GATOR454

The May issue of Corvette Fever had an article titled "New Old Stock - The ultimate hybrid Corvette". It featured the blending of C2 and C4 chassis by Newman Car Creations, and they evidently offer this conversion for C3's. The picture of the rolling chassis on page 74 looked awesome. It almost makes me want to sell my car and buy a beater to convert.

http://www.carcreationsinc.com/html_2/63frame.html

88'Cubka

:cheers:

Now I know what to do when I get my 74- 75 vert. :)

SuprJames

Wow, that's pretty. Even after I cleaned mine up and put all the new suspension parts on it didn't look that good. Close, but not quite.

Flareside

Jamison should be done building my new '68 C3/C4 hybrid frame in another week or two. I'll post pics when it gets here.
http://www.jamisoncustomcorvette.com/c2hybrid.htm

I went with the Jamison chassis because it's a fully adjustable front and rear coilover setup, no fiberglass springs like a stock C4, and the round tube rails just look cool.


[Modified by Flareside, 11:59 AM 3/17/2004]

74-Roadster

That's the path I'll be taking. When you consider all the cost involved to do everything 1st class, the C4 setup isn't too much more and not only will you end up with a state of the art chassis, but GM parts will be readily available for years if not decades.

Several companies offer the frame modifications. I haven't decided who I'll end up sending my frame to yet. I'm at least 12 months away from making that decision. :cool:

69L71

What are they charging for the modifications?

Flareside

IMO, their prices are pretty high for what you get. You supply a good frame, then they charge you $7000 to modify it, and $800 to powder coat it. They offer a Dana 36 based (used, dirty) C4 suspension for $3000, and you can buy that from any of the Vette salvage yards for under $1500, so there's lots of room for money saving if you do your homework.

There are two other things worth mentioning about the Newman frame. As far as I know, they still don't offer one that will house a big block, and they don't offer the narrowed suspension option that most of the other manufacturers have. This means that you have to run "weird" wheels with a large backspace like the stock C4 wheels to clear the fenders.

Twin_Turbo

Ive seen complete 36ers go for less than 500$ and they were in good shape. The 44 is in the 1000-1500 range and sometimes higher. 3000$ is nuts, and 800$ for powdercoating? What are they spraying on there? gold??? I will powdercoat your frame for 800$, I'll drop it off at the coater, supply him the proper powder, have them coat it for 100$ and pocket the rest... geez.

69L71

$7k to modify it? That's silly.

Street Shop sells a comlete replacement frame with C4 hardpoints for $6k. Then I get to keep my stock frame if I choose to restore down the road, or I can sell for $2k or so and be in at a total out-of-pocket of $3k. Of course then you need to hunt down the Dana 36/44 and C4 control arms and such, but you'd have to do that with the mod-frames too.

stingraymaniac

thats awesome!
i wonna do that to my 74 :cool:

Flareside

Seems like everybody I talk to lately is either planning or already working on one of these conversions. I gotta get to work! :lol:


[Modified by Flareside, 6:30 PM 3/17/2004]

79VetteMike

I thought I was going to be the only person to say that it was silly. What is the advantage? I have the fiberglass adjustable springs front and back with tubular arms in the front. I plan to add aluminum calipers. Aside from that, what's the advantage. I've ridden in several C4's and was never impressed(I've ridden in a friend's '80 and I wasn't impressed either). Mine rides exceptionally well for a 25 year old sports car(pre- updated suspension with poly bushings). Now as for the tubular frame that Flareside is doing-THAT'S what I want to do in the future. It's been something I've wanted for a long time, but can't afford it. I'm interested in knowing what it's costing. Please divulge some info Flare!! :chevy