Bird Cage Rust?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Bird Cage Rust?
Hi, Newbie here again. I must confess, I have never heard of "bird cage" rust untill after I purchased my 75 vette and joined this forum. Now that I have figured out what in the heck a bird cage is, I would like to know how common it is, and how serious it is? How and where do I go to check my Vette for this problem? If I find significant rust, then what? I am getting ready to rip out the carpet to add some heat barrier, and yanking the kick panels will not be that much more trouble. I will also pull up the door sill guards.... Am I on the right path?
Thanks for the advice you guys have given me so far..... I may be slow, but I eventually catch on.
Thanks,
BLVette75
Thanks for the advice you guys have given me so far..... I may be slow, but I eventually catch on.
Thanks,
BLVette75
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Originally Posted by BLVette75
Hi, Newbie here again. I must confess, I have never heard of "bird cage" rust untill after I purchased my 75 vette and joined this forum. Now that I have figured out what in the heck a bird cage is, I would like to know how common it is, and how serious it is? How and where do I go to check my Vette for this problem? If I find significant rust, then what? I am getting ready to rip out the carpet to add some heat barrier, and yanking the kick panels will not be that much more trouble. I will also pull up the door sill guards.... Am I on the right path?
Thanks for the advice you guys have given me so far..... I may be slow, but I eventually catch on.
Thanks,
BLVette75
Thanks for the advice you guys have given me so far..... I may be slow, but I eventually catch on.
Thanks,
BLVette75
Rick B.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Rick was lucky for a New England vette that was driven.
Yes - check behind the kick panels, but the sill plates will not
reveal anything but fiberglass. Also, remove the access panels
that are in the front of the rear wheel wells. This gives access
to the #3 body mount area. To check the rocker channels, I
usually grab underneath the door - between the channel and frame.
Then, try moving the side of the channel in and out.
If it feels solid, you should be fine. Sometimes you can see the
windshield frame rust peeking out, but other times you need
to remove all the trim.
If the birdcage turns up rusted out, then the frame should be
inspected carefully.
Good Luck
Yes - check behind the kick panels, but the sill plates will not
reveal anything but fiberglass. Also, remove the access panels
that are in the front of the rear wheel wells. This gives access
to the #3 body mount area. To check the rocker channels, I
usually grab underneath the door - between the channel and frame.
Then, try moving the side of the channel in and out.
If it feels solid, you should be fine. Sometimes you can see the
windshield frame rust peeking out, but other times you need
to remove all the trim.
If the birdcage turns up rusted out, then the frame should be
inspected carefully.
Good Luck
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
Keeping fingers crossed
I am going to inspect the 75 Vette closely this week. I am hoping to find the frame in good shape. If it is rusted, this will be the ammo my dad (who has told me numberous times I spent too much) to tell me "I told you so" . 
BLVette75
BLVette75
