Birdcage!
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Tx
Birdcage!
I know this has been beaten to death but I am very new to the C3 car so bear with me. I have researched best ways to look for birdcage rust and taking off the kick panel is a good way to spot it. Question one is how does the kick panel come off and second if it has some rust right behind the door hinges is that a death sentence to the cage? Thanks
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
The kick panel should very carefully pop off. I had to wiggle it forward and down slowly. You could also take a flashlight and look from the outside through the windshield and along the windshield from top to bottom.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
For the earlier cars, the door sill has to be removed before you can work on getting a kick panel out. The sill traps the front lower corner of the kick panel.
Oxidation behind a kick panel is not necessarily cause for alarm; it comes with age.
Oxidation behind a kick panel is not necessarily cause for alarm; it comes with age.
Racer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 261
Likes: 7
Once the kickpanel is off, don't forget to pull the speakers out, if present. What you want to see is behind the speakers. If you spot rust flakes in there (fish around a little), further investigation is warranted. Surface rust is expected.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,283
Likes: 4,373
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi rayy,
"is that a death sentence?"
No!
It really depends where and how serious and extensive the rust is, and how expensive to repair the rust will be.
Repairing a rusty birdcage is a serious undertaking because it's so involved to get to the rust because the body panels are riveted and bonded to the birdcage.
My thought is that even at a good purchase price it's something a newer owner should avoid.
Cars with birdcage rust often, (but not always), have a rusty frame, too.
While there are cars out there with all degrees of rust, there are also cars out there with very little or no rust.
Be CAUTIOUS while the money is still in YOUR pocket.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
"is that a death sentence?"
No!
It really depends where and how serious and extensive the rust is, and how expensive to repair the rust will be.
Repairing a rusty birdcage is a serious undertaking because it's so involved to get to the rust because the body panels are riveted and bonded to the birdcage.
My thought is that even at a good purchase price it's something a newer owner should avoid.
Cars with birdcage rust often, (but not always), have a rusty frame, too.
While there are cars out there with all degrees of rust, there are also cars out there with very little or no rust.
Be CAUTIOUS while the money is still in YOUR pocket.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,650
Likes: 2
From: Tulsa Oklahoma
Oops! Forgot about the Door seal!Good catch..
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,283
Likes: 4,373
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi r,
The second picture tells more than the first.
In the first picture MOST of the parts you're seeing are fiberglass and the rust appears to be stains from the rusty windshield post shown in the second picture.
From what I can see of the structure/barn this car is stored in the rust doesn't surprise me. Finding a special car that needs serious work in a barn is exciting, finding an ordinary car that needs serious work in a barn isn't so good.
From these two pictures I'd say this is a car that needs to be checked out very carefully.
Again... just from the two pictures... be careful!
What are you looking for in a car?
Regards,
Alan
The second picture tells more than the first.
In the first picture MOST of the parts you're seeing are fiberglass and the rust appears to be stains from the rusty windshield post shown in the second picture.
From what I can see of the structure/barn this car is stored in the rust doesn't surprise me. Finding a special car that needs serious work in a barn is exciting, finding an ordinary car that needs serious work in a barn isn't so good.
From these two pictures I'd say this is a car that needs to be checked out very carefully.
Again... just from the two pictures... be careful!
What are you looking for in a car?
Regards,
Alan
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 143
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From: Tx
I am wanting a budget auto X car that I can drop a 6.2 Ls in and have some fun. That being said I don't want to purchase a car that is rusted down even if it is cheap. I have known the car for years and it just recently came up for sale due to a death. The car is priced in the 3500 range. The mounts look good as does the frame. The pic beside the vin tag is what scared me it looked to be rusted good but when I pressed on it with a screwdriver it was solid. The owner is very nice and said I could take the kick panel off and whatever else I wanted to.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,303
Likes: 14
From: Lynn MA
well one idea is a combination of welding and body panel adhesive, I had posted a bunch about this, search my name, don't want to repost it all here....in sensitive areas, I would opt for body panel adhesive....adhesives will hold longer then welds most times when pulled on a frame machine
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
From: Tx
So remove the kick panels and what else? The guy said I could take off anything I wanted. And the panels just pop off right? They appear to be under the seal plate which from what I see does not have any screws. Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
Try to look down into the lower corners of the frame where the fenders and surround meet. The upper part of the frame is far easier to repair than the bottom half.