Corvette Image Front End
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 8,934
Likes: 657
From: Norwalk ohio
2019 Corvette of the Year Winner
St. Jude Donor '15
bought a C1 from them, it wasn't real "sharp" when it arrived, worked through Paragon and they shipped out another one in 2 weeks! If you buy from them, unless you get a really great deal, I would buy through Paragon. They buy enough from them to have some pull if there is a problem. If you buy on your own, you can be out in right field with no back up!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,359
Likes: 428
From: Seattle Area WA
I thought Paragon sold Sermersheim front ends. Even with their backlog of work and long lead times, you'll find strong supporters of Sermersheim glass here and on the NCRS.org site.
Last edited by Scott Marzahl; Feb 6, 2008 at 12:26 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 155
Likes: 0
From: west palm beach,Palatka,fl florida
corvette front
i have a sermershiem front on order from keens corvette parts they had one in stock for immediate delivery i will let everyone know what i think when it gets here.the folks at keen especially to keenwere very helpful with recomendations
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Advanced
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
From: Mesa Arizona
Front End
I recently went through this with my 65. It was going to be very costly to repair it; so I decided to buy a pre-assembled front end. I origionally went through Corvette Central. The quoted lead time was not favorable. I went to the Corvette Image website and thought about getting one. I asked about them on the forum. The feedback was very useful. I received quite a few responses about all the issues with CI front ends, primarily bubbling and separation of the fiberglass after about 2 years. There was even talk of a class action lawsuit. So I did not buy from them.
I got the information for Sermersheim's, from forum members (thanks guys) and contacted them. I purchased one from Sermersheim's directly and had it delivered to my son-in-laws business. It cost $900 less than Paragon or Corvette Central's catalog prices. It you can place an order with them on a company's letterhead and have it delivered there, you get the savings; otherwise you pay the same as the catalog prices.
Hope this helps a little.
I got the information for Sermersheim's, from forum members (thanks guys) and contacted them. I purchased one from Sermersheim's directly and had it delivered to my son-in-laws business. It cost $900 less than Paragon or Corvette Central's catalog prices. It you can place an order with them on a company's letterhead and have it delivered there, you get the savings; otherwise you pay the same as the catalog prices.
Hope this helps a little.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,680
Likes: 68
From: Towanda KS
Agree with your post Dick...But DUDE... Your avatar scared the bageebers out of me. It looks like a cross between "Papa Smurf" and one of the "Tele Tubbies". Those reading glasses perched on yer forehead look like an antenna.
tc
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,359
Likes: 428
From: Seattle Area WA
Rich,
I'd ping Toddalin, he recently had an awesome job done in LA.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ighlight=Paint
I'd ping Toddalin, he recently had an awesome job done in LA.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...ighlight=Paint
Heel & Toe
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 18
Likes: 2
From: Parma Ohio
STAY AWAY from Corvette Image, the front end on my 60 is from them and it is now in the process of re-restoring after the paint bubbled all over it, I am contacting an attorney, I got no good answers from Image, not even a return phone call!!!!!!!!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 9,127
Likes: 2,326
From: Pottsville, PA. USA Home Of America's Oldest Brewery Yuengling
One of my buddies bought a 67 front end and rear fenders from CI. He restores 63-67 cars and when the front came in he said it looked good. Now the fun part he installs the front and the fenders on a frame off 67 435 coupe. The car is finished after a one year restoration. He sells the car for over $100K. The new owner calls him six months later and tell him the front end and both rear fenders are big time bubbling.
He goes and looks at the car and sure enough all the Corvette Image body panels are bubbling. He calls Corvette Image about the problem and they tell him that he should have gelcoated their parts before doing any primer or painting. He tells them I never had this problem with Sermershiem. He also said if this were the case you should have a big orange warning label on all of your parts telling the bodyshop about this.
Bottom line he had to take the car back and strip and repaint the car for the customer.
He goes and looks at the car and sure enough all the Corvette Image body panels are bubbling. He calls Corvette Image about the problem and they tell him that he should have gelcoated their parts before doing any primer or painting. He tells them I never had this problem with Sermershiem. He also said if this were the case you should have a big orange warning label on all of your parts telling the bodyshop about this.
Bottom line he had to take the car back and strip and repaint the car for the customer.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 363
Likes: 60
From: Ma
One of my buddies bought a 67 front end and rear fenders from CI. He restores 63-67 cars and when the front came in he said it looked good. Now the fun part he installs the front and the fenders on a frame off 67 435 coupe. The car is finished after a one year restoration. He sells the car for over $100K. The new owner calls him six months later and tell him the front end and both rear fenders are big time bubbling.
He goes and looks at the car and sure enough all the Corvette Image body panels are bubbling. He calls Corvette Image about the problem and they tell him that he should have gelcoated their parts before doing any primer or painting. He tells them I never had this problem with Sermershiem. He also said if this were the case you should have a big orange warning label on all of your parts telling the bodyshop about this.
Bottom line he had to take the car back and strip and repaint the car for the customer.
He goes and looks at the car and sure enough all the Corvette Image body panels are bubbling. He calls Corvette Image about the problem and they tell him that he should have gelcoated their parts before doing any primer or painting. He tells them I never had this problem with Sermershiem. He also said if this were the case you should have a big orange warning label on all of your parts telling the bodyshop about this.
Bottom line he had to take the car back and strip and repaint the car for the customer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 6,359
Likes: 428
From: Seattle Area WA
Yeah, you rip it off because there is uncured ester resin in the panels and they will keep blistering. If it is blistering, not even 20 mils of gel coat will prevent it from coming back. Mine continued to blister for 2 years before I ripped it off and went to a Sermersheim front end.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 192
Likes: 0
From: Dayton WA
I agree that it is uncured resin...if the manufacturing company would post cure their products to at least 180 degrees, that might not happen....another possible fix for an already built car is to strip the paint and set the car in 90 degree plus sun with black plastic wrapped around the body panels ( not the entire car cuz it might damage interior or other parts) for about 5 sunny hot days, then refinish...we have had good luck with this procedure...a good bake in the booth doesn't seem to work for us...offered in humility as a fix instead of replacement of parts...flame suit on
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
From: Montreal Quebec
[QUOTE=Scott Marzahl;1564086936]Yeah, you rip it off because there is uncured ester resin in the panels and they will keep blistering.
Scott,
It's unbelievable how many Corvette owners have had blistering problems with CORVETTE IMAGE panels. There was talk of a lawsuit at one time. I sure hope someone went forward with that. Meanwhile I think everyone should be advised to AVOID CORVETTE IMAGE panels at all costs.
Scott,
It's unbelievable how many Corvette owners have had blistering problems with CORVETTE IMAGE panels. There was talk of a lawsuit at one time. I sure hope someone went forward with that. Meanwhile I think everyone should be advised to AVOID CORVETTE IMAGE panels at all costs.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 2,800
Likes: 2
From: Fairless Hills PA.
We used their front on my 65.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 573
Likes: 1
From: Scottsdale, AZ
For what it is worth, I used Jerry's Custom Paint (same owner as The Corvette Image) to do all the body and paint work on my 63. They installed a complete new front end, fenders, hood, rear quarters, and we made a custom decklid. It was painted approx. 3-1/2 years ago and no problems.
I toured their Corvette Image manufacturing facility too. Not that I have anything to compare it against, but it appeared that they took the process seriously.
Just my $0.02c.
I toured their Corvette Image manufacturing facility too. Not that I have anything to compare it against, but it appeared that they took the process seriously.
Just my $0.02c.