Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

[Brent F.]

After twenty years sleeping patiently in my basement garage, I now have found the time to put my 57 Corvette fuelie back together. I bought it many years ago with the body/interior seperated from the completely dissasembled frame.The frame and parts were redi stripped and painted in 60-70% centari black. After putting the frame on my rottissiere, I noticed several holes in the rear crossmember (between the frame rails,)that don't look like they should be there. On the top of the crossmember, between the frame rails, there are ten holes and on the bottom there are eight. Several of these look like they were put in through the years for aftermarket exhaust etc. I've searched high and low for a picture of a 57 frame rear crossmember with no success. Does anyone have a close up picture or diagram they could send me so I could fill the non original holes before dropping on the body?
Thanks

[John S.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

o.k. Brent u made me look...my 57 fuelie has 9 holes on bottom of rear crossmember...one on each side just in frm rear of spring one about 6 inches in each side two one frnt one rear in line and have threads inside maybe for a hitch and one more in center of crossmember..if uneed i can measure tomorrow too hot tonite to do it..i never saw top of crossmember on my car...i hope someone else can advise as now i am currious...John Simon

[Brent F.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

John:
Nine holes on the bottom ...BETWEEN... the frame rails? I've got two holes in front of each other,on each side of the frame, parallel to the frame about one inch in, one on each side in the middle of the crossmember about one inch further in, and several towards the middle.
Upon recounting holes on complete length including the four holes on the flat part of the crossmember,(sandwiching the top plate with the u shape bottom section,) I've got fifteen on the bottom!! Including the common three holes on the flat portion,( the one by spring perch on underside doesn't go through to top,) I've got a total of eight on the top of the crossmember. Very confusing!!
Pretty sure the four on either end, including the one by the spring perch are original but after that....who knows. Hopefully someone will have a pix or two of their frame so I can correct mine!
Thanks,
Brent Fields

[Gary C.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

If you have photos of your rear cross member and the holes you're concerned about, please post them. Here's lower cross member photo from my '57. Hope they help. Gary....
p.s. have top photo but have exceeded my photo max. There are no holes on top other than the mount holes

[Bruce B.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Here is the rear crossmember on my early 57.
There is a total of 5 unused holes.
I put paper tubes in the holes on some pictures so they would show up better.

[Brent F.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Looks like maybe there is a difference in some frames, as Gary's frame has 7 unused holes but Bruce's has only 5 unused holes. My crossmember looks like yours, Gary, but I've got 2 extra holes on the bottom that I know have be added, as they are smaller and are rough on the edges, and are drilled right through. Three of the (factory??) holes go through the top of the crossmember as well. These are the two holes, one each end, closest to the inside frame rail, and the third is the center hole. These seem like factory holes on the top as well, not drilled out over the years. Could you see if these two outboard holes by the inside of the frame and the center hole go through your frame? I really appreciate your help. Looks like I'd be lost without the help of members of the NCRS!!!

Thanks again,
Brent

[Gary C.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Brent, recommend using the 56-7 icon instead of the question icon next time. Using the particular Judging Year icons will improve archive searches in the future. Sorry for the soap box. Anyway, there was a change over from 5 to 7 holes in the rear cross member. And dang it I can't find my notes on approximately when that happened. Last year we did alot of research on that subject matter. Have asked John St.Peter what we all decided on to use. On my 7 hole VIN300X VIN rear cross member the second hole in (ones right before the double set of holes) on each side, excluding the outside mount holes go through to the top. None of the others does. Sorry, I mis-stated in a previous post that none of them go all the way through. Will post more info when I get it from John about the 5 to 7 hole change over. Gary....

[Brent F.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Thanks Gary!!
Appreciate the guidance, will now only use the 56/57 icon. Good to know the holes go through....two less to fill!! Are you sure the center one doesn't go through as well, as on my crossmember the hole is as nicely finished on the top as the bottom. Just for the record, my VIN is #E57S104166, stamped two times on the frame rail.
Talk to you soon,
Brent

[Gary C.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Brent, only those 2 holes go through the top piece. Haven't seen anyone Judging a '56-7 check to see if the holes go through the top or not. Can't see or feel any of them when the body's on the frame. Gary....

[Pierre J.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Brent,
Here is a few pic's of the rear crossmember of my mid-June '57.












Here is one from the top..



Pierre

[Brent F.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Gary:
Thanks alot!! Going down to the garage now and powering up my mig welder.
Help greatly appreciated!!....Brent

[Bruce B.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Brent,
As in Garys car both holes one in from each end go through the top of the crossmember.
My 57 is 809 a mid November 1956 car.

[Gary C.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Bruce, how many total single holes are there in your '57's rear cross member? In mine there are 5 single holes plus 2 sets of double holes. Thanks in advance, Gary....

[Bruce B.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Gary,
Total number of exposed holes are 5. 2 at each end and one in the center. As mentioned the second hole in from each end goes through the top of the crossmember.
The only other holes which now have rivits in them are where the rear crossmember attaches to the frame rails. In addition at the outboard ends there is the hole for the body mount (one at each end). Don't want to leave anything out is why I mention these holes.
In Nolands book, Resto tech Guide #1, on page 134 is a picture of a early 1956 frame showing 2 holes in the top. No shots of the bottom.
I hope this info helps.
Bruce B.

[Brent F.]

Re: Holes in C1 rear frame crossmember

Thanks to all that answered so quickly... even with pictures!!! After a couple of hours welding and grinding I now have a rear crossmember looking the way it should!!

Greatly appreciate all the help,

Brent Fields