Another rusty birdcage.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 0
From: Enterprise Oregon
Some one enlighten me --why do they rust there and some don't- luck of the draw or something we did to them or design flaw???-thanks Glenn
and where should i look for rust on my 58??
and where should i look for rust on my 58??
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 17,901
Likes: 751
From: Inverness FL
St. Jude Donor '07
Glenn
i have no clue as to why C2's have so much of a problem; maybe it's the way the designers chose to drain water in the vulnerable areas, or maybe water just sits there.
there's not that much of a 'birdcage' on a C1. The windshield frame is part of the birdcage on a C2, in a C1 the windshield is in it's own removable frame assembly. look up under your dash and behind the kick panels and you can see just about all there is to see. in my experience, the most probable place would be at the bottom of the front door post pieces where the body mounting bolts go through the bottom of the post and the floor pan and bolt to the frame.
if water were to sit for a lonnnnnng period of time, like in a junkyard, then they will rust. everything else is high and dry...
Bill
btw: the windshield frame lower u-channel is subject to rust just like the C2's birdcage. one end of mine is rusted out, but it doesn't affect the integrity of the body. so far as i know, no one who is making a reproduction lower u-channel.
i have no clue as to why C2's have so much of a problem; maybe it's the way the designers chose to drain water in the vulnerable areas, or maybe water just sits there.
there's not that much of a 'birdcage' on a C1. The windshield frame is part of the birdcage on a C2, in a C1 the windshield is in it's own removable frame assembly. look up under your dash and behind the kick panels and you can see just about all there is to see. in my experience, the most probable place would be at the bottom of the front door post pieces where the body mounting bolts go through the bottom of the post and the floor pan and bolt to the frame.
if water were to sit for a lonnnnnng period of time, like in a junkyard, then they will rust. everything else is high and dry...
Bill
btw: the windshield frame lower u-channel is subject to rust just like the C2's birdcage. one end of mine is rusted out, but it doesn't affect the integrity of the body. so far as i know, no one who is making a reproduction lower u-channel.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 7,226
Likes: 399
From: Northern CA
It's no consolation for those of you who have found this kind of deteriorating rust along the cage.... but I turned down more than a half dozen "East coast" C-2's before I purchased mine this past Spring.
I found that the cars in the best shape were undoubtedly California cars mainly from L.A. No rain... No snow.
They also cost about 10-20% more than anything else I looked at.... and now I know why.... NO RUST!... they are worth every dime in my opinion.
Good Luck.... but unless it's been garaged from day 1.... you're taking a chance on anything but a "West Coast" car.
I found that the cars in the best shape were undoubtedly California cars mainly from L.A. No rain... No snow.
They also cost about 10-20% more than anything else I looked at.... and now I know why.... NO RUST!... they are worth every dime in my opinion.
Good Luck.... but unless it's been garaged from day 1.... you're taking a chance on anything but a "West Coast" car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,568
Likes: 0
From: Enterprise Oregon
Or how bout the california car that sat by the ocean house for years--lots of coastline there in Kalifornia last time i looked??
thanks for the c-1 rust info--went out and relooked and found none --Glenn
thanks for the c-1 rust info--went out and relooked and found none
--Glenn
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 0
From: Horsetown USA (Norco) Kaleeforkneeah
Glenn- Probably not many Vettes on the coastline here. You go inland just a short distance and the air gets considerably drier.
When I was looking for my Vette on Ebay and other sites, there was not very many West coast cars available for some reason. Seems like most of them were in the east or midwest. I don't have an answer for why there is not many for sale out here.
When I was looking for my Vette on Ebay and other sites, there was not very many West coast cars available for some reason. Seems like most of them were in the east or midwest. I don't have an answer for why there is not many for sale out here.
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Originally Posted by Johns_65Vette
Glenn- Probably not many Vettes on the coastline here. You go inland just a short distance and the air gets considerably drier.
When I was looking for my Vette on Ebay and other sites, there was not very many West coast cars available for some reason. Seems like most of them were in the east or midwest. I don't have an answer for why there is not many for sale out here.
When I was looking for my Vette on Ebay and other sites, there was not very many West coast cars available for some reason. Seems like most of them were in the east or midwest. I don't have an answer for why there is not many for sale out here.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 44,692
Likes: 1,834
From: Huntsville AL
My 2 cents:
Cars on the east coast rust from the top down.
Cars from up north rust from the ground up
Cars out west seem to do better due to dry weather.
CA Cars are in a breed all of there own. Most are from all of the above and expensive no matter what the condition is. Kinda like their housing market.
Cars on the east coast rust from the top down.
Cars from up north rust from the ground up
Cars out west seem to do better due to dry weather.
CA Cars are in a breed all of there own. Most are from all of the above and expensive no matter what the condition is. Kinda like their housing market.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 0
From: Horsetown USA (Norco) Kaleeforkneeah
Originally Posted by Mr D.
My 2 cents:
Cars on the east coast rust from the top down.
Cars from up north rust from the ground up
Cars out west seem to do better due to dry weather.
CA Cars are in a breed all of there own. Most are from all of the above and expensive no matter what the condition is. Kinda like their housing market.
Cars on the east coast rust from the top down.
Cars from up north rust from the ground up
Cars out west seem to do better due to dry weather.
CA Cars are in a breed all of there own. Most are from all of the above and expensive no matter what the condition is. Kinda like their housing market.
I couldn't afford to buy my own house now ....but the bubble is bursting....houses are staying on the market a lot longer now.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco CA
Texas cars seem to be pretty rust free as well since all of the heat they have down there. I checked mine too and thank God it is solid. I bought my car sight unseen and never even knew to check for that until AFER I had the car in my possession and found this site.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Rimcrew,
There's a fellow in this part of Canada who has been importing Arizona cars for many years. His business may be tailing off now.
http://www.wayneroweclassiccars.com/
There's a fellow in this part of Canada who has been importing Arizona cars for many years. His business may be tailing off now.
http://www.wayneroweclassiccars.com/
Pro
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
Looking at his web site, I would have to say that none of his cars would get me excited. I suspect that he is forced to import stuff like that, because that's all that is left.
I grew up in Phoenix and you used to be able to drive around and see all kinds of old cars in peoples side, and back yards. The cities have cracked down on this, so it is now rare to find cars stored in people's yards. I know my mom had to get rid of about 15 cars from the 50's and 60's that she had stored in her back yard, due to the city regulations.
The old sources are drying up, and as they do, the less desireable cars will be all that is left to dredge up. :-(
I grew up in Phoenix and you used to be able to drive around and see all kinds of old cars in peoples side, and back yards. The cities have cracked down on this, so it is now rare to find cars stored in people's yards. I know my mom had to get rid of about 15 cars from the 50's and 60's that she had stored in her back yard, due to the city regulations.
The old sources are drying up, and as they do, the less desireable cars will be all that is left to dredge up. :-(
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 7
From: Northeast Ohio
Originally Posted by Trev57
The seller made a clear statement in the ebay description (yup - ebay again) that the car had 'an excellent cage'. I have given him a few days to come up with a solution. I think he is going to try and fob me off with a couple of bits of steel, but I think the real money will be in getting expert help to fix the problem. I don't like it, but I feel that legal action may be necessary. I bought the car from Ohio, and I understand that the Lemon Laws there favour the buyer heavily if misrepresentation can be proven.
I'm not convinced that the Lemon Law will apply to this but certainly if the car was represented as having an "excellent cage", he was way wrong. This IS an expensive repair! Need a donor and alot of labor. Best of luck to you.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 924
Likes: 7
From: Northeast Ohio
Originally Posted by 6T5C2
Texas cars seem to be pretty rust free as well since all of the heat they have down there. I checked mine too and thank God it is solid. I bought my car sight unseen and never even knew to check for that until AFER I had the car in my possession and found this site.
We worked on a supposed "rust free" Texas car earlier this year. It had a rusted windshield frame and some rust going on in the birdcage. Heat or lack thereof is not the issue, its standing water that causes rust. Up here in the North our road salt accelerates the process.
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 13
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Advanced
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
birdcage problems
hi, sorry about your cage problem. I have spent almost a year in finding parts and repairing my 63 swc birdcage. I had to replace the rocker chanels, door lock pillars, pillar extentions(all parts you can buy new). Part of the rear pillar i had to make,and the lower windsheild frame from the top of the pillar half the way up the windsheild. (used). It was hard to find usable pieces. I had pieces from california shipped to me(AK), that were junk from experts. If you love your car and are real handy ,go for it,it ca be done. If you just want to drive, get your money back if you can. I would never tackle this again, I would pay somebody to make sure there was no rust in the next birdcage. if you need more info let me know, i have lots of ugly and improving pics. good luck hb
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,257
Likes: 6
From: Mission Viejo California
Keep your eyes open for birdcage parts on Ebay. They show up from time to time. You might have to piece things together from several sources.
There's a good chunk of a convertible bird cage up for auction right now.
Also watch for trashed body tubs that contain good steel.
I still don't know why no one reproduces these parts since they are so commonly lost.
Good luck.
There's a good chunk of a convertible bird cage up for auction right now.
Also watch for trashed body tubs that contain good steel.
I still don't know why no one reproduces these parts since they are so commonly lost.
Good luck.