vannmike

Hi all, I just bought a 77. It was a impulse buy :-( after stalking this forum I've learnt to check the areas of the bird cage. The wind shield pillars has minor rust, but the body mounts behind the kick panels look terrible. I'm just trying to make this a daily driver. Did I waste 3000 bucks?

BarryB72

If that's the worst of it I don't think there's anything there to be too concerned with. I'd clean it up as much as I could, fill whatever holes appear as well as you can, paint it with a rust preventative paint and drive it. That's my $3000 driver advice.

vannmike

Thank you. I just read all the horror stories on here about the cage. Just want it to be safe ya know?

Zoomin

That's in real good shape for $3,000. Do what Barry suggested, then go have a blast.

vannmike

Thanks zoomin. The body is in decent shape too.the 350 in it is okay. My plan is to Just slap a paint job on it and put a blueprint 383 in it.. Love the look of the car though. Can't beat the way the body contours are on a c3.

LS4 PILOT

I've made a lot worse mistakes than 3 grand

Your ok at that price.

Now if it were 30K



That d be diff

vannmike

Thanks ls4, I was starting to get worried. Just concerned about the safety of the vehicle.

newbie2vette

I recommend taking a wire brush and brush off any loose rust and spray that area with Rust Mort, follow the application instruction on the bottle and repaint. Good luck..

530planeman

There is a product called Rust Mort that most auto paint stores have brush it on be careful not to get it on you .Good purchase have a good ride.
Wes

NJStingray

Your #2 mount looks in way better shape than mine and I paid over double what you did. Admittedly, everything else seems to be okay and in fine working order.

Good luck, there's tons of resources and helpful members.

vannmike

Thanks for all the responses guys. I will check out the rust Mort today. I know my floor pans gotta be replaced. Holes every where. There really pricey. Any one know where to get one bought and shipped for under 300 a piece?

NJStingray

Someone on this forum might have them. I've found that checking out CL for people parting out a C3 might be one of your best resources. I'm keeping a watchful eye out for a LH inner fender myself

vannmike

Yeah I will check it out. It shocked me how expensive they were. And i just called the parts store. Said they have rust fix by dupli color. But no rust Mort. Looks like an amazon purchase

newbie2vette

If you are "handy" you can repair them with fiberglass version. I did that to a 79. clean the entire floor and then took a 1/4 sheet of plywood cut to the size of the floor, covered one side with wax paper. Then put that side under the floor board with wax paper side up and hold it with a floor jack. Mix some epoxy, brush that on the floor (inside) then take some fiberglass cloth and cut to size. use the throw away paint brush to work the epoxy into the cloth. Then apply another coat of epoxy and another layer of fiberglass cloth. I painted them with the bedliner paint from local hardware store starting with "L".

vannmike

What does the wax paper and ply wood do? And should I spray the under side of the pan to prevent rust after I repair and/ or replace them?

JimLentz

What does your frame look like?

vannmike

Pretty solid as far as I can tell. Surface rust. No holes.

keithinspace

Looks like there is something that happened over the years, but there are certainly ones in far worse condition.

I paid $7k for my 1970 in Jan 2012. My birdcage is in worse shape than that. My #2 mount is in a little better condition than that (you can still plainly see the bolt/washer, though there is some rust), my frame has accident damage and non-fatal dogleg issues, and my second crossmember (trans mount) has been inexplicably torched at one of the exhaust ports.

I have a frame hanging in my garage...my next "major" project...

I think you're doing just fine. Monitor it and drive it. Deal with it once you get some miles under your belt.

rene040269

Hey man, you just bought a C3 Vette, a rolling tribute to awsomeness,

that is never a waste.

vannmike

Gotcha. I really like the car. Just don't think I have the know-how or time to frame off this thing. Game plan it to get a good paint job, get a crate motor, and do the interior. Just have a really fast and fun cruiser