Is this a huge problem?
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Is this a huge problem?
I hope this link works.
Just above my trim plate in the drivers door you can see that it looks like this has been blended in fiberglass from the factory. It had starting to separate approximately 1 mm or less.
I'm just wondering if this is a huge structural problem, or just something that I can strip down, blend again, and repair myself
I can't get pictures to upload matter what size I make them. I get error 500.
Just above my trim plate in the drivers door you can see that it looks like this has been blended in fiberglass from the factory. It had starting to separate approximately 1 mm or less.
I'm just wondering if this is a huge structural problem, or just something that I can strip down, blend again, and repair myself
I can't get pictures to upload matter what size I make them. I get error 500.
Just another Corvette guy
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Palm Springs, CA.
Are you located in one of the rust belt states? If so, you might want to dig a little deeper and see what's going on. If the car doesn't have any rust issues, to speak of, it could just be "one of those things". Clean it up,
re-do it, problem solved.
re-do it, problem solved.
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I'm not sure on the total vehicle history, but almost everything under the car was just minimal surface rust with the exception of the very bottom of the radiator support, which was fairly roached. The radiator had a small leak and I think it had been leaking a long time, judging from the green stains on the radiator.
Nothing else that I can find is beyond surface rust.
Nothing else that I can find is beyond surface rust.
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I crawled around the car and have taken the whole front steering and suspension apart. There appears to be no frame damage that I can see. Nor can I see any repairs to the frame.
I found an original key wired up under the grill on the driver side that looks like it is been there for 20+ years. I may be an idiot, but I really can't see any repairs or any modifications made anywhere in this cars frame or body. I would guess stayed in a garage most of it's life since the 80s. It has an old 80s paint job that small parts of the clear coat are starting to flake. Under that is just the original red. That part is my only real worry.
I just wondered if this was a common problem but there appears to be no rust down there when I stick a piece of paper or anything to see if I can rub up against something metal nothing comes back.
I found an original key wired up under the grill on the driver side that looks like it is been there for 20+ years. I may be an idiot, but I really can't see any repairs or any modifications made anywhere in this cars frame or body. I would guess stayed in a garage most of it's life since the 80s. It has an old 80s paint job that small parts of the clear coat are starting to flake. Under that is just the original red. That part is my only real worry.
I just wondered if this was a common problem but there appears to be no rust down there when I stick a piece of paper or anything to see if I can rub up against something metal nothing comes back.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
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From: perth western australia
Its literally just a trim piece , to remove it takes drilling out a few pop rivets at the top and sides , BUT getting the bottom end off is ,somewhat tedious and requires a heat gun and patience and basically ruining the paint in that area.
But yes what is causing it to come away . I have a parts car here that looked really really nice in that area but under that same trim was heavy rust , not a sign of it showed through the paint as well.
After re-reading the OP post I should mention that the top wasn't glued at all , just some white sealer ,not adhesive ,which was used to blend the trim in , very possible that it is just that stuff which has just shrunk over the years .
Last edited by bazza77; Mar 6, 2018 at 12:30 AM. Reason: top was just sealed not glued
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: perth western australia
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Deerfield Illinois
2022 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Did you remove the front kick panels under the dash, left and right sides and look into the #2 body mount locations. Curious to see that area. If you find big chunks of metal they have fallen from the top of the birdcage. Shine a light and use an inspection mirror to look up, or use your cell phone to take a picture.
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi mtl,
Here's a couple of photos of the hinge pillar on the right side with the paint removed.
You can see the configuration of the steel hinge pillar, the fiberglass panel that b77 pictured, and the 'filler' material that was originally applied in that area.
Perhaps these will help you understand what you're seeing on your car.
Regards,
Alan
Here's a couple of photos of the hinge pillar on the right side with the paint removed.
You can see the configuration of the steel hinge pillar, the fiberglass panel that b77 pictured, and the 'filler' material that was originally applied in that area.
Perhaps these will help you understand what you're seeing on your car.
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2015
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From: SW Florida.
So it looks like you could remove the door, drill out the four pop rivets and pull the trim piece back away from the body to see what is behind it. Be it rust or good metal. And take a heat gun clean old seam sealer off the top of that trim piece and re-rivet it
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
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From: perth western australia
this is what's under the trim , trim sits down on top of the sill cover and there's usually glue everywhere (well on the 2 cars I have done )at the bottom .I think they use extra and smooth it over to get the nice smooth curve .
I certainly wouldn't rush in and take the door off just yet , a camera from the bottom (mount area ) should see the back of the area in question
Last edited by bazza77; Mar 6, 2018 at 08:16 AM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,176
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From: perth western australia
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2006
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From: BC
Where the panel has come away from the birdcage is it just loose and you can push it back into place or is there something behind there (rust) that swelled and popped it away or holding it away from the body? I think removing the door and then the kick panel inside for a closer look around the body mount is the best start.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
Why not just drill out that upper pop-rivet, then re-install a new rivet to see if that pulls it back together. Either it will...good-to-go; or it won't...because the panel behind it is rusted through.
Either way, you will find out the extent of the problem with little invested time.
Hope it tightens back up....
Either way, you will find out the extent of the problem with little invested time.
Hope it tightens back up....