birdcage transplant
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
birdcage transplant
This is meant for Mark L. Warner, since your pm box is full, here is the answer to your questions :
No problem : of course i will try to help you out as much as possible.
To answer your questions :
- you can remove the front clip in one piece without any problem; in fact it is by far the easiest thing to get off the body.
- this is a link regarding removal of the body from the birdcage (my car). Might be that you need to become a member to view the thread : http://www.vettemod.com/forum/showth...age+transplant
A lot is involved to remove the body from the birdcage. If you have any questions after reading the link than contact me again.
- i strongly suggest you remove the firewall to repair any rust. Most rust is found on the lower windshield corner and this part is partly hidden under the firewall. If you do not remove the fiberglass surrounding the pillar parts you could set the car on fire while welding.
Whether you want to do a birdcage transplant depends intirely on the condition of your birdcage and even the availability of parts. If the cage is damaged badly by rust enough to warrant extensive repairs then a transplant maybe the best route to go. If a repair is done this way, it would mean that you put the body back together like it was assembled at the factory. If you spent enough time, you can even make the bonds look intirely original.
Before you engage on this adventure make sure that you are very determined to go to the end, otherwise you will be left with a worthless car. If you decide to do it, you can make your car essentially completly rustfree and it will outlive even you.
Yves
Originally Posted by Mark L. Warner
Hello - I have seen your posts in many birdcage threads and saw that you transplanted your birdcage. I am doing a body-off restoration on my '69 and have a completely restored chassis ready to go. I can see places on my windshield frame where por 15 was used and stopped the rust, but there are some holes. Also, I see fairly significant rust at the base of the birdcage in several spots. My front clip is not bonded on the passenger side top by windshield but is a replacement part as this car was obviously hit. I have a few questions if you don't mind:
- can I remove the front clip in one piece
- how do you separate the body from the birdcage and what is involved in transplanting it?
- does the front firewall have to be removed to assess rust damage at the front of the birdcage?
Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Mark
- can I remove the front clip in one piece
- how do you separate the body from the birdcage and what is involved in transplanting it?
- does the front firewall have to be removed to assess rust damage at the front of the birdcage?
Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Mark
To answer your questions :
- you can remove the front clip in one piece without any problem; in fact it is by far the easiest thing to get off the body.
- this is a link regarding removal of the body from the birdcage (my car). Might be that you need to become a member to view the thread : http://www.vettemod.com/forum/showth...age+transplant
A lot is involved to remove the body from the birdcage. If you have any questions after reading the link than contact me again.
- i strongly suggest you remove the firewall to repair any rust. Most rust is found on the lower windshield corner and this part is partly hidden under the firewall. If you do not remove the fiberglass surrounding the pillar parts you could set the car on fire while welding.
Whether you want to do a birdcage transplant depends intirely on the condition of your birdcage and even the availability of parts. If the cage is damaged badly by rust enough to warrant extensive repairs then a transplant maybe the best route to go. If a repair is done this way, it would mean that you put the body back together like it was assembled at the factory. If you spent enough time, you can even make the bonds look intirely original.
Before you engage on this adventure make sure that you are very determined to go to the end, otherwise you will be left with a worthless car. If you decide to do it, you can make your car essentially completly rustfree and it will outlive even you.
Yves
Racer
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 353
Likes: 0
From: Tuscaloosa AL
Merci beaucoup, Yves.
I am very impressed with your work. I want to do this right and am not afraid of the work (I just completed building a Factory Five Cobra kit car which took 2 1/2 years. Of course, that was all new parts and it was all build-up and no tear down!). At the same time, I don't want to tear apart more than I need to. I will certainly plan on taking off the front clip and possibly the firewall to do a better assessment. I do know that the rear pillar posts of the birdcage at the bottom behind the doors both have some rot that need repair, but it is only about 3/4 of an inch and the rest looks good so far. I will have to look in a bit more depth to make a final determination. I will keep you posted and appreciate your offerings to help.
Also, I have cleaned up my PM box so that shoud work now.
Merci, encore. Mark
I am very impressed with your work. I want to do this right and am not afraid of the work (I just completed building a Factory Five Cobra kit car which took 2 1/2 years. Of course, that was all new parts and it was all build-up and no tear down!). At the same time, I don't want to tear apart more than I need to. I will certainly plan on taking off the front clip and possibly the firewall to do a better assessment. I do know that the rear pillar posts of the birdcage at the bottom behind the doors both have some rot that need repair, but it is only about 3/4 of an inch and the rest looks good so far. I will have to look in a bit more depth to make a final determination. I will keep you posted and appreciate your offerings to help.
Also, I have cleaned up my PM box so that shoud work now.
Merci, encore. Mark
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
remove the fire wall, you will then know how much work is involved !
and you will know how bad the cancer is, ....
from there base your desicion to repair or replace the birdcage.
69VETT
and you will know how bad the cancer is, ....
from there base your desicion to repair or replace the birdcage.
69VETT
