I started removing the interior molding in my 65' coupe and found that my upper windshield frame was very rusty and masked with fiberglass in an attempt to keep it together. Is this part of the birdcage repairable or replaceable? I do not believe that these parts have been reproduced at this point. Am I looking at a huge undertaking???
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Re: C2-Birdcage Question
Geroge, it is repairable, but is a large and difficult project. You may need a donor cage to make it possible. There have been posts on this before, but it is one of the most difficult repairs. Best of luck....Craig -
Re: C2-Birdcage Question
George-----
It's definitely a big job that's best left to someone with experience. If the rust and corrosion damage is confined to this area, then the repair may be practical. However, if it's a lot more extensive, that may be another matter. If it extends down both side windshield members into the pillar posts, then it's a MAJOR project. As far as I know, there are no reproduction pieces currently available for repair. One has to either fabricate repair sections or obtain solid pieces from a donor car.
I'd contact Caledonia Classic Cars in Belding, MI for more information. This is one of their specialties.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Addendum
George-----
I should also have added that this sort of birdcage problem is a lot more common than many folks might think. The real problem is that it's VERY difficult to detect during pre-purchase inspection. Owners can "patch it up", cover it up, and sell the car to an unsuspecting new owner. Or, in most cases, the seller might not even be aware of the problem.
These cars are OLD and the corrosion, once started, proceeds inexorably. It's a "chemical fact of life". In my personal opinion, extensive birdcage corrosion renders a Corvette "terminal". It's just not practical to repair this sort of damage IF it's extensive. At a minimum, it reduces the value of a Corvette so-afflicted to the value of its saleable parts. Usually, this is WAY below what owners think that their mid-year is worth.
I'll re-tell a story that I've told before for the benefit of those that might not have previously seen it. Quite a few years ago, I was looking at a 1965 coupe for which the owner was asking $16,000. After inspecting the car, I noted that the frame was SERIOUSLY corrosion-damaged. Worse yet, evidence of birdcage corrosion was apparent. This particular car happened to be white so the rust color "showed through" in certain areas since the corrosion was VERY advanced and pervasive. When the owner noted that I had noticed it, he immediately dropped his price to $13,000. I told him that if he offered to GIVE me the car, I'd have to think about it. I was 100% serious about that statement. You see, I'm not into dismantling cars or, heaven forbid, selling used parts thereof. Unfortunately, that's all that this sort of a car was good for.
The potential for bird-cage corrosion and the difficulty with assessing this condition in a Corvette is THE reason that I "dropped out" as a potential buyer of a mid year over 12 years ago. Since then, cars so afflicted have had 12 more years for the corrosion to proceed inexorably. In my opinion, the price of a mid-year car is FAR too high to take this sort of risk when purchasing one. And, as I mentioned, the problem is NOT RARE.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C2-Birdcage Question
George ... You may want to take a look at a product called POR-15. I used it to stop my old Mustang from disintegrating in front of my eyes. They have a web site ... amazing stuff. It might slow down the situation and give you some time. ... EdComment
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Re: C2-Birdcage Question
Has anyone looked into one of those 120v plug in corrosion stopping devices like the one installed on one of the hosts Street Rod on the tv show "Two Guys Garage"?Comment
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Surely you jest....it's Christmas not April 1 *NM*
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Re: C2-Birdcage Question
Frank-----
Actually, such a device should work. They operate on a principle similar to cathodic protection which is used in many industrial and utility applications. However, the problem is that while these devices will PREVENT corrosion from getting started and may slow it down considerably after it has started, they won't reverse damage already done. In most cases, with cars 30 to 50 years old, the damage of consequence is already done.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: C2-Birdcage Question
Hey Joe;
I'm just wondering if anyone had done the research and found one that works. Apparently there's a couple out there that are kinda fakes, as well as some that work. I'm just concerned about ongoing preservation. I do drive my car a lot and sometimes in the rain. It gets kinda humid inside the car till everything dries out and I worry.
By the way Joe, thanks for the return email about the shims. It helps a lot!
Best of the season to all.Comment
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Re: C2-Birdcage Question
of course its repairable , and yes it does require a degree of skill, and i am uncertain to assess the problem from a message board , but let the board members know the location and they will steer you to an excellent shop who has performed this work anjd it is not the first time , first time is always the worst, i believe if you spend the money and give the job to someone knowledgable , it will be easy.Comment
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Re: C2-Birdcage Question
Hi George,
I caught your question and the replies and agree with Joe Lucia. I spent 2 years studying the C2's with the intention of buying a '64. I never found one I thought was worth the money they get from people who don't do their homework. I'm currently looking for an '88 or '89 since I don't like the C3's at all.
While inspecting C2's, I used an illuminated industrial borescope (like the ones they stick up your butt to check for poloyps) and you can actually inspect the top of the hinge pillar, the bottom of the windshield frame, inside the lock pillar frame and even up into the roof side frames if you want to take the time. I borrowed the $9000 scope from my company over weekends (many thanks to Denison Hydraulics, Marysville, OH). Of the 5 or so canidates I scoped, after checking all the other things that are easier, I never found one that didn't have terminal cancer. The basic problem was (is) that the windshield-gasket-frame design of the C2's (C3's too, I think) was lousey. If GM had extended the fiberglass bond strips around the windshield frame to completely cover the steel frame so the windshield gasket seated against fiberglass instead of steel, I think most of the C2's would be in good shape today. They didn't and they aren't!
If you want to discuss this further give me a call at 740-666-1317, it's a long story.
Good luck,
TonyComment
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