Question: Another front clip help thread

[ashskyler]

Hey all, i got a 75 stingray. Was sideswiped when previous owner had it, didnt bother to fix. i have plans on restoring it to daily driver status(not real sure on making it showroom condition, ill decide later) anywho, driver fender is pretty much toast but i do have some of the pieces of it. the driver side spindle was also bent up but i already replaced it. I bought a hood surround for $100 off craigslist. Its not PERFECT but the parts i need are in tact. Big question is,...would it be easier to fix the damaged fender i have or to cut the driver half off of the second surround and try to fit it to the car? i have some pics i can post up in a few mins. i wanna find this out before i start cutting the driver side surround off.

I also realize i put this is the wrong subforum. By accident of course... I would move it if i knew how

 

[Peer81]

Hello,

In general I think you'll find more people to read your problem if you post it in the general (technical) section, this is a sub section special for 81 Corvette's. Not that it is a big problem but just a tip

On the problem, if you want to cut off the entire front, but sure to have a plan how you're going to fix the other front fender the exact same way. If you angle or lower it 1/2 at the windscreen this will be more at the nose, same thing from left to right etc etc. But I think if you can make a subframe (from wood or something) that will fix the front fender in a way you can savely remove the fender and attach the other fender using the preset subframe (if you know what I mean. When you start cutting a fender bodypart out the entire front fiberglas alignment is gone and you'll have a big job fixing that! Don't know if this is the answer you're looking for but it's a start

Now that I see the pictures. You can piece together the different parts, the drivers fender can be attached but you're still missing a big part next to the drivers headlight. Good question this one! Nice rim's you have btw. Enkei's? (I have them to )

Btw. Welcome to the Action Forum

Greetings Peter

 

[ashskyler]

Hello,

In general I think you'll find more people to read your problem if you post it in the general (technical) section, this is a sub section special for 81 Corvette's. Not that it is a big problem but just a tip

On the problem, if you want to cut off the entire front, but sure to have a plan how you're going to fix the other front fender the exact same way. If you angle or lower it 1/2 at the windscreen this will be more at the nose, same thing from left to right etc etc. But I think if you can make a subframe (from wood or something) that will fix the front fender in a way you can savely remove the fender and attach the other fender using the preset subframe (if you know what I mean. When you start cutting a fender bodypart out the entire front fiberglas alignment is gone and you'll have a big job fixing that! Don't know if this is the answer you're looking for but it's a start

Now that I see the pictures. You can piece together the different parts, the drivers fender can be attached but you're still missing a big part next to the drivers headlight. Good question this one! Nice rim's you have btw. Enkei's? (I have them to )

Btw. Welcome to the Action Forum

Greetings Peter

I really dont know, they came with the car lol. yea the part around the headlight and the lip on the wheelwell is what im worried about, getting the form correct. I figure if i cut the driver fender from the center point between the headlights then i can cut the other surround in the same spot to make the cut perfect but my biggest worry on doing that is that i dont know how to make the fender fit...Do i fiberglass it back to the car, an epoxy or those bonding strips? no idea on this

 

[GerryLP]

If you have another front clip, it would be best for you to cut the least amount of times (replace the largest area that you can).

So, if for example, with a replacement clip you were to replace half of the front panel (the one that surrounds the headlights) all the way to the driver's side door, then you would only make one cut (at the halfway point in between the headlights or on center).

The Corvette books show how GM had different panels to make a front clip, but do not attempt this. Rather, glue at the center of the front panel and attach at the other locations.

Also, gluing panels together is a bit of an art, but if you attempt to glue the panels end-to-end, you'll likely to end up with a visible line once everything is said and done. My Vette had this issue, but I was lucky enough to find Corvette enthusiats owners of the local Maaco, and they repaired it right.

In post #14 I show the problemthat my Vette had.

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com...forum/102957-gails-first-week-paint-shop.html

 

[6880 Mike]

Purchase the assembly instruction manual (AIM). The AIM is not a how-to, but it will have diagrams of how the front body work was assembled and will provide an overall idea for the repair work you are going to need.

Purchase a couple of the Corvette body repair books. The Glas-Ra series (two volumes) is good and provides how-to text and reference photos. Eckler's book is also pretty good if you can find a copy. It might be out of print.

Leave the hood, door, and bumper cover on for replacement panel alignment purposes. Replace the left front fender. Use your second hood surround panel for repair patches needed on the damaged hood surround.

Good luck.