Pinch Welt cap missing
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 231
Likes: 20
From: Antwerp
Pinch Welt cap missing
Pinch welt on both sides is shot and the caps are missing too. I ordered the correct caps (one hole, my '63 is made in october), but as you can see in the picture, I don't seem to have a thread hole for the cap.
Can someone please post a picture of where this hole should be on a '63?
Furthermore, do you think the 'bubbles' in the paint are caused by rust on the birdcage? Hope not...
Can someone please post a picture of where this hole should be on a '63?
Furthermore, do you think the 'bubbles' in the paint are caused by rust on the birdcage? Hope not...
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 17,681
Likes: 3,678
From: Central Arkansas
Pinch welt on both sides is shot and the caps are missing too. I ordered the correct caps (one hole, my '63 is made in october), but as you can see in the picture, I don't seem to have a thread hole for the cap.
Can someone please post a picture of where this hole should be on a '63?
Attachment 47761291
Furthermore, do you think the 'bubbles' in the paint are caused by rust on the birdcage? Hope not...
Can someone please post a picture of where this hole should be on a '63?
Attachment 47761291
Furthermore, do you think the 'bubbles' in the paint are caused by rust on the birdcage? Hope not...
Racer
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 461
Likes: 5
From: San Clemente California
Tom
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 116
From: AUSTIN Tx
Not really rust in the birdcage, but most definitely rust in the lower drip channel. This rust is caused by the sealant failing on the backside of the lower drip rail channel. When the sealant fails, the water gets under the sealant and gets between the lower drip channel, and rust starts. These parts are available, but they are a chore to replace. If these lower channels are in bad shape, the upper drip rails are probably close behind. Replacing the drip rails has to rate high on the list of my least favorite jobs!
Regards, John McGraw
Regards, John McGraw
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 231
Likes: 20
From: Antwerp
Not really rust in the birdcage, but most definitely rust in the lower drip channel. This rust is caused by the sealant failing on the backside of the lower drip rail channel. When the sealant fails, the water gets under the sealant and gets between the lower drip channel, and rust starts. These parts are available, but they are a chore to replace. If these lower channels are in bad shape, the upper drip rails are probably close behind. Replacing the drip rails has to rate high on the list of my least favorite jobs!
Regards, John McGraw
Regards, John McGraw
Thanks for the response, after looking at it in detail, I think (and hope) you're right, because the blisters stop directly under the lower gutter.
You are talking about these parts, right?
http://corvette-parts.zip-corvette.c...ails&year=1963
About a 750$ in parts it seems...
Do you think it's possible to replace all these parts without damaging the paint of the car?
Thanks again!
G.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 116
From: AUSTIN Tx
There are two chances to replace these parts without damaging the paint, slim and none, and slim left town.
No unfortunately, the lower gutter is spot welded to the pillar before the fiberglass is installed over the pillar. The only proper way to replace it is to cut a section of the fiberglass out under the gutter on the pillar, and drill out the spot welds. I do not weld them back in place, I use epoxy body panel adhesive. The metal of the pillar will have some rust on it as well, and you will need to remove all the rust before gluing them back together.
Then you can glue the fiberglass panel back in with the same adhesive. Then sand, prime and refinish the area. There us really no good shortcut to this job. After the gutter is in place, I use a good grade of urethane caulk to caulk the joint of the gutter to the birdcage. I use urethane because it lasts almost forever, and can be painted over. The original caulk that GM used, turned hard and started cracking after several years and made this gutters leak. It was the best thing they had at the time.
Regards, John McGraw
No unfortunately, the lower gutter is spot welded to the pillar before the fiberglass is installed over the pillar. The only proper way to replace it is to cut a section of the fiberglass out under the gutter on the pillar, and drill out the spot welds. I do not weld them back in place, I use epoxy body panel adhesive. The metal of the pillar will have some rust on it as well, and you will need to remove all the rust before gluing them back together.
Then you can glue the fiberglass panel back in with the same adhesive. Then sand, prime and refinish the area. There us really no good shortcut to this job. After the gutter is in place, I use a good grade of urethane caulk to caulk the joint of the gutter to the birdcage. I use urethane because it lasts almost forever, and can be painted over. The original caulk that GM used, turned hard and started cracking after several years and made this gutters leak. It was the best thing they had at the time.
Regards, John McGraw
Hi John,
Thanks for the response, after looking at it in detail, I think (and hope) you're right, because the blisters stop directly under the lower gutter.
You are talking about these parts, right?
Attachment 47761564
http://corvette-parts.zip-corvette.c...ails&year=1963
About a 750$ in parts it seems...
Do you think it's possible to replace all these parts without damaging the paint of the car?
Thanks again!
G.
Thanks for the response, after looking at it in detail, I think (and hope) you're right, because the blisters stop directly under the lower gutter.
You are talking about these parts, right?
Attachment 47761564
http://corvette-parts.zip-corvette.c...ails&year=1963
About a 750$ in parts it seems...
Do you think it's possible to replace all these parts without damaging the paint of the car?
Thanks again!
G.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 116
From: AUSTIN Tx
If you look at the pics of the following auction, you will see what the correct installation looks like:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Corvette-1963-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-split-window-riverside-red-327-250-hp-v-8-manual-/171211700538?forcerrptr=true&hash=item27dd03393a&item=171211700538&pt=US_Cars_Trucks
You will notice that the fiberglass is held against the lower drip rail with a pair of 3/16" pop rivets. If you want it to look original, you will install with these 2 rivets, and not mold them in. The original installation just had a little sealant between the fiberglass and the lower drip rail, but this is not really an area that sees much water anyway.
Regards, John McGraw
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Chevrolet-Corvette-1963-chevrolet-corvette-stingray-split-window-riverside-red-327-250-hp-v-8-manual-/171211700538?forcerrptr=true&hash=item27dd03393a&item=171211700538&pt=US_Cars_Trucks
You will notice that the fiberglass is held against the lower drip rail with a pair of 3/16" pop rivets. If you want it to look original, you will install with these 2 rivets, and not mold them in. The original installation just had a little sealant between the fiberglass and the lower drip rail, but this is not really an area that sees much water anyway.
Regards, John McGraw
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 231
Likes: 20
From: Antwerp
Ok, thanks a lot for your detailed answer!
After closer inspection, the lower side of the drip rails have small gaps in them, so I think I'll just seal those for the moment, as this will be a 'next winter' project.
After closer inspection, the lower side of the drip rails have small gaps in them, so I think I'll just seal those for the moment, as this will be a 'next winter' project.
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