Bird Cage Issues???
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: MA
Bird Cage Issues???
Hi there,
A little back story:
My father and I bought a '79 vette last June. While doing a top end rebuild in Febuary, we found out that the piston rings were shot and we decided then that we would replace the block with a 4 bolt. So this past week we decided to start doing research to order the block and everything we need next week. For the hell of it, I said that we shoul check the birdcage before we start on the engine rebuild. I didn't think we would be in much trouble because the previous owner always garaged the car and we always garaged it and never drove it in the rain. To make a long story short, I think the previous owner rebuilt the birdcage behind both front kick panels, but it seems like there is some rust there again. I was just wondering if your experienced minds can tell me if it is a major issue or if some scraping and rustoleum will do. If it is going to be a big issue, I might have to sell the car just because I wasn't prepared for this and the engine rebuild. Please let me know what you think by the pictures.
Driver's side:
Passenger side:
Hopefully this is just a scrape and rustoleum issue.
Let me know what your experienced minds think. Thanks.
A little back story:
My father and I bought a '79 vette last June. While doing a top end rebuild in Febuary, we found out that the piston rings were shot and we decided then that we would replace the block with a 4 bolt. So this past week we decided to start doing research to order the block and everything we need next week. For the hell of it, I said that we shoul check the birdcage before we start on the engine rebuild. I didn't think we would be in much trouble because the previous owner always garaged the car and we always garaged it and never drove it in the rain. To make a long story short, I think the previous owner rebuilt the birdcage behind both front kick panels, but it seems like there is some rust there again. I was just wondering if your experienced minds can tell me if it is a major issue or if some scraping and rustoleum will do. If it is going to be a big issue, I might have to sell the car just because I wasn't prepared for this and the engine rebuild. Please let me know what you think by the pictures.
Driver's side:
Passenger side:
Hopefully this is just a scrape and rustoleum issue.
Let me know what your experienced minds think. Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,453
Likes: 67
From: Midland Ontario
NCM Sinkhole Donor
I guess you may have 2 factors to consider.....One, how will the car be used, and two, how big is your wallet. As your well aware, not all 33 year old cars lived their lives in the southwest; so rust is inevitable - the question then becomes, how bad is it? Do you have any perforation? Is there still sufficient structural rigidity? If so, and if the car isn't going to be put through a frame off, then maybe some sandblasting and "POR-ing" will do the job. I definitely think some deeper investigation is called for. You might want to see how things look by the windshield, and a second opinion by a bodyman you trust is never a bad thing. Good luck with this, I hope it works out in your favour. You'll probably find guys on this forum that would tear it apart.....and others who would clean it up and drive it. It all depends where you stand....everything is relative.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
The driver side looks to be worse than the passenger side. Looks like the PO used some silicon sealer to stop water from going further on the passenger side the question is how did the water get that far. What does it look like around the VIN # on the windshield post? Can you see down the corners of the fender/cowl? Its obvious that water has gotten that far from problems up above the pillar post the question is has that problem been repaired correctly.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: MA
The driver side looks to be worse than the passenger side. Looks like the PO used some silicon sealer to stop water from going further on the passenger side the question is how did the water get that far. What does it look like around the VIN # on the windshield post? Can you see down the corners of the fender/cowl? Its obvious that water has gotten that far from problems up above the pillar post the question is has that problem been repaired correctly.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
On mine the pillars were in in good shape my problem was the upper and lower corner of windshield frame. When those start to rust water gets in and runs into the pillar post. Take a look at this web site its a fairly popular site to review when the topic of birdcage comes up. Go to the restoration tab.
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,246
Likes: 114
From: Watkins Glen NY
Near the Vinlooks really clean. I don't know about driving in it, but the car hasn't been stored out in the elements in over 10 years. There is no perforation and there is still plenty of metal there it seems. I just have never seen a good or bad birdcage. It looks to me like they replaced both driver's and passengr side posts.
What leads you to believe that the posts have been replaced? They look original to me, and don't look too bad
Blow all of the loose debris out of the body bolt area and see what you have; use an ice pick or a screwdriver and probe around to see how good your steel is. Also, you can use your camera to get some shots up inside the posts to see what they look like internally.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Me too.
You're not really hurt yet. Everything on the passenger's side looks factory, including the gooped on sealant. Driver's side is where you want to check for a leak.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 232
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From: MA
I've seen worse.....
What leads you to believe that the posts have been replaced? They look original to me, and don't look too bad
Blow all of the loose debris out of the body bolt area and see what you have; use an ice pick or a screwdriver and probe around to see how good your steel is. Also, you can use your camera to get some shots up inside the posts to see what they look like internally.
What leads you to believe that the posts have been replaced? They look original to me, and don't look too bad
Blow all of the loose debris out of the body bolt area and see what you have; use an ice pick or a screwdriver and probe around to see how good your steel is. Also, you can use your camera to get some shots up inside the posts to see what they look like internally.
Please let me know what you think when I post those pics later.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: MA
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: MA
Well, I vacuumed out those two spots of most of the debris. Here are the photos. To me it looks mostly like surface rust, that I'll need to stop:
Driver's side:
Driver's side up the post:
Passenger's side:
Passenger's side up the post:
Let me know what you guys are thinking? Thanks!
Driver's side:
Driver's side up the post:
Passenger's side:
Passenger's side up the post:
Let me know what you guys are thinking? Thanks!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 914
Likes: 10
From: Brooklet Ga.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
From: MA
Is POR 15 like rustoleum? Is it like a 3 step spray? And where can I get it? Thanks.
I think I'm gonna run by Corvettes & Classics, a vette shop near me, and have them look at it really quick. Any other oppinions?
I think I'm gonna run by Corvettes & Classics, a vette shop near me, and have them look at it really quick. Any other oppinions?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,697
Likes: 139
From: Syracuse NY
Ive got some serious perforation rust at the end of my rails and in the metal above the trailing arm mounts. I replaced some spots with some patchwork welding and hit it with rubber underspray. Some may call it bubba, I call it fixed. Sure, there may be more up inside, but Im certainly not going to have the car another 30 years.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 8,246
Likes: 114
From: Watkins Glen NY
I think things look OK in your pics. I don't know how POR-15 specifically works, but I think it works like a rust converter/encapsulator like a product called Defender by State Chemical. (which I've used)
Brush it on, and it chemically converts iron oxide into an inert compound and stops any rust from progressing. Seals the surface.
Should be easy to find in any vendors' product lines, or places like Eastwood, Grainger, etc. Commonly used product that many people have used to paint their chassis' and have had good results with.
Brush it on, and it chemically converts iron oxide into an inert compound and stops any rust from progressing. Seals the surface.
Should be easy to find in any vendors' product lines, or places like Eastwood, Grainger, etc. Commonly used product that many people have used to paint their chassis' and have had good results with.