1963-1967 Corvette Birdcage Rust Repair and Assembly from Scratch

Welcome to my KZbin channel. This channel is the home for all your vintage Mid-Year Corvette content. In todays episode I fix rust damage to a 1963 Corvette birdcage. In a prior video I cut the cage apart. This video covers many days of work to repair the rust and assemble the cage with a jig I made in another video. This project came out great!! In a follow up video I will go over the frame repairs that I made. Now the car is going back home for the rest of it's transformation. It was a pleasure to work on this project and help save another Corvette!!
Note: I only did the frame and birdcage repair work. The current owner stripped the cage down to do the repairs. He did not neglect the car in any way. The introduction of the video is purely for entertainment value.
I just finished restoring a 1963 Corvette Split Window and I am starting another split window build but this time its a race car build. I will be making videos twice a month on the car so please like and subscribe. I will be making videos on my 1963 Corvette Split Window, my dad's 1965 Corvette, my race car split window build, my friends 1960 Corvette, and other projects that I find along the way. Let me know what you think about the video. Enjoy!!
If you are interested in an official MYM hat or if you have any questions please send me an email to [e-mail].
Sit back and enjoy the show!

[@johnharris7353]

Man, I luv people who fix things! You are the man!

[@MidYearMitch]

I appreciate that!!! I like bringing old cars and parts back to life.

[@donaldlong9259]

Love what you're doing!

[@robdedgar]

I wish I could love this video…I also wish I could perform this same task as well as you lol

[@MidYearMitch]

Haha thanks Rob.

[@johnnypk1963]

Only very smart men think to put drains in their garage floors. I regret forgetting that when we built our house...18yrs later, still not over it. Btw nice work on that frame

[@MidYearMitch]

Thanks! I can't take credit for the drains lol. My dad is a smart man. I learned a lot from him.

[@captainbondo6427]

Who knew there were patch panels available for windshield frames? You learn something new every day.

[@MidYearMitch]

As the great Gene Winfield would say "every day is a school day". He wasn't wrong lol. The parts fit great. I recommend all the C2 birdcage parts. I've used almost all the ones that they make on this car and my misfit that I built in a couple other videos.

[@thruitallauto2538]

@@MidYearMitch we’re can you get these parts new to this

[@edodonnell5042]

Good job Mitch keep it up it’s a passion of love thank you Lord thank you for a Corvette

[@MidYearMitch]

Amen Ed. Love the Corvettes 🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@OutontheRanchwithDrLee-xb4lo]

Fun video, Mitch. You're getting to be a frame-building expert for sure! Nice work!

[@MidYearMitch]

Thanks Dr. Lee. I have one more frame and birdcage to do. I’m getting pretty comfortable with this kind of work.

[@royalway12]

He's obviously in a good FRAME of mind.

[@keithboyd1857]

you are an awesome craftsman ! You should be proud !!!!

[@TheKoutz]

The intro was hilarious. Well done mate.

[@chrissmith7669]

Wow. Really good work

[@MidYearMitch]

Thanks Chris!

[@lindagrace-vanry765]

I have lots of Corvette frames and birdcages from my husbands Corvette restoration business. He passed away in 2014 and I’m getting rid of all his equipment and Corvette parts.

[@MidYearMitch]

Hi Linda. Sorry to hear about your husband. Can you send me an email at [e-mail]?

[@kennsakurai9582]

Indeed fun video. You are great Mitch! I'm back in Japan but when I was in the States, I tried to save a few Corvettes in a "carcass" like shape. You are doing it well. I didn't have much space and lights and stuff in the garage and so had a hard time. But I could weld well and had the source to get some chassis parts with beefier thickness. Keep up the good work and I might come to you as a customer! I'm too old for this kind of work, lol.

[@MidYearMitch]

Thanks!! That’s very cool! I’m glad to see others were putting in the work to keep these cars alive. It’s definitely a lot of work. I don’t know how many more cages I can do and stay mentally sane lol.

[@kennsakurai9582]

@@MidYearMitch Where I can find your contact info? I am willing to be your customer for sure. I love Split Window Coupe and I met Zora Arcus Duntov many times. He said those fake louvers are meant to be in function. So I am willing to have a Split window with those features. Having the functional louvers, maybe add the functional ventilation feature like the year after. And the functional side vents just like Zora wanted but rejected by the upper management.

[@rickprice6312]

Excellent!

[@brianmchale6668]

Nice work.

[@MidYearMitch]

Thanks Brian!

[@user-yn3ln7cs4c]

strange you have just had the frame blasted , wouldn't you spray a epoxy or under coat on it so surface rust doesn't set in on the fresh metal ?

[@georgethecritic9850]

What about the vin# on the frame? My state is pretty fussy about that.

[@user-zn8dr6nt2e]

How do put the bird cage on the frame Arlin.

[@donaldlong9259]

Where do you get the front A pilar birdcage section for a mid year vette?

[@angelonicassio7131]

How did you make the windshield pillar patch? Or did you buy that?

[@timpsensky5181]

I am about to do some windshield frame rust repairs on my 72. Oddly, it only rusted in the lower outer windshield corners. Inner windshield frame, A pillars and body mounts look good. What Gauge metal is used in this area? Thanks.

[@MidYearMitch]

Very cool! Sounds like a great project. I would say it’s probably 18 or 16 gauge metal. I’m not sure off hand but that’s about what I used on my C2 birdcage.

[@BradKwfc]

Where did you get the idea to weld in the front gussets to handle bigger tires? I want to put some 10" up front.

[@MidYearMitch]

I got the idea from the Chevrolet power book. They explained how to stiffen up the frame for road racing. Man those are big shoes! If you have flared or bulged fenders that will fit perfectly. I have 8” wide wheels all around the car now.

[@mattcapuano6259]

What do you charge for something like that ???

[@MetalGuru965]

Mitch, do you plan on rustproofing the interior of the frame?

[@MidYearMitch]

I had plans to use the Eastwood interior frame coating

[@arcramickassociates7203]

Are you using a Flux core Welder? Thinking about buying one for some frame repairs on my 65 Coupe...GREAT WORK, by the way......

[@MidYearMitch]

I’m using regular wire and shielded gas. 030 wire and 75/25 gas. I have a smaller welder so I crank it up and when I weld I pull my puddle to get more penetration. It works great! It’s a little difficult to get the frame clean enough to weld but it works nice. I have an Eastwood 135 mig. That little dude works hard and they aren’t expensive. I highly recommend one.

[@arcramickassociates7203]

@@MidYearMitch Thanks Mitch, I have a few (3) 1"-2" passes to make on my 65 frame. I would like to use a Flux-Core Welder to perform those small tasks. I was a certified TiG welder many years ago....and do not want to store argon. I was interested in a small Lincoln, 110V, flux core welder for these small welding tasks.... Thanks for your response! Best, Doug Amick

[@williamrevels5424]

Where may I find schematics with deminsions for a 63 SWC frame and birdcage?

[@MidYearMitch]

There are some dimensions for the frame online. What dimensions do you need for the cage? I have some dimensions I can send you. Send me an email at [e-mail].

[@davidmcmenamin9701]

Mitch, what white wall tires did you put on the 63 split?

[@MidYearMitch]

Hi David, I actually did a video on that topic. I'll put the link below but they are Hankook tires. 205/75-15s.

[@davidmcmenamin9701]

@@MidYearMitch thanks Mitch.

[@truk1005]

I'm curious what the make/model of your welder is?

[@MidYearMitch]

I have an Eastwood 135 welder. It’s not a bad unit. It gets the job done but I definitely work it hard!

[@kumzman]

Hey I sent you an email. Interested in a restoration and need your assistance please.

[@MidYearMitch]

Sorry I haven't checked that email lately. I am actually not taking any new work at the moment. I can give you my advice or my opinion but I can't work on any more projects. This car has me fully engulfed and I don't have any space to work on any more cars.

[@angelonicassio7131]

How did you make the windshield pillar patch? Or did you buy that?

[@MidYearMitch]

I bought the inner and outer windshield a pillar pieces. I made some small patch panels by hand for the hinge pillar.