How to?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 189
Likes: 0
From: Dayton Ohio
How to?
Anyone ever tried to seperate the rear clip from the birdcage? Im working on a 69 coupe and need some advise on how to seperate the door jamb panel from the rear fenders so I can replace my birdcage. Anyone ever done this that can give some tips on how to do it without ruining the rear clip?
Thanks,
Thanks,
Pro
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 677
Likes: 5
From: Cary North Carolina
Try and contact 69myway he has done it to his 69 conv.
here is a link to his web site the 1969 page has pictures of the birdcage separated from the body.
http://www.mcspeed.com
here is a link to his web site the 1969 page has pictures of the birdcage separated from the body.
http://www.mcspeed.com
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
You are gonna need to either crack apart the fiberglass panels
at the seams or cut the panels and remove a piece.
Splitting at the seam means bonding it back together later.
Cutting means grinding and fiberglassing over the cut.
Both are lots of work for painted panels.
For starters, you can remove a relatively small panel in the
rear wheel well. This is the piece where the little access door
is for the #3 mount. You should be able to clearly see where
the seams are bonded (glued) together. Use some wood chisels
and putty knives to split the seams. This is good practice, and
if you decide to F-it, then bond it back in place and it will not
be that noticable. Once removed, this gives access to the
bottom half of the lock pillar. The door jamb 'glass is still up
against it, but it should help you decide what/how far to go
with the birdcage repairs.
Here's a pic ...
IMO - easier and fairly cheap to find a rear clip and swap fronts.
Did I say easier ... I meant less difficult.
at the seams or cut the panels and remove a piece.
Splitting at the seam means bonding it back together later.
Cutting means grinding and fiberglassing over the cut.
Both are lots of work for painted panels.
For starters, you can remove a relatively small panel in the
rear wheel well. This is the piece where the little access door
is for the #3 mount. You should be able to clearly see where
the seams are bonded (glued) together. Use some wood chisels
and putty knives to split the seams. This is good practice, and
if you decide to F-it, then bond it back in place and it will not
be that noticable. Once removed, this gives access to the
bottom half of the lock pillar. The door jamb 'glass is still up
against it, but it should help you decide what/how far to go
with the birdcage repairs.
Here's a pic ...
IMO - easier and fairly cheap to find a rear clip and swap fronts.
Did I say easier ... I meant less difficult.
Last edited by NHvette; Mar 16, 2005 at 05:27 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 229
Likes: 7
From: west point ga usa
69,
I removed and repaired my entire birdcage in my 74 coupe. This is how I did it. Remove front clip by using a heatgun and a putty knife. Removed the rivits holding firewall to the birdcage. Removed the door jam panels , rocker covers and a small cover that goes up the front door jamb. I also removed the fiberglass panels that close in the top of the birdcage ( where the back of the TTOP opening is ). There are rivits along the bottom of the steel panel behind the seats. There are a few other rivits that will be apparent when you try to remove the birdcage from the body you will need to deal with. When I had the birdcage free from the body I simply lifted it out with a hoist. I actually had to bend the body a little to get the clearance needed for removal and reinstallation. I had a hard time finding a rocker channel panel as I destroyed it during removal. If you are careful you will only need to replace the doorjamb panels. You can remove all the panels by use of a good heat gun and a little patience. I used the evercoat products to reattach everything back together with good results. It is a tough job but it can be done. Here is a pic right after reinstallation. You should see where most of the seams are. Good luck.
I removed and repaired my entire birdcage in my 74 coupe. This is how I did it. Remove front clip by using a heatgun and a putty knife. Removed the rivits holding firewall to the birdcage. Removed the door jam panels , rocker covers and a small cover that goes up the front door jamb. I also removed the fiberglass panels that close in the top of the birdcage ( where the back of the TTOP opening is ). There are rivits along the bottom of the steel panel behind the seats. There are a few other rivits that will be apparent when you try to remove the birdcage from the body you will need to deal with. When I had the birdcage free from the body I simply lifted it out with a hoist. I actually had to bend the body a little to get the clearance needed for removal and reinstallation. I had a hard time finding a rocker channel panel as I destroyed it during removal. If you are careful you will only need to replace the doorjamb panels. You can remove all the panels by use of a good heat gun and a little patience. I used the evercoat products to reattach everything back together with good results. It is a tough job but it can be done. Here is a pic right after reinstallation. You should see where most of the seams are. Good luck.
