, not yet.

That said, I may have the points digitized so someone could literally build a new frame with what I'm working on. Of course, for that to happen this has to work as planned ....

and to revise my goals. A C3 Corvette that handles as well as a C7 but only if the C7 turns off the e-nannies. Also, being able to add those electronic aids using off-the-shelf-parts would be possible with what I'm doing. I've completely dismissed building an LS based 427 - I think the BBC 427 has better air flow and can make more hp... sounds better too

 

[rtj]

“Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. “

I don’t know if that’s any consolation.

 

[SuperBuickGuy]

“Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. “

I don’t know if that’s any consolation.

I'm pretty sure that long-term-readers could piece together a frame like mine with what I've written over the course of this build.... but putting it all in one spot? not yet.