C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

c3 bird cage

Old 07-15-2009, 10:56 AM
  #1  
FASTFISHEL
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
FASTFISHEL's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Mooresville In
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default c3 bird cage

Anyone know best way to replace birdcage on a c3. Everything that I have saw requires massive fiberglass repairs! Please tell me there is an easier way out there!! Also anyone know if you can buy a replacement cage?
Old 07-15-2009, 11:06 AM
  #2  
...Roger...
Race Director
 
...Roger...'s Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2006
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 0
Received 37 Likes on 32 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by FASTFISHEL
Anyone know best way to replace birdcage on a c3. Everything that I have saw requires massive fiberglass repairs! Please tell me there is an easier way out there!! Also anyone know if you can buy a replacement cage?
What year are you working on ?
Old 07-15-2009, 11:21 AM
  #3  
bashcraft
Le Mans Master
 
bashcraft's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2006
Location: Butler Pa
Posts: 6,391
Received 109 Likes on 83 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by DWncchs
What year are you working on ?
Profile says 75.
Old 07-15-2009, 11:28 AM
  #4  
white80driver
Heel & Toe
 
white80driver's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2009
Location: Cincinnati OH
Posts: 19
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default How Much Needs Replacing?

Can you tell us how much of the birdcage needs replacing? On my last project I replaced the entire window frame from the top door hinge up with a good frame from a doner wreck. I have some photos I can PM you if you are interested. The doner car was a coupe but only a slight mod was needed to make it work. I didn't have to cut one piece of fiberglass and you couldn't tell it wasn't the origional frame.
Old 07-15-2009, 11:28 AM
  #5  
69Myway
Burning Brakes
 
69Myway's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2001
Location: Clinton IL
Posts: 1,038
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts

Default

Been there - done that x3.

In one case I pulled the original and was able to weld in replacement parts.

The other two we obtained donor cages, had them powder coated then installed.

No easy way around this.

http://mcspeed.homestead.com/Vacation.html

Last edited by 69Myway; 07-15-2009 at 11:43 AM.
Old 07-15-2009, 11:38 AM
  #6  
08vycpe
Burning Brakes
 
08vycpe's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2008
Location: Michigan
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

You can buy bird cage pieces from Zip and from others as well. I saw a source for complete bird cages (new) for sale but I can't find the link.

http://www.zip-corvette.com/Zip/dept.asp?dept_id=2184
Old 07-15-2009, 11:47 AM
  #7  
joewill
Safety Car
 
joewill's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: Indy Indiana
Posts: 4,211
Received 258 Likes on 206 Posts

Default

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Corve...Q5fAccessories

they show up every once in a while on EBAY.. you can buy some parts at the corvette parts houses.. call them up and ask...

do lots of research here on this forum and you will just about learn all you need..
Old 07-15-2009, 12:30 PM
  #8  
...Roger...
Race Director
 
...Roger...'s Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2006
Location: Dayton, Ohio
Posts: 16,528
Likes: 0
Received 37 Likes on 32 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by bashcraft
Profile says 75.
Unless its a 4 speed or has lots of sentimental value I would consider another car.
Old 07-15-2009, 04:04 PM
  #9  
Milner
7th Gear
 
Milner's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2008
Location: Winnipeg Manitoba
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Is there any place that sells replacement rocker channels for these cars or is it all just inserts?

Brian
Old 07-16-2009, 04:34 PM
  #10  
Belgian1979vette
Melting Slicks
 
Belgian1979vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2002
Location: Beringen
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts

Default

did it, been there.And as said before, no easy way around it.
Old 09-08-2009, 07:21 PM
  #11  
FASTFISHEL
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
FASTFISHEL's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Mooresville In
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default 75 birdcage

No it is not a 4 speed. It is a customer car and he is set on spending the money. I have another shop looking at doing the glass work but it sounds like they DO NOT know what they are doing! Anyone send me a link or a pic of where the fiberglass has to be separated to replace most if not all cage?
Old 09-08-2009, 09:06 PM
  #12  
markids77
Melting Slicks
 
markids77's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jun 2009
Location: Savannah GA
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Default

Please do not take offense here but if you are the shop which has the "customer car" and are unsure how to proceed, consider subbing this part of the rebuild out to a specialist. Doing so will not require the learning curve you are starting by asking here, and have the benefit of limiting your liability and possibly losing your butt (timewise) since I assume said customer wishes a quote before proceeding? This is a large undertaking, and I for one would not accept a paying customer's car as my first transplant.....
Old 09-08-2009, 10:30 PM
  #13  
hwcoop
Melting Slicks
 
hwcoop's Avatar
 
Member Since: Apr 2006
Location: Airdrie Alberta
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 0
Received 11 Likes on 10 Posts

Default

customer could probably buy a nice C6 for what its going to cost him having a shop replace a birdcage.
Old 09-08-2009, 11:36 PM
  #14  
Stephen87
Advanced
 
Stephen87's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2009
Location: Mission Tx
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

sorry for the ignorance but what is the birdcage
Old 09-08-2009, 11:49 PM
  #15  
SIXFOOTER
Le Mans Master
Support Corvetteforum!
 
SIXFOOTER's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2006
Location: Boca Raton Florida
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 0
Received 24 Likes on 23 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Stephen87
sorry for the ignorance but what is the birdcage
Thats the internal metal frame for the body: Door frames, windshield frame, firewall, floor pan sections.
Old 09-08-2009, 11:57 PM
  #16  
Stephen87
Advanced
 
Stephen87's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2009
Location: Mission Tx
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by SIXFOOTER
Thats the internal metal frame for the body: Door frames, windshield frame, firewall, floor pan sections.
ahh...I see said the blind man to his deaf wife while peeing into the wind, its all coming back to me now
Old 09-09-2009, 12:24 AM
  #17  
FASTFISHEL
Intermediate
Thread Starter
 
FASTFISHEL's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2009
Location: Mooresville In
Posts: 32
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default birdcage

I have informed this customer of the expense of this build in comparison to buying a newer or at least more valuable older vette. He wants this car built and business is to slow to turn down the job. I am more than capable of doing the job with little direction. Yes first vette but I am not worried about time, doing alot of mods LS1, coil over all round, only original piece of car will be body.

Get notified of new replies

To c3 bird cage

Old 09-09-2009, 07:58 AM
  #18  
joewill
Safety Car
 
joewill's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2007
Location: Indy Indiana
Posts: 4,211
Received 258 Likes on 206 Posts

Default

a couple hundred hours of work at a shop rate of 50/hour..... 10,000$.. anyone who pays a shop to do it is probably nuts....
Old 09-09-2009, 09:44 AM
  #19  
mysixtynine
Burning Brakes
 
mysixtynine's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2008
Location: Middlesex NJ
Posts: 971
Received 42 Likes on 30 Posts

Default

Try vetteproducts.net they probably make most of the steel replacement parts out there right down to entire frames
Old 09-09-2009, 10:35 AM
  #20  
Mike Ward
Race Director
 
Mike Ward's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 0
Received 29 Likes on 27 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by joewill
a couple hundred hours of work at a shop rate of 50/hour..... 10,000$.. anyone who pays a shop to do it is probably nuts....
Those numbers are about right, makes very little sense to invest this much in most C3s, but...............

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: c3 bird cage



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 01:58 AM.