Bluehawk27

My friends car was just smashed and we were wondering if the frame was damaged. The shop responded by saying that it didnt have a frame since it was a unibody. I just want to confirm that im not out of my mind. We do have frames right? Sub FRAME connectors would seem to imply we do lol. someone just confirm this for me

BJM

iTrader: (1)

There is a sub-frame at the front (the K member). From there to the rear its unibody. There is no body sitting on bushings to lift off of a frame like a sedan. The sub frame connectors tie the sub frames together better.

wrencher

iTrader: (2)

The car is what called a 'unitized' construction. Hence the name uni-body. The K is just a motor crossmember/body stiffening support. The floor pan the all the strut towers are the actual frame of the car.
The vehicle considered full frame have a rolling boxed frame w/suspension & a body is bolted to that. Like a regal/grand national.< trying to stay in the GM performance realm w/the examples....

Wnts2Go10O

iTrader: (12)

belair, monte carlo, el comino, impala, biscayne, any i missed for the chebby full frame?

OldeSkool

uh... vettes have a full frame

VIP1

Maybe had...but definately arent now.
The f-body was always unibody (even as far back as 1967).
I thought that the Corvette was always unibody too?

TooSlow02

Corvettes are an "integral frame" construction. They aren't body-on-frame like older cars, but they're slightly different than your average unibody car. They basically have a steel frame with composite parts (like the floor pans and body panels) attached to it. The body of the car is built around the frame, instead of bolting to the top of it. It still has subframes like a unibody car.

VIP1

http://www.corvettesbyrickdaniel.com/C6CHASSIS.html

Its kinda unclear.
Its not traditional body-on-frame and its not traditional uni-body either.

EDIT:
It looks like the old Corvettes had real frames:
http://rowleycorvette.com/hilit1.html
http://www.corvettetraderonline.com/...ale/l0878.html

OldeSkool

Yeah, old vettes definitely had traditional frames... they're very much like a fiberglass bodied hotrod, cobra or kit car. The new vettes still have frames, the body does wrap around them pretty good though, i couldnt just look under my old C4 and see the frame, but it still had one. The big thing with the C5 was the switch from a 100 piece welded jigsaw puzzle of a frame to a lighter, stiffer "hydroformed" frame. The C6 is the same way. If you doubt, check out this excellent photo. http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-20...s-1280x960.jpg

VIP1

I dont doubt it. I know about the hydroformed frame. I just dont really equate that with a "normal" frame i guess. Its kind of a hybrid body/frame.