Invader Sandstone

Okay so here's the situation. Yesterday I was driving home and backing into my driveway and I accidentally bumped the nose of my 74. It was so slight but it cracked the tip of the nose and my body guy wants $800 fix it. I'm oil heat guy and I have nothing close to $800 to spend to fix such a small problem. He does amazing work but my car is never going to be a show car but, it always had really good paint and now that's all screwed up. I've got to find a way to repair this myself where it looks pretty good if not close to invisible. I don't have a garage or equipment to spray the bumper with new paint but there has to be a way. It's honestly kept me up two nights in a row now, sick to my stomach. The thought that such a small mistake can have such costly consequences.

You guys always been very good at teaching me how to work mechanically on my car. Perhaps you can show me a check to getting this back to even 90% of what it was until next year when I can afford to redo the whole bumper.

Tooonz

Back in the day , if we had chips in the paint, I would use clear nail polish to stop the paint from chipping, then use touch up paint to cover the area. I wouldn't risk trying to repair it yourself. Some others might chime in with a magical cure but until then if it were me, id put clear nail polish over the cracks to hold them together and just touch it up.

The13Bats

Around 88 I spent a year to go radical on my 81, full wide body kit full tilt engine suspension etc, I had a top end painter do a job that cost more in 88 for the paint than I paid for my whole driver 69 in '09.

The car was out of the paint booth and buffed I was thrilled it was stunning, took 9-10 months,
I was scared to drive it, I didn't want a chip, crack,, dust, ding pigeon fart,

So I go out to my Doctors for my allergy shot, and sitting to make a right turn a dork in a mini van creams the 81's rear, tore up the wide body the rear wing etc....his insurance wasn't happy but fixed it, it was 99.9% as new.

Point is I stopped being scared to drive it...it's just a car no need to cry or loose sleep over it I save that for my mom 86 and dad 89 who are both in and out of the hospital basically dying.

So don't sweat some little crack,
While it's in a tricky place to get right fiberglass work isn't rocket science even though some like to thump their chests and act like it is,

The cracks are not really going to vanish but if it were me and I have done this a zillion times I would fill the "hole" with some bondo or spot putty and then sand it and air brush touch it up then buff it good, it will not be perfect it will take grinding and work to get it perfect but my fix will work for a driver....

MIKE80

You can install a cover on the front until you save up the money for the repair.

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corve...1973-1974.html

The13Bats

Sorry, It had to be said....those nose bras are just buttfugly

theblackvette

Oh no!!!!!! That is a dissapointment but at least it is not a total loss!

Look on the bright side.

I know this must bother you like crazy and $800 is a good chunk of change. I know in your heart you want this fixed.

Maybe come up an arrangement with the body shop guy? Down payment and make monthly payments. If you have a great rapport with him he may do it understanding these tough economic times and at least he will get paid eventually and not lose the job. Getting something over a long period of time is better than getting nothing.

Cheer up. In the end it will all work out!

jim-81

I would say you could probably do this yourself. It might not be perfect, but it will be better than it is now. There are a ton of resources on the internet for doing basically anthing! google, youtube... etc. Even if it's not perfect, at least it might be good enough till you have the cash to have it redone professionally. I have never done any body work on my Vette so I can't offer any help there. Mine has the same type of injury at the nose, and now that I have fixed some other things, I was starting to look at that and see what I could do. I wouldn't be able to pay someone to do that either.

Jim

MIKE80

The13Bats

When I replied it was reflex seeing busted fiberglass but your car didnt come with a fiberglass nose it came with Urethane so no one get confused in this thread fiberglass repairs are very different to Urethane repairs which while coming a long way seem to yield mixed results.

If you want to think about trying to fix this your self keep in mind it will not make the repair needed any worse it can only help, if you hair it fixed it will still cost the same, but if you hair it call around this isn't a high end repair just takes care because it's on two lines......

If you want to phone take about repairing it yourself you can hit me for my number the13bats@aol.com

persuader

That truly is unfortunate. Especially now that the good weather is almost back.

Rotonda

Suggest you post your question in the Paint & Body section of Corvette Forum (Forums/General/Paint & Body from main menu). You may get more expert advice than you've received to date.

harris1507

Do the touch up your self, if it looks good enough to live with then you are ahead of the game, if you don't like the way it came out, it will still cost you the same to fix it. Hope this helps, sorry for your misfortune.

929nitro

Sunstroked

I would shop around. My wife's car car was hit in a parking lot recently, of course they left. It's a new car, so no way was I going to leave it. While buying auto body supplies for my corvette I mentioned it to the store owner. He also owns a body shop, gave me a price that was 1/2 the cost of my deductible. The job turned out flawless, and I am now taking my vette to him for final paint. Shop around.

The13Bats

After doing 'glass over 35 years I am far from any expert on the subject......

540 vette

Just get it fixed. It will probably cost around $300 to do it. You will waste your time touching it up and it will never look right.

77C34SPD

Maybe go with the half nose mask, instead of the full cover. Those full covers are not attractive.

cb.bums

if you want to try to fix, fill it in with JB weld first. it's flexible and dries fast. then do a sand able primer over it and try a touch up

rudolph schenker

briankeery

If you trust the body man, work a deal with him and get it fixed properly.