birdcage rail replacement
Thread Starter
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
birdcage rail replacement
has anyone cut out the lower side rail of the birdcage - from the top of the lower front hinge all the way to 6inches up the rear riser - without delaminating the body , just cutting out the fiberglass where needed.
would like to hear how you did it before i get any further - have the glass cut away and the cage rail exposed - hopefully you might also have pictures - or perhaps i will be trailblazing - thanks
would like to hear how you did it before i get any further - have the glass cut away and the cage rail exposed - hopefully you might also have pictures - or perhaps i will be trailblazing - thanks
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,753
From: Charlotte NC
has anyone cut out the lower side rail of the birdcage - from the top of the lower front hinge all the way to 6inches up the rear riser - without delaminating the body , just cutting out the fiberglass where needed.
would like to hear how you did it before i get any further - have the glass cut away and the cage rail exposed - hopefully you might also have pictures - or perhaps i will be trailblazing - thanks
would like to hear how you did it before i get any further - have the glass cut away and the cage rail exposed - hopefully you might also have pictures - or perhaps i will be trailblazing - thanks
Cutting fiberglass and having to laminate it back...versus removing panels and bonding it back like it was designed is my only method of choice. If someone wanted be to hack up their Corvette to weld in a rail...to save them money...would cause me to hand the keys back to them and tell them that they can "Have at it".
Best of luck,
DUB
Drifting
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,968
Likes: 44
From: East TN
I cut out the body mount locations in the lower A and B pillars for both sides and installed 3 piece rocker channel inserts for each side. The front piece installs up into the A pillar, rear piece installs up into the B pillar, and the middle piece for the rocker channel. Clean up and weld it to the old existing steel.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
I sure don't miss those days!.. . but I would do it in an instance to save a Vette
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...el-mayhem.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...el-mayhem.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
That is how we did my 72. I have posted pictures although I can't find them, must have been to long ago. We cut the rocker piece out along the floor line and front, back. It lifted right off once cut. The rear door panel piece was cut about 10 inches up and also came right off. I can't remember the front. We actually made the cut with a fine blade on a sawzall. The parts went right back in place and we fiberglassed them in. You can't tell we were ever there.
I will look for the pictures.
I will look for the pictures.
Last edited by spf72; Feb 15, 2014 at 10:47 AM. Reason: Spell check mistakes
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
I probably should have not used "we" as all I did was write the check. The guy that did it builds show cars and this was just another day for him. I had brought him threads from this forum on how to cut them out from underneath and he looked at me like I had something wrong with my head. He then showed me what he had already done in less than an hour and assured me I wouldn't be able to tell once he was done. He was right.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,196
Likes: 47
From: Scarborough Maine Fredericksburg VA
Ok so I am getting old and forgot that we had the front end off at the time. Here are some pics of how it was done. In some of the pictures you can see the fiberglass rocker that was cut out and then re installed.
I have pictures of when it was done as well if those would help.
[
I have pictures of when it was done as well if those would help.
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