The bird cage...
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,457
Likes: 144
From: NC
The bird cage...
I am considering several C3's. Since a lot of these would be sight unseen, what should I ask the current owner to take pictures of in order to know what kind of shape the birdcage is in? How does it go bad anyways? Moisture gets caught in the area? Can anyone post pics of what a good example looks like vs a bad one?
Thanks
Thanks
Safety Car
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 4,469
Likes: 275
From: Naples FL
Ask him if he has any windshield leaks or ever gets water dripping on the floor. Most people assume that they can just have the windshield fixed and very few realize they have a really big problem.
If he says he gets a few water drips on the carpeting once in a while get away from that car as quickly as you can.
Always look at the carpeting for water stains too. The owner may not even realize he has a serious problem. You have to check carefully.
Richard Newton
How to Restore and Modify Your Corvette, 1968-1982
Ultimate Garage Handbook
If he says he gets a few water drips on the carpeting once in a while get away from that car as quickly as you can.
Always look at the carpeting for water stains too. The owner may not even realize he has a serious problem. You have to check carefully.
Richard Newton
How to Restore and Modify Your Corvette, 1968-1982
Ultimate Garage Handbook
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,295
Likes: 30
From: one night in Bangkok you are never lonely
I am considering several C3's. Since a lot of these would be sight unseen, what should I ask the current owner to take pictures of in order to know what kind of shape the birdcage is in? How does it go bad anyways? Moisture gets caught in the area? Can anyone post pics of what a good example looks like vs a bad one?
Thanks
Thanks
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 399
Likes: 13
From: Brugge (B) West-Vlaanderen
never buy a Vette unseen....
but I'm in Belgium.....and think of buying one also.....
and then it also will be "unseen"
unless I wait untill Oktober when we're on holiday in California
still need to make up my mind
and then it also will be "unseen"
unless I wait untill Oktober when we're on holiday in California
still need to make up my mind
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 19
From: Oswego New York
Ask him if he has any windshield leaks or ever gets water dripping on the floor. Most people assume that they can just have the windshield fixed and very few realize they have a really big problem.
If he says he gets a few water drips on the carpeting once in a while get away from that car as quickly as you can.
Always look at the carpeting for water stains too. The owner may not even realize he has a serious problem. You have to check carefully.
If he says he gets a few water drips on the carpeting once in a while get away from that car as quickly as you can.
Always look at the carpeting for water stains too. The owner may not even realize he has a serious problem. You have to check carefully.
And even if there are no current leaks, that could mean the leaks had been fixed but the birdcage is still bad (rusted). Sometimes the carpet water stains are rusty or there is rust showing on the bottom sides of the interior vinyl windshield trim or where the screws are located.Wet carpeting could also be from water leaking through the kick panels due to debris buildup in the windshield drain areas (not sure of the correct name), so wet carpet and/or stains are very good indicators, but you should 'dig deeper' if you have the opportunity.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,295
Likes: 30
From: one night in Bangkok you are never lonely
Check this link http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...usty+bird+cage
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,457
Likes: 144
From: NC
From what I am reading in various places, it almost looks like the only way to tell what kind of shape the birdcage is in is to take major pieces apart which is not something that is reasonable to do in a pre buy inspection. Kinda turning me off to the C3's.
So..if you pull the kick panel(s) off and look inside, you are looking for rust, correct? Is there a certain tolerance level? Obviously if there is a lot of rust that would be a big no but if there is just light surfact rust, is that to be expected on most of these cars?
So..if you pull the kick panel(s) off and look inside, you are looking for rust, correct? Is there a certain tolerance level? Obviously if there is a lot of rust that would be a big no but if there is just light surfact rust, is that to be expected on most of these cars?
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,457
Likes: 144
From: NC
Wow...the post from runningman in the thread linked above is excellent. That really does kill long distance deals for me. Thank you for posting that link.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...32&postcount=5
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...32&postcount=5
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 8,295
Likes: 30
From: one night in Bangkok you are never lonely
Wow...the post from runningman in the thread linked above is excellent. That really does kill long distance deals for me. Thank you for posting that link.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...32&postcount=5
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...32&postcount=5
Now being a C3 lover and living 10,000 miles from the USA and I found two solid C3s right here in Thailand.
Last edited by Bangkok Dean; Jun 6, 2008 at 11:59 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,838
Likes: 13
From: Kingman AZ
If you get out here in Southern California near Long Beach, (south of Los Angeles) drop me a PM. Maybe we can show you some SO Cal hospitality! Can even help you find a vette while your here.
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 399
Likes: 13
From: Brugge (B) West-Vlaanderen
My $.02 is what if when you get the car over there and it has some big issues, you are up the creek so to speak. Patience is a virtue.
Check this link http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...usty+bird+cage
Check this link http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...usty+bird+cage
so I'll either have to be patient,
or get some help from an experienced CFmember if I want to buy a C3 unseen...
with my very poor knowledge of Vettes / mechanics I still even doubt that I would be able to distinguish the good from the bad C3 when actually being able to inspect it myself later on this year....
sometimes life can be hard
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 19
From: Oswego New York
If you can get access to look behind the finish trim, look for rot ... flaky pieces of rust that you can be sure are reducing the frame metal thickness. If you find rot, you probably have major repair and costs in store for you.
If you find surface rust, and the rest of the car meets your satisfaction such that you buy it, you may want to do some preventive maintenance on the surface rust so it won't become a problem down the road.
Pay close attention to detail ... a missing screw in a trim piece could be just that ... or it could mean there is no solid metal in that area of the birdcage to hold the screw ... so it fell out.
If you find surface rust, and the rest of the car meets your satisfaction such that you buy it, you may want to do some preventive maintenance on the surface rust so it won't become a problem down the road.
Pay close attention to detail ... a missing screw in a trim piece could be just that ... or it could mean there is no solid metal in that area of the birdcage to hold the screw ... so it fell out.
Drifting
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,546
Likes: 5
From: Sacramento California
Another quick test is to take a piece of paper (I usually have newspaper want ads with me) and open it up on the floor, try to get it as far up under the pedals as possible. Open and close both doors a couple of times, then check the paper for rust flakes, if there are flakes then there are some birdcage issues, and you don't need to check any further, just walk away.
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 399
Likes: 13
From: Brugge (B) West-Vlaanderen
I will defintely do so Ray
thanks very much for yr kind offer
we will for sure spend few days in and around LA, so should be nice to meet you then in "real life"
Any help on finding me a nice C3 now or in the near future will gladly be accepted...will send you pm later as I've seen an ad for one in LA
Thanks & anjoy yr wknd,
Steven_Belgium
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 399
Likes: 13
From: Brugge (B) West-Vlaanderen
Another quick test is to take a piece of paper (I usually have newspaper want ads with me) and open it up on the floor, try to get it as far up under the pedals as possible. Open and close both doors a couple of times, then check the paper for rust flakes, if there are flakes then there are some birdcage issues, and you don't need to check any further, just walk away.
and even comprehensible for a nit-wit as myself
thanks a lot ....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 19
From: Oswego New York
Another quick test is to take a piece of paper (I usually have newspaper want ads with me) and open it up on the floor, try to get it as far up under the pedals as possible. Open and close both doors a couple of times, then check the paper for rust flakes, if there are flakes then there are some birdcage issues, and you don't need to check any further, just walk away.