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New C3 owner, just now learning about the birdcage and the disaster that could be hiding in my car. What is the simplest initial inspection point? I don't want to get into tearing everything apart to take a look.
I would check closely around the windshield and see if there is rust visible from the outside while looking in. The windshield corners are notorious problem areas and when you start taking pieces off the dreaded rot will start to reveal itself. The birdcage, unless really bad, is fixable and the vendors sell parts for the repairs. I've done two birdcages and it is a major undertaking but if you have time and patience it really can be done by us amateurs. I got a used welder and ran with it. If you have to do repairs read up on the threads on the forum for the tricks on removing the moldings (be aware of hidden screws) and the windshield (it can be removed intact if you go slow and are careful). Good luck.
^ This above is true. Also a quick inspection would be to remove the interior kick panels and inspect the birdcage mounting bolt area. Another is to remove the rectangular plates in the rear wheel wells and inspect the mounting area behind there.
However, in my car, those areas were rust free, but my upper windshield frame was rusted and holed.
A bright light and post pics here!
as mentioned..kick panel body mounts. Under body rocker / frame area…where there is smoke there if fire theory..
around vin #..
not sure your year but i would use opportunity to remove windshield interior trim to clean paint if needed and inspect.
I'll throw a twist in here:
On my car, a previous owner swapped the original red interior for a (now tired) black one. Well, they must have rescued an otherwise black decent interior from a car with a completely rotted windshield, because when I took my windshield interior trim off, the windshield frame itself looks to be rust-free and in nice shape, but the metal support molded into the trim piece is rotted to nothing!
Why torture yourself and possibly ruin the new love in your life? Just drive it and enjoy what it is, a 50+ year old car that’s looking great for it’s age. It’s like asking a beautiful woman of the same age about how many lovers she’s had. The gory details would not improve your relationship with her OR your new Corvette.
Another trick which revealed my cars rot in the windshield frame was to take a piece of white paper, put it on the floor on both sides of interior and open and close the door a few times. If you see flakes, you have problems. In my case, my #2 and #3 body mounts were perfect, but on passenger side #2 there were a pile of flakes from above. Also washing the car would cause water to puddle on the floor. As you can see from the pics, I also had some rot down low in the windshield frame, but was able to get it from the inside. Had it all fixed and all good now.
Bill
Last edited by 69ttop502; Jan 17, 2023 at 07:48 AM.
Birdcage anxiety
