windshield and pillar rust repair on 79

[Yves]

I have a question about my 79 shark : both the windshield lower corner and the bottom of the door pillar (where the body mount sits on/the metal insert that is there) have rust that needs to be fixed.

For the windshield corner, i've read something about removing the top part of the surround panel...seems a little heavy to me. What's your opinion. What is the best way, or should I leave it...

Are there any replacements out there for these parts ?

Thanks for any input.

Yves

[Joe L.]

Re: windshield and pillar rust repair on 79

Yves-----

I can tell you this: there are currently no reproduction parts for the pieces which you need. For C3 Corvettes, the upper windshield frame member, the upper corners and the side SECTIONS of the pillar posts are available in reproduction. The lower windshield member, lower corners, and complete pillar posts are not currently available in reproduction as far as I know. Used, serviceable original parts may be around, though.

[Richard F.]

Re: windshield and pillar rust repair on 79

Yves
Joe is absolutely correct regarding the repro parts. I have just been down this road with my '78. That said I will tell you that if you ask long enough you may get lucky and come up with NOS parts for the lower members, corners and posts... I hit the jackpot after over a year of searching and found them, they even have the original GM plastic wrap and part# stickers. This is not a "fun" job but sometimes yah just gotta do what yah gotta do. Right now I'm trying to find a NOS/#s generator for my '59. There's gotta be one out there somewhere.

[Jim T.]

Re: windshield and pillar rust repair on 79

Yves replacing the windshield lower corner is a job if you replace the complete piece of metal that makes up this piece. This was a double wall piece when it could be purchased over the GM parts counter. If you are going go under the top of the surround panel to repair it you might be able to remove only the top layer. The bottom layer can be viewed from inside your car. You would have to find a talented person in metal shaping to make a piece to replace the rusted metal and weld it in place if you cannot obtain the part. To remove the complete piece would really be a job. If you do this I would be interested in finding out when you remove the fiberglass support that is between the upper surround panel, and the base of the lower corner of the windshield, if there is a cut hole in the metal. If there is, this is a source of water leakage on your floor mats. I have done this repair and was surprised to find the hole in my 70. It was also in the replacement part I bought from GM back in 86. I closed this hole on installation.