Rust issues are more common than you think.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Bite back
Rust issues are more common than you think.
I have talked to a lot of people who have paid a lot of money for Corvette's, only to find their newly accuired Vette's with hidden rust that was not apparent at first. Horror stories of hidden rust under the dash and around the windshield pillars, not to mention more obvious areas such as rusted out frames directly ahead of the rear wheels. This seems to be common on C3's.
Does anyone have any photo's of these rust problems and how to identify them? Especially how do you check for rust when looking at a car for the first time. Thanks in advance.
Does anyone have any photo's of these rust problems and how to identify them? Especially how do you check for rust when looking at a car for the first time. Thanks in advance.
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 2
From: walpole ma
The two most common areas to check for rust on a C3 vette are the frame and in particular the kick ups which are the areas in front of the rear wheels right behind the doors, and the windshield pillars. Problems in both these areas is fairly easily identifiable if you take the time to look. Another place to check for rust is the bottom of the front cross member under the radiator support and the lower section of the radiator support itself. Sometimes the metal part of the rockers that wrap around the sides of the frame can get rusty as well,but those you really have to look hard to see. Lastly the number 4 body mount cups. located behind the rear wheels have a tendency to rust as well.
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 98
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From: Beertender - Next one is on the house. Cheers! No juicebox
Go to: corvettec3.ca/ then click on "C3 Rust issues". There are pictures of common rust areas. Maybe someone can post these pictures up here. Did you know that all C3's from model year 1977 have steel floor panels that can rust?
Last edited by Bierbitzch; Nov 7, 2007 at 11:07 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Steel floor panels were introduced sometime in 1975, IIRC.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,572
Likes: 51
From: Wichita Kansas
[QUOTE=paul67;1562657872]
I had this expereiance
about 15 years ago on a '79 and found a good frame shop in San Diego who was able to fix it. The shop had told me this was a comon problem with the C3 frames. I have never seen another until this photo.
I had this expereiance
about 15 years ago on a '79 and found a good frame shop in San Diego who was able to fix it. The shop had told me this was a comon problem with the C3 frames. I have never seen another until this photo.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
I had some rust issues, here are a few of my favs:
This is a door frame, the door to glass seals were never changed so the doors got water inside all the time. I dissasembled the door, sandblasted it clean, fabbed patches and welded them on and painted.
Here is a lower windshield corner, drivers side. This is caused from GM not properly protecting the metal. The fender mount is riveted to the WS corner with nothing more than a little primer on it. They should have used Urethane sealer and it would have lived forever. Water gets trapped under the fiberglass mount by the rivets and this is the result
Cut out the bad part
Fabbed new patch
Welded in and cleaned up
Painted
Of course the water leacking thru the windshield corner had to go somewhere
#2 mount
and passenger floor
I had to weld in rocker channel add on pieces and fab new #2 mount pockets. I cleaned up, painted and figerglassed in the floor panels, that was a lot easier than replacing them and they were expensive. Sinse the floor was not a structural member, patching it on both sides was a better option for me
This is a door frame, the door to glass seals were never changed so the doors got water inside all the time. I dissasembled the door, sandblasted it clean, fabbed patches and welded them on and painted.
Here is a lower windshield corner, drivers side. This is caused from GM not properly protecting the metal. The fender mount is riveted to the WS corner with nothing more than a little primer on it. They should have used Urethane sealer and it would have lived forever. Water gets trapped under the fiberglass mount by the rivets and this is the result
Cut out the bad part
Fabbed new patch
Welded in and cleaned up
Painted
Of course the water leacking thru the windshield corner had to go somewhere
#2 mount
and passenger floor
I had to weld in rocker channel add on pieces and fab new #2 mount pockets. I cleaned up, painted and figerglassed in the floor panels, that was a lot easier than replacing them and they were expensive. Sinse the floor was not a structural member, patching it on both sides was a better option for me
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
LOL, this one was for sure!
If I had known it was that bad I may have scrapped it and found one in better shape. But, then I would not have doubled my tool inventory.
Now I got 2 welders, cutting torch, blast cabinet, portable blaster, Hydraulic press, Air hammer, .........
If I had known it was that bad I may have scrapped it and found one in better shape. But, then I would not have doubled my tool inventory.
Now I got 2 welders, cutting torch, blast cabinet, portable blaster, Hydraulic press, Air hammer, .........
Heel & Toe
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte NC
Rust issues
This is unbelievable! I never realized how many places that rust can hide on these cars. 
Makes me think twice about purchasing another untill I get an expert to look at it.
Does anybody have any more pictures of where rust can occur on these frames?
Makes me think twice about purchasing another untill I get an expert to look at it. Does anybody have any more pictures of where rust can occur on these frames?
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 11
From: North Easton Mass
Rick B.
