Birdcage Rot
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette LA
Birdcage Rot [pics added!]
Well I finally got into the windshield frame on my '74 coupe. Trim off,
windshield out. One little hole top driver's side where the trim fits
between the door and the frame. Two eraser sized holes in the section
under the trim tag
... I'm sure to fix this stuff *right* it will need
to be cut out and replaced. Anyone care to venture a wild guess as
to the $'s I will have to lay out if someone else does it? (assuming I can
even find such a person) Thanks! heh -- just used that "search" thingy
and it looks like $4-5K IF I can find someone to work on it. Also the
roof support has some small rust throughs (or close to through) on the
rear most portion.
***EDIT***
See Images Below!
windshield out. One little hole top driver's side where the trim fits
between the door and the frame. Two eraser sized holes in the section
under the trim tag
... I'm sure to fix this stuff *right* it will needto be cut out and replaced. Anyone care to venture a wild guess as
to the $'s I will have to lay out if someone else does it? (assuming I can
even find such a person) Thanks! heh -- just used that "search" thingy
and it looks like $4-5K IF I can find someone to work on it. Also the
roof support has some small rust throughs (or close to through) on the
rear most portion.
***EDIT***
See Images Below!
Last edited by dfseidel; May 13, 2005 at 11:37 AM.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 416
Likes: 11
From: Merrick NY
My 70 coupe has rot on the top rail, am hoping to just replace that piece. Here's an option:
http://motors.search.ebay.com/corvet...Z2QQsamcmZ6000
Am curious if anyone has a link for an nos/aftermarket type option...
http://motors.search.ebay.com/corvet...Z2QQsamcmZ6000
Am curious if anyone has a link for an nos/aftermarket type option...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Originally Posted by Big Fish
Better check out the rocker channels as well
I think you could find someone to fix up the W/S frame area for
$1000 or so. $4-5k is way high. You can get an entire body for under $2k.
Pull the kick panels and #3 body mount access panels to make sure
the rocker channels are OK. If these are good, chances are the frame is mostly OK, too.
Good luck
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette LA
Body mount areas seem okay -- mostly loose rust on TOP of them --
particularly the #2 mounts... looking at the rocker channels around
the frame, they seem alright. The frame itself, while having pretty
heavy surface rust none of it sounds rotten when hit with a hammer.
--- Now to decide if I wanna cut my losses here or really get myself
sunk into this project
particularly the #2 mounts... looking at the rocker channels around
the frame, they seem alright. The frame itself, while having pretty
heavy surface rust none of it sounds rotten when hit with a hammer.
--- Now to decide if I wanna cut my losses here or really get myself
sunk into this project
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 65,492
Likes: 230
From: Orange Park Florida
FRom the sound of it, what I would do is get it sand blasted, then go from there, I think it may be ok, as long as you paint hell out of it, and when windshield is installed BEFORE the trim is put in place,,....orient the clips and fill the entire area to overflowing with black RTV sealant.....
may want to also do a good coating under that stainless top trim....bed it all down waterproof....load it up.....
load up the areas around the fender/windshild also, I did mine over ten years ago, drive it in all kinds of weather here in Florida....and....not one damn drop of leaking, kickpanels still dry....and mine is a convertible....
but you gotta stop the leaking, sandblasting gets it down to bare metal, from there paint/primer, then RTV kills any chance the water damage....
GENE
may want to also do a good coating under that stainless top trim....bed it all down waterproof....load it up.....
load up the areas around the fender/windshild also, I did mine over ten years ago, drive it in all kinds of weather here in Florida....and....not one damn drop of leaking, kickpanels still dry....and mine is a convertible....
but you gotta stop the leaking, sandblasting gets it down to bare metal, from there paint/primer, then RTV kills any chance the water damage....
GENE
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 763
Likes: 42
From: Detroit MI
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Originally Posted by dfseidel
Body mount areas seem okay -- mostly loose rust on TOP of them --
particularly the #2 mounts... looking at the rocker channels around
the frame, they seem alright. The frame itself, while having pretty
heavy surface rust none of it sounds rotten when hit with a hammer.
--- Now to decide if I wanna cut my losses here or really get myself
sunk into this project
particularly the #2 mounts... looking at the rocker channels around
the frame, they seem alright. The frame itself, while having pretty
heavy surface rust none of it sounds rotten when hit with a hammer.
--- Now to decide if I wanna cut my losses here or really get myself
sunk into this project
However, after I wire-wheeled the rocker channels, I found that they were actually in very good shape. I have one side done and painted and it looks great.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Lafayette LA
here are some pics!
Passenger top windshield frame... not too bad.
Door jam portion of windshield frame on drivers side.
Though the top of the same doesn't look too bad -- there is a
pinhole in the upper coner where the window sits.
Here is where I started to peal back the little panel cover on the
drivers side....
And the rust under it 
Passenger top windshield frame... not too bad.
Door jam portion of windshield frame on drivers side.
Though the top of the same doesn't look too bad -- there is a
pinhole in the upper coner where the window sits.
Here is where I started to peal back the little panel cover on the
drivers side....
And the rust under it
Last edited by dfseidel; May 13, 2005 at 11:10 AM.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: cincinnati oh
dfseidel,
I have a complete cowl section from the lower winshield down to the #2 body mounts that I want to get rid of. I hate to throw it away because both sides are in great shape, but it takes up so much room. The lower w/s areas are shot, but at least you could have good body mount areas. Let me know if you want them or some pics.
I have a complete cowl section from the lower winshield down to the #2 body mounts that I want to get rid of. I hate to throw it away because both sides are in great shape, but it takes up so much room. The lower w/s areas are shot, but at least you could have good body mount areas. Let me know if you want them or some pics.
Cruising
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 12
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by NHvette
Yeah - and the frame before dishing out any bux.
I think you could find someone to fix up the W/S frame area for
$1000 or so. $4-5k is way high. You can get an entire body for under $2k.
Pull the kick panels and #3 body mount access panels to make sure
the rocker channels are OK. If these are good, chances are the frame is mostly OK, too.
Good luck
I think you could find someone to fix up the W/S frame area for
$1000 or so. $4-5k is way high. You can get an entire body for under $2k.
Pull the kick panels and #3 body mount access panels to make sure
the rocker channels are OK. If these are good, chances are the frame is mostly OK, too.
Good luck
Hey, I pulled the kick panels on mine and the visible area is kinda surfaced but all there. Where is the '#3' panel? Is it that skinny one that's behind the seat?
I pulled that, and other than the floorpan holes (which I already knew about), the visible area looks good on mine. Also felt between the frame and rocker, and couldn't feel any scale in there. Frame appears to be 100%.
All this, and floors and radiator support are toast. Weird!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,287
Likes: 7
From: n/a SC
can someone explain in detail where the panels are I would need to remove to make sure my dads 68 is ok we took the panels off where the speakers are and looked around.....also took the door sills off and I think thats what your calling "rocker panels" right?
anything else to check besides the fram overall?
anything else to check besides the fram overall?
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 4,269
Likes: 3
From: St. Charles IL
Cruise-In 5-6-7-8-9-11-12 Veteran
A CI-6 Car Show Winner
Originally Posted by wildman378
can someone explain in detail where the panels are I would need to remove to make sure my dads 68 is ok we took the panels off where the speakers are and looked around.....also took the door sills off and I think thats what your calling "rocker panels" right?
anything else to check besides the fram overall?
anything else to check besides the fram overall?
http://home.earthlink.net/~steverieb.../channels.jpeg
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
Paul, was that your 79 ?!?!
Originally Posted by paul67
I don't know the cost of that repair but you have caught it at a good time. Corrosion can progress to this state if not tended to.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 98
From: Ontario
No, the birdcage on my 1979 is pristine. That pic was posted by a Forum member about two years ago. If I remember correctly he purchased a fixer-upper for a "good" price and found a few surprises when he removed the windshield trim. This has been said ad naseum but you have to be careful when you buy these cars!