What is the "birdcage"? - Forums - Official C3 Vette Registry

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Topic: What is the "birdcage"?

in Forum: C3 Body

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What is the "birdcage"? (1/8)
6/27/08 1:37pm

dsireme
Former Member
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South Milwaukee, WI - USA

Vette(s):
1978 L82 4spd coupe/3.73:1 Differential Ratio /Black with Yellow Pinstripes and Black Interior/AC/Tilt/AM FM Stereo/Pretty Much Stock

Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 503

Everyone keeps telling me to check the birdcage on the cars I look at but I am not sure what that exactly is to check it. I am assuming it is the frame around the windows and roof but I am not sure.

Can someone please tell me what it is.

Thanks

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What is the "birdcage"? (2/8)
6/27/08 4:26pm

crossfire1982
Former Member
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Cramerton, NC - USA

Vette(s):
black 1982 coupe slate gray interior, 350 crossfire, 1985 fuel pump, Steeroids R&P conversion

Joined: 8/22/2006
Posts: 1094

TJ, The birdcage is the entire metal frame that surrounds the passenger cabin of your vette. The bolts in the kick panels are at the front legs of the birdgcage where it meets the chassis. The rust you speak of is probably caused by water entering the windshield frame area, perhaps at the header (also part of the birdcage) and dripping downward, a very common problem with C-3s. You may want to pull the other kick panel and check for rust in that area also. You can pull the windshield pillar trim on the inside and check to see how much rust you have in there also. Another area prone to rust is the "kickup" area just forward of the rear wheels. There should be an access panel in the front of each rear wheel well secured by 4 small bolts. Removing these panels will reveal the inside cavity where more body mount bolts are located. Hope this helps and I'm sure others will chime in here as well.

Birdcage diagram 1

Birdcage diagram 2

Birdcage (convertable)

What you dont want to find

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What is the "birdcage"? (3/8)
6/27/08 5:10pm

ebo

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Holland Patent, NY - USA

Vette(s):
#1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker

Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4421

Chip, great job that helped me also! Thanks

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LIFETIME MEMBER 151

ebo

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What is the "birdcage"? (4/8)
6/27/08 6:06pm

Glad to be of help, thats what makes this place so great, all of us helping each other.

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What is the "birdcage"? (5/8)
6/27/08 7:37pm

Thank you for all the info. That last picture was pretty scarey. I will make sure that I don't buy someting that looks like that :)

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What is the "birdcage"? (6/8)
6/27/08 11:54pm

Aaron1976
Former Member
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Vancouver, WA - USA

Vette(s):
1976 Corvette Stingray L-48 Automatic Black

Joined: 11/17/2007
Posts: 830

Thanks for that info and the diagrams this also helps me know what to check on my Vette. Thumbs%20Up

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Aaron

CLICK HERE to enlarge picture

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What is the "birdcage"? (7/8)
6/28/08 10:16am

tuxblacray

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Greensburg, IN - USA

Vette(s):
Previous: 1984 Silver / Charcoal Coupe, 1988 Maroon Coupe / 1989 Artic White Coupe / 2001 Speedway White Roadster / Present:1976 Stingray Black / Black, Auto, 350 slightly modified (355 hp) Luxor Wires Redline Tires. / 1989 Roadster Bright Red...

Joined: 9/24/2003
Posts: 5188

Durn it.... an all this time ah thought it were somefin ya kept birdies in....

Now just funnin ya...

Excellent pics and description. This is a tuff area to detect the amount of damage since the moldings usually hide what's going on underneath.

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Tuxblacray: She's Back In Black! Check out my pics @ My Link

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What is the "birdcage"? (8/8)
6/28/08 10:58am

KDADDY79
Former Member
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Dutchess County, NY - USA

Vette(s):
White '79 Corvette. It's a driver.

Joined: 8/27/2007
Posts: 2484

With all this birdcage talk lately I couldn't help but take a look at how mine is holding up.

When I bought the car five years ago I looked at the lower portions, like where Crossfire 1982 described. That part was and still is in decent shape. However, I never looked around the windshield frame.

Today I was replacing the old looking Header Molding. (The orig. had a small crack near the center where it gets thinner.) Well, lo and behold, there is some surface rust there. Ouch

The metal seems to still have it's integrity, as when I replaced the screws they "bit" and didn't go soft.

I plan on removing all trim around the windshield frame. I'll use POR 15 on this area unless anyone has any other suggestions.

I don't drive it in the rain and always park it indoors. The P.O. had it indoors, too.

What would cause the surface rust on the windshield frame? Humidity?

Lem'me know.

KDADDY792008-06-28 12:34:27

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