69L46vert

A few pics I took after removing the driver's side rocker channel. Pretty glad the pass. side is solid as I'd hate to have to do it again. Thanks to redwingvette and NHvette for posting theirs as it gave me the courage to jump in. Rick

mudbone64

I was wondering if you plan on fabricating your own repair pieces or will you try to find replacement metal elsewhere? The affected area at the rear of the rocker channel looks like some basic bends but the front does appear to have some curved surfaces. At any rate, if you removed all of this material in one or two days then you are obviously equipped to perform the necessary repairs. Be sure and post pics of the reapirs. I know I would enjoy seeing them.

Mudbone64

69L46vert

Mudbone, Thanks for the encouragement. My plan was to do just as you say, Take it out, make the repairs and reinstall. It would take longer to get new ones than to fix the old parts. But I was just out there looking at them and I think it's too many patches to bother with. I counted them up and it was about 7 or 8 separate pieces that i'd have to make. It's worse in person when you can really look at it from every angle. I guess I'm going to order the new parts and wait. I think Caledonia has them. I have to start looking. Of course there's plenty of other stuff to do but I really want to get this fixed. Rick

mudbone64

I've heard about Caledonia before but I can't very much about them on the internet. I've also heard they have a catalogue.

By the way your moving along you should have this part of the project wrapped up by oh, Sunday night! Good luck and post some pics of your repairs.

Mudbone64

avner

I saw at Ebay Rocker channel -
Item number: 120200994803
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CORVE...spagenameZWDVW

Item number: 120208266809
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/CORVE...spagenameZWDVW

Go to my thread and see how I fixed my birdcage:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ighlight=avner

Avner

69L46vert

Avner. The amount of work it must have taken to get all the fiberglass away from the birdcage must have been huge. And on top of that, afterwards, to get the cage in such perfect condition. You have already finished more than most would ever dare to start. I tip my hat to you Avner. You are an inspiration. It must be all the harder doing it so far away from the parts sources. Thanks for the ebay links too. I'm still trying to decide what to do. I guess I'll sleep on it tonight and look at it again tomorrow. Just about all I did today was stare at it and try to think of the easiest way to fix it back to a strong and fit condition. I hope tomorrow I'll do something constructive about it and not just look at it! Rick

Michel B

Your doing nice work, most people would have a heart attack seeing the damage,,
Anyway,, I went through a similar situation last winter and fabed all my parts up. The parts on ebay look interesting,,,but you still end up repairing old parts,, heres a couple pics,, I have more if your interested.



All four corners and rockers cost about $50. of steel.

redwingvette

Very nice work.

69L46vert

Nice job Michael. Looks like a hard job but like redwing says, Just get busy. It's worse thinking about it than to get going and do it.

I talked to Gary at Caledonia and he's only got the channel inserts. I really wanted the oem style channels and pillar supports but nobody has them. Have to get them out of a parts car. Gary says they may make them some day but He's working on producing complete MidYear birdcages and is busy with that.The ebay links Avner sent me looked tempting and are better than what I have but are apparently far from perfect.

I've decided to repair what I have. Spent the morning making 9 patch pieces. I took some pics but wont have them up until later. They are all made but now I have to prep the old channel and get it ready for welding. rICK

69L46vert

Fixed the rocker channel today. here's a few more pics.

If you do this then get a big box of wheaties and eat the whole box. You'll probably need them... Then you can use the cardboard to make the templates. heh

I'm just about the worst welder in the world so don't laugh.

koni9

Keep up the good work....

tobyte1

[QUOTE=69L46vert;1563567164]Fixed the rocker channel today. here's a few more pics.

If you do this then get a big box of wheaties and eat the whole box. You'll probably need them... Then you can use the cardboard to make the templates. heh

I'm just about the worst welder in the world so don't laugh.

[QUOTE]

You are doing some good work. Part of your welding problems are due to the galvanized metal that you are using. Plain old mild steel will weld and clean up much better. Good Luck.

randommj

is that the "kick-up" in pic 2, if so how do you find it? by taking what off?

Miles

69L46vert

Thanks tobyte1, The galvy was all I had on hand that matched the thickness. I ground the galvy away before welding. I started to get a little better at it towards the end. I used mig but the original material is about .100" thick so one could use a stick welder I think.

Miles, check the 3rd picture. There you will see the portion of the B pillar fiberglass that I removed to get access to actual steel b pillar and rear of the rocker channel. The rear was much easier than the front though. I used the AIM to see how it was put together. Once the fiberglass was removed I simply cut the rear steel b pillar above the rusted area with a sawzall but in the front I drilled out the spotwelds that held the A pillar "reinforcement" to the A pillar and left the reinforcement attached to the rocker channel so that it all came out in one piece.
I didn't work on it yesterday but today I should be able to blast it and get a coat of epoxy primer on. Rick

69L46vert

sandblasted and primed today. here are 3 pics, rick

Michel B

looking good !!,, you will really see the differance after it is all welded in place, the body becomes so solid !!!!!! you wonder how dangerous it would have been in a colision with a rusted birdcage,, the car would have crumbled, This still gives me goosebumps thinking the chances I'v taken without knowing.

69L46vert

Rocker channel is back where it belongs and the body is back on the dolly.

Michel, Please post some more of your pics if you get time, Rick

rexx78

Impressive. Good Job.

Michel B

I'm posting a couple more for ya,, but you Know as I was looking at them it was like looking at yours,,, lol,,






This is the #1 mount bracket

This one is for encouragement,,, its what your working for !!!

hwcoop

Nice work!!