'74-350 total renovation - welding strategy?

been poking at the base of the LH front and rear pillars - well there is no base, just rust!

the RH pillars appear sound.

there are significant holes in all 4 corners of the screen frame and the front of the car body (front end)has separated from the top of the firewall along about 1/2 its length
Q1
doo i replace, re-enforce or fill in 'plate'

i almost feel it necessary to build a new body 'cage'

Q2
how do I get at the steel? do i drop the front end and strip off the front pillar body parts? what about the rear pillars?


thanks and regards

david aka pigpen

hi guys,
doesn't anybody have advice ?

thanks

david

Let me get to my"library" in the shop tonight, I think I have an article on it. I've just never gotten that deep into one.

I have a copy of Corvette Restoration Guide by Lindsay Porter.
His section on "screen" repair actually suggests cutting the portion of the fender adjacent the windshield, making the repairs to the frame and re-bonding the cut out panel.
He gives credit in the acknowledgements to Tom Falconer of Claremont Corvettes in Snodland England. He may be a contact for you.
Some of the others on this site have similar issues with theirs, hopefully one will come forward with other suggestions, but short of removing an entire panel, this may be the way to access your frame.
I've cut and rebonded panels before, it's very do-able, but I'd also like to hear some other opinions.

Mr Falconer runs a corvette second hand sales and repair shop and he sold me the car!!!!

There was evidence of recent work on the basal portion of the pillar but I do not know who did it. Someone knew about the condition of the car!

My main concern is the point at which you replace the steel rather than patch it.

thanksand regards

David aka pigpen

Patch or replace depends on the surrounding area. If it's good, a quality patch is fine. If it's a bit shakey, then replacement is in order.