since someone brought up bezels..
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Instructor
Joined: Nov 2005
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From: Oahu Hawaii
since someone brought up bezels..
It seems where ever I look they say the din bezels are die cast.. does that mean aluminum?... I want to buy one and customize it for my 76' So I prefer plastic. When I go home I want to start customising my interior... OH, and what has everyone been doing when it comes to customising the shifting console area... I want it to have the AC controls, the shifter (of course), and then a brand new lighter plug.. no ash tray...
As for stuff I am already going to do.. I am buying Corbea A4's.. I got the engraved sill plates that say "Corvette". The lloyd floor mats that have the flags... and then I have a few ideas that I am still pondering.. But I'm single again.. so no distractions from the VEtt..lol
exterior wise as of now when I get back I am getting the 2.5"wheel adapters and the C5 Zo6 rims..
Then in the future when I get to hawaii I am going to buy all the fiber glass i need and replace my fiberglass along with a new paint job.. YEAH!!!!
As for stuff I am already going to do.. I am buying Corbea A4's.. I got the engraved sill plates that say "Corvette". The lloyd floor mats that have the flags... and then I have a few ideas that I am still pondering.. But I'm single again.. so no distractions from the VEtt..lol
exterior wise as of now when I get back I am getting the 2.5"wheel adapters and the C5 Zo6 rims..
Then in the future when I get to hawaii I am going to buy all the fiber glass i need and replace my fiberglass along with a new paint job.. YEAH!!!!
Team Owner
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CF Community Team
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From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
I know 68's and 69's had pot metal bezels, 69's had the squirter holes. I think they may have used metal up to '72?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Columbus Indiana
Here's a link to a thread that might help. It's not a plastic guage bezel, but it helps!
John
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1539559
John
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1539559
Team Owner
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CF Community Team
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From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
I just had 2 welded for my 68, I know nothing about welding, but the guy told me he used a special stick designed special for the junk pot metal. I know it welds at 350 degrees, as opposed to 700 degrees (?), he said it's a TIG. also, if you GOOGLE "welding pot metal" a web site sells the stick and actually has videos of the guy welding die cast pot metal bezels (not Corvette). JB Weld will not work (tried it), Good luck, John. also, these are pretty easy to find on EBAY at reasonable prices.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Nevada City California
The headlight bezels are metal from 1968 thru 1972. However 1968 had running changes to the headlight covers in shape/size and possibly the bezels as well. The 1969 & 1970 used metal bezels which had provisions for headlamp washer squirters, there was also a running change during '70, as the lower squirter hole moved from the horizontal plane to the vertical plane surface.
Yes, you do see them occasionally on ebay vintage parts for sale category and run across them also at Bloomington and Carlisle Corvette swap meets.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2001
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From: May help you? You can sure as hell try!
The early headlight bezels ('68-72) are cast aluminum. Nothing else. Zinc die cast would be considerably heavier for the size. '73 and later are fiberglass. The fiberglass ones are still comonly available. The cast aluminum ones are much more difficult to find, especially considering the hole configurations (or lack therof, if that's what you need) for the headlight washer nozzles, so expect to pay much more for these.
If you're talking about the console bezels, THOSE are zince die cast.
If you're talking about the console bezels, THOSE are zince die cast.
Last edited by LemansBlue68; Mar 16, 2007 at 09:11 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Santee CA
I just had 2 welded for my 68, I know nothing about welding, but the guy told me he used a special stick designed special for the junk pot metal. I know it welds at 350 degrees, as opposed to 700 degrees (?), he said it's a TIG. also, if you GOOGLE "welding pot metal" a web site sells the stick and actually has videos of the guy welding die cast pot metal bezels (not Corvette). JB Weld will not work (tried it), Good luck, John. also, these are pretty easy to find on EBAY at reasonable prices.
And TIG welding requires a welder that is going to cost in the neighborhood of $1800, plus that special stick that you're talking about. For that price, you can get several bezels. Cost wise, it's not that effective.
CF Community Team
Joined: Mar 2007
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From: Delaware
St. Jude Donor '25
Odd that you say JB Weld doesn't work...I have several parts on the Vette (including a bezel) that have been JB welded, as well as a thermostat housing on our '67 Jaguar E-Type that is pot metal. They seem to be holding really well together. Then again, I used the JB "Industro" weld, which is a different epoxy compound mix than the regular JB Weld mix (it takes 24 hours to fully harden). How did you JB weld it? Did you brace the welding, prep the pot metal areas so it'll adhere better, let the JB weld set up a little bit before you tried to smear it on?
And TIG welding requires a welder that is going to cost in the neighborhood of $1800, plus that special stick that you're talking about. For that price, you can get several bezels. Cost wise, it's not that effective.
And TIG welding requires a welder that is going to cost in the neighborhood of $1800, plus that special stick that you're talking about. For that price, you can get several bezels. Cost wise, it's not that effective.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,084
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From: Aussie expat in Saudi Arabia
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/72-73...95032726QQrdZ1
I don't think the '77 bezels fit without some modification. Also, I think the bezels in the '76 had all round holes for the gauges whereas the '77 only has the round hole for the clock, all the others are flattened off on the bottom...
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 1
From: Aussie expat in Saudi Arabia
The early headlight bezels ('68-72) are cast aluminum. Nothing else. Zinc die cast would be considerably heavier for the size. '73 and later are fiberglass. The fiberglass ones are still comonly available. The cast aluminum ones are much more difficult to find, especially considering the hole configurations (or lack therof, if that's what you need) for the headlight washer nozzles, so expect to pay much more for these.
If you're talking about the console bezels, THOSE are zince die cast.
If you're talking about the console bezels, THOSE are zince die cast.
Metal ones are still available tho...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/68-69...spagenameZWDVW
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/68-69...spagenameZWDVW