body mounts rusted out
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Joined: Oct 2005
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body mounts rusted out
Serious problems today.. doing a lot of body work on my 75 stingray, and it turns out that the front body mounts (behind the fenders and the door) and the mounts in the rear wheel wells are real rusted out. I dont have any pics, but I gotta say that it looks pretty bad. It's not the brackets, its the upper part that's molded into the fiberglass. Is this repairable? Do I need to do a body-off restoration?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
I think what you are saying is the #3 body mount is pushed thru the bird cage. I live in salt country and lots of sharks I look at have this problem. The rubber cushion was only about 1/4" larger than the hole in the bird cage. With the body off and if this is the only area that is rusted out it is a pretty easy fix with the right tools. You may find many more problems once the body is off. You may just open a keg of worms and that is the way many vettes are sold. The owner has no time for a lot of work no tools for the job amd loses intrest fast.
Lyle
Lyle
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,364
Likes: 303
From: Lansdale 19446 PA
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
St. Jude Donor '10-'11, '15, '19
Originally Posted by rkrattli
Serious problems today.. doing a lot of body work on my 75 stingray, and it turns out that the front body mounts (behind the fenders and the door) and the mounts in the rear wheel wells are real rusted out. I dont have any pics, but I gotta say that it looks pretty bad. It's not the brackets, its the upper part that's molded into the fiberglass. Is this repairable? Do I need to do a body-off restoration?
Here is the #4 bracket from Paragon:
http://www.corvette-paragon.com/cata...7-8CDCEE93CA5D
Here is the #1 Bracket
http://www.corvette-paragon.com/cata...8-D522308D21AD
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
If you are talking about the #3 mount, it probably will be a body-off fix because you're rocker channels are toast, but the #4 isn't that bad to do with the body on. here's what mine looked like a few months ago and what it looks like now.
before:
after:
You will have to lift the rear of the body off the frame a few inches, but iit's way less work than pulling the whole thing. I got my replacement reinforcements from zip and they still needed a little fitting to get right. Mine #1's were ok, but they look pretty easy to get to as well. Be careful though, once you start pulling things off the frame, you might get tempted to keep going and spend way more time/money than you intended.
before:
after:
You will have to lift the rear of the body off the frame a few inches, but iit's way less work than pulling the whole thing. I got my replacement reinforcements from zip and they still needed a little fitting to get right. Mine #1's were ok, but they look pretty easy to get to as well. Be careful though, once you start pulling things off the frame, you might get tempted to keep going and spend way more time/money than you intended.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
Originally Posted by Edzred72
I remember when you started this repair...Very nice work Chris
Stainless screws is the way to go!!! Take a Bow 
and a beer.
Eddie
Stainless screws is the way to go!!! Take a Bow and a beer.Eddie
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 33
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From: Windsor ON
Originally Posted by chris73cpe
here's what mine looked like a few months ago and what it looks like now.
Nice work Chris.
Since the original brackets are riveted on what did you screw into? The fiberglass or is there some sort of backer plate.
Also, what did you use on your frame? It looks great.
Tom
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Leander TX
Had to do the same thing on my 75. The rivets just hold the #4 mounts in place. I used pop rivets with backing plates. Remember to use fiberglass filler when setting the #4s as well. Check out my vette photos next to my avatar.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Originally Posted by tomzss
Nice work Chris.
Since the original brackets are riveted on what did you screw into?
Tom
Since the original brackets are riveted on what did you screw into?
Tom
Eddie
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Originally Posted by joews
My # 4 mount is rotted out on my 76 and I need to replace also. What if any problem would I have if I drive this summer and do the job next winter.
Eddie
Last edited by Edzred72; May 24, 2006 at 08:49 PM.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 627
Likes: 1
From: Naperville IL
ss machine screws with a washer and nylock nut on the inside, 3/4" works for most, but some needed 1" to get started. I just used polyurathane construction adhesive for a filler, fiberglass filler should work too but you won't get as much time to mess with it. I did have to do some minor fiberglass repair on one side from the reinfrocement being so far gone, something to keep in mind if you're thinking about driving on a bad mount. The thing that really scared me when I pulled the old mounts off was the condition of the frame side mount, it was just about rusted away to nothing, and the rest of my frame is actually in pretty good shape.
frame is just painted with semi-gloss rustoleum, came out really nice but now I have to tear the front apart to finish painting it... next year
frame is just painted with semi-gloss rustoleum, came out really nice but now I have to tear the front apart to finish painting it... next year
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,681
Likes: 200
From: Waterford Mi
I had to fix them all. Body-off project
Check the frame as well. Most of the time the brackets are rusted out too.
Check the frame as well. Most of the time the brackets are rusted out too.
