hoping for any advise on windshield frame rust repair. I have a 71 coupe and after removing the interior moldings I found that the upper corners of the frame were rusted completely through. Please help, thank you
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Re: windshield frame rust/71 coupe
David----
Sorry to hear of your plight; it's an all-too-common problem, I'm afraid. The GM parts to repair your windshield frame have been discontinued for quite some time. Also, performing this repair requires someone with skill and experience if the repair is going to turn out to be satisfactory. Caledonia Classic Cars located in Belding, MI remanufactures many of the components required to repair your windshield frame rust damage. They are also skilled in performing repairs, although they may not be convenient from where you live. If I were you, I would call them at 616-794-5026.In Appreciation of John Hinckley -
Re: windshield frame rust/71 coupe
David, I feel your pain. My 71 also has rust in the windshield frame, though thankfully it appears to be confined to the welded joints between the header bar and the upper corners. As far as repair goes, I believe that you may be better off getting a used frame to piece together yours. The only repro parts I have seen are the upper corners and the header bar, and you may need more than that to make the repair properly. In light of the cost of the repro parts, this would be my personal choice.
Also, there is a book on Corvette restoration by Lindsay Porter (sorry, I cannot remember the exact title) which details these repairs on a 69 BB convert. There is a red C4 and a blue 67 on the cover, should you decide to seek it out.
I have also provided a link with some more details on this.
Best of luck with your 71!
-Nick 71 LS5Comment
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Re: windshield frame rust/71 coupe
My apologies, the link seems to have gotten lost somewhere. Here's where it's at:
Corvette Windshield Rust RepairComment
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Re: Could be even worse news....
My '71 SB convertible had similar problems. Was going to do a frame off anyway so what the heck...
Well, the 'heck' is it was MUCH WORSE than anyone suspected! Prior windshield replacements had been done improperly. Glass/gasket not sealed to windshield frame portion of birdcage. Water had hit the glass over the years, gone to the upper edges, found a path into the birdcage, dripped down the front birdcage uprights and 'pooled' on lower birdcage rails.
When we pulled the body, 'puff' birdcage turned to dust in n-tuple places and began to fold tip-to-tail!!! We went to set 'er back down but heard 'phist/clank'. The RH frame rail disintegrated into three pieces and hit the floor!!!
Water, once the lower birdcage had rusted through continued to pool on top of the frame and ate 'er through from the top! No big deal, this is Colorado and clean donor frames for old Michigan cars are plentiful.
But, try finding someone with the talent and savvy to cut out rusted pieces of the bird cage (clean donor center clips also available out this way) and weld in new/fresh ones, maintaining structural integrity and geometry WITHOUT melting the original body fiberglass now bolted riveted and bonded to the birdcage!!!!
It was a labor of love that added a solid year to what started out to be a 'quickie' restoration, but the job got done....
So, my advice to you is this:
(1) If you've pulled the glass/reveal molding and can see visible
and objectionable rust at the birdcage's upper, ask yourself where
the water went?
(2) Now go strip the lower kick panels and take a real good look at
where the birdcage uprights meet the birdcage lower rails. Hopefully
you'll see nice rust free steel with a uniform protective coating
of green zinc chromate. If you see rust, it's time to assess the
damage and plot a recovery contingency plan.
(3) Not a bad idea if you find damage in #2 to cut the body mount
bolts and assess the top of the frame rails....
Don't want to rain on anyone's parade, but it'd be a pity to put $$$ into a job and miss key problem areas along the way.....Comment
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Re: jack, joe and nick/71 wind/rust
Thank you all very much for your informative and QUICK responses to my Plight!! I really can't tell you how much I Truly appreciate your help. I will be looking for a used frame and will keep you posted on my progress. This is the car of many of my dreams and I was really Bummed when the rust dropped on my lap!!!!! Thanks again for making my day!! There was hope after all!!!!
p.s. I lucked out there was no rot on the lower posts, just droppings from above! thanks, DavidComment
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