Bird cage rust
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 4
From: Gig Harbor WA
Bird cage rust
My windshield in my 77 has been cracked since I bought it, over a year ago, and I finally was going to get it replaced today, but when they pulled the windshield it revealed the bird cage under the lower driver side corner of the windshield was rusted. I haven't had a chance to see exactly how bad it is as it started dumping and I don't have a garage, but it definitely has at least one or two small holes. I don't have the time or money to fix it properly right now. Does anyone have any ideas for a temporary fix that would allow me to get a windshield in it and hopefully prevent it from getting worse?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 96
From: Sunrise FL
Usually just covering rust will not stop it....and be happy with just small holes!
But, maybe some rust reformer and bondo (after wire brushing, etc) would be a temp fix instead of replacing (welding) with new metal.
It also depends if your car will be garaged or daily driven.
But, maybe some rust reformer and bondo (after wire brushing, etc) would be a temp fix instead of replacing (welding) with new metal.
It also depends if your car will be garaged or daily driven.
Last edited by mikem350; Jun 10, 2016 at 03:44 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Wire brush what you can, bondo the holes, paint with Rust Bullet or the like.
Use Urethane to seal the thing up. Run a bead along the top and sides of the rear fender mount (its rusted under there)
Use Urethane to seal the thing up. Run a bead along the top and sides of the rear fender mount (its rusted under there)
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 109
Likes: 6
From: Hessen
Never use silicone on a car... always urethane. If you ever have silicone in any spot you will never get back good adhesion of paint in that area. Urethane is the proper material to glue body parts (no matter if it is fiber glass or sheet metal).
Good luck!
Cheers...
René
Good luck!
Cheers...
René
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Drifting
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,866
Likes: 140
From: Sadieville Kentucky
My windshield in my 77 has been cracked since I bought it, over a year ago, and I finally was going to get it replaced today, but when they pulled the windshield it revealed the bird cage under the lower driver side corner of the windshield was rusted. I haven't had a chance to see exactly how bad it is as it started dumping and I don't have a garage, but it definitely has at least one or two small holes. I don't have the time or money to fix it properly right now. Does anyone have any ideas for a temporary fix that would allow me to get a windshield in it and hopefully prevent it from getting worse?
good luck Wes
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,851
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
If the hole is that large, by the time you grind it out it'll be three times larger. I'm not sure of your skills, but conversion primers and bondo won't solve the problem it'll just delay the repair.
If this was in my shop I'd cut out the bad area and weld in a repair.. I'd also pull the driver side dash pad and check the integrity of the lower reinforcement. See how much damage has been done to it from the water leaking inside the car and lastly I'd remove the kick panel and check the condition of the lower A pillar. (where the water ends up).
If you go to our Facebook page you'll see where we just finished repairing a 1969 with probably the worst damage to a lower A pillar I've ever repaired.
Also.. review this document on windshield frame repair.
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/?...ndshield+frame
And check this tutorial out on windshield frame repair.
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/1...-installation/
Willcox
If this was in my shop I'd cut out the bad area and weld in a repair.. I'd also pull the driver side dash pad and check the integrity of the lower reinforcement. See how much damage has been done to it from the water leaking inside the car and lastly I'd remove the kick panel and check the condition of the lower A pillar. (where the water ends up).
If you go to our Facebook page you'll see where we just finished repairing a 1969 with probably the worst damage to a lower A pillar I've ever repaired.
Also.. review this document on windshield frame repair.
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/?...ndshield+frame
And check this tutorial out on windshield frame repair.
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/1...-installation/
Willcox
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 4,705
Likes: 983
From: Orlando FL
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
You have at least 3 choices:
1. Do the repair properly as Willcox described and never hear from that problem again;
2. Use a Dremel or small hand tool to scrape/whittle loose, damaged material from the 'bad' areas, then fill with some J.B. Weld stick epoxy to seal up as best you can do by yourself (ie, 'Bubba patch'). Not the best way to go, but better than doing nothing.
3. Do nothing. Don't drive it when raining and don't put water in that area when washing the car.
P.S. If you are finding areas like that with just the windshield removed, there is MORE elsewhere in the birdcage. (kickpanel areas, etc.)
1. Do the repair properly as Willcox described and never hear from that problem again;
2. Use a Dremel or small hand tool to scrape/whittle loose, damaged material from the 'bad' areas, then fill with some J.B. Weld stick epoxy to seal up as best you can do by yourself (ie, 'Bubba patch'). Not the best way to go, but better than doing nothing.
3. Do nothing. Don't drive it when raining and don't put water in that area when washing the car.
P.S. If you are finding areas like that with just the windshield removed, there is MORE elsewhere in the birdcage. (kickpanel areas, etc.)
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,875
Likes: 779
From: Persona Non Grata
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
What does it look like across the top? That's where mine had it bad. Poor design with the seam in the trim across the top. Perfect place for water to get in. Keep it well sealed.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 27
Likes: 4
From: Gig Harbor WA
I would love to fix it right but I don't have the money or desire to pay a shop to do it and I leave to start at USMA in two weeks so I don't have the time to do it myself right now. The car will be sitting in a garage driven less than one month out of the year, if at all, for the next 4 years, until I graduate and have time to work on it. I just want to prevent it from worsening as much as I can and make it so it can drive if it has to. The upper part of the windshield frame also has a little rust, but it isn't bad. There are no holes and it's not soft it just needs to get stripped and painted. The bottom of my birdcage, behind the kick panels is super solid, there is hardly even any surface rust down there.
I was thinking along the same lines as your 2 and that is likely what I will do.
Thank you all for the input. It is much appreciated.
You have at least 3 choices:
1. Do the repair properly as Willcox described and never hear from that problem again;
2. Use a Dremel or small hand tool to scrape/whittle loose, damaged material from the 'bad' areas, then fill with some J.B. Weld stick epoxy to seal up as best you can do by yourself (ie, 'Bubba patch'). Not the best way to go, but better than doing nothing.
3. Do nothing. Don't drive it when raining and don't put water in that area when washing the car.
P.S. If you are finding areas like that with just the windshield removed, there is MORE elsewhere in the birdcage. (kickpanel areas, etc.)
1. Do the repair properly as Willcox described and never hear from that problem again;
2. Use a Dremel or small hand tool to scrape/whittle loose, damaged material from the 'bad' areas, then fill with some J.B. Weld stick epoxy to seal up as best you can do by yourself (ie, 'Bubba patch'). Not the best way to go, but better than doing nothing.
3. Do nothing. Don't drive it when raining and don't put water in that area when washing the car.
P.S. If you are finding areas like that with just the windshield removed, there is MORE elsewhere in the birdcage. (kickpanel areas, etc.)
Thank you all for the input. It is much appreciated.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 946
Likes: 211
From: Foothills of the Adirondacks.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 339
Likes: 54
From: Fayetteville NC
When the body shop was reworking my 72 body they found the same issue. They cleaned the rust, treated and used fiberglass to patch the holes. So far, no issues.
Last edited by ENCSDOUG; Jun 12, 2016 at 09:28 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Applying a 'rust encapsulator' to item #2 would be an improvement and not add too much to cost & time. But, then, it wouldn't be a "Bubba fix". 
In reality, if it collected that much rust over 40+ years, it wouldn't collect that much more in the next few (especially if kept out of the rain).
In reality, if it collected that much rust over 40+ years, it wouldn't collect that much more in the next few (especially if kept out of the rain).
Last edited by 7T1vette; Jun 13, 2016 at 08:14 AM.