fixing front rubber nose
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
fixing front rubber nose
Well I have my 73 in which the whole car is near perfect except for a little crack in the front!
I was recommended to a place nearby here in North York Ontario called Center Hill..
I went for a visit and talked to the owner who is a nice guy.
I showed him the car, and he said he would be able to fix it... and I said well I hear about replacing the nose with a Urethane one or Fiberglass etc.
He assured me that he would be able to fix the original one perfectly! He assured me it wouldn't start coming through and would be solid.
He would have to take off the bumper and have it for almost a week, and the paint would be dead on!
Going through a tour of the shop with him.. He had 10 Lamborghini's 4 Ferrari's, A Ford GT40 3 Cobra's etc etc. My eyes popped out of my head.
Question is????
Can the front Urethane nose by fixed really good instead of buying a new one?
I was recommended to a place nearby here in North York Ontario called Center Hill..
I went for a visit and talked to the owner who is a nice guy.
I showed him the car, and he said he would be able to fix it... and I said well I hear about replacing the nose with a Urethane one or Fiberglass etc.
He assured me that he would be able to fix the original one perfectly! He assured me it wouldn't start coming through and would be solid.
He would have to take off the bumper and have it for almost a week, and the paint would be dead on!
Going through a tour of the shop with him.. He had 10 Lamborghini's 4 Ferrari's, A Ford GT40 3 Cobra's etc etc. My eyes popped out of my head.
Question is????
Can the front Urethane nose by fixed really good instead of buying a new one?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,164
Likes: 1
From: Port Clinton Ohio
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13
There is a very good chance that it will fall apart when you try to take it off. Mine was so brittle that it would crack with the slightest touch.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
I thought of that.. But the price is a little cheaper.
He did say he's done many before with no issues!..
I'm just wondering... What would he use for such a job.
and if it does fall apart once it's being taken off.. Then I couldn't see any other way but to replace the nose..
I guess I'll find out.
He did say he's done many before with no issues!..
I'm just wondering... What would he use for such a job.
and if it does fall apart once it's being taken off.. Then I couldn't see any other way but to replace the nose..
I guess I'll find out.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,117
From: Crossville TN
If it starts to 'fall apart' as you attempt to remove it....yep, time to replace it anyway. And, if it appears to be on its 'last legs', you probably should do so, anyway, rather than throw good money away trying to save it.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 3,683
Likes: 202
From: Waterford Mi
Urethane gets brittle over time. It is easy to fix a crack with some urethane adhesives but it will probably just crack again and you would have waisted time and money. When mine cracked it was so brittle I could break it with my bare hands just taking it off and that one was new in 1985. Before you spend anytime fixing it make sure it isn't going to happen again.
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
Likes: 54
From: Taylor Michigan
I dont know if a Leguna front end is the same as a Vette, but we repaired the rubber Leguna bumper on my 73 El camino. It was in bad shape as a woman turned in front of me and I almost avoided it {crash} iWe were a little apprehensive of what would happen because of the composition of the bumper. We just proceeded as usual with todays products on a 73 bumper. All the cracks were dug out and filled. It came out better than new.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
I thought of that.. But the price is a little cheaper.
He did say he's done many before with no issues!..
I'm just wondering... What would he use for such a job.
and if it does fall apart once it's being taken off.. Then I couldn't see any other way but to replace the nose..
I guess I'll find out.
He did say he's done many before with no issues!..
I'm just wondering... What would he use for such a job.
and if it does fall apart once it's being taken off.. Then I couldn't see any other way but to replace the nose..
I guess I'll find out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
I will buy a replacement and have him fit it and paint it.
I wouldn't want to waste money knowing in a couple of years it'll start showing again.
A new front bumber will last much longer..
Thanks for your input guys
I wouldn't want to waste money knowing in a couple of years it'll start showing again.
A new front bumber will last much longer..
Thanks for your input guys
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 242
Likes: 0
From: New Bedford MA
Nice Collection
I dont know if a Leguna front end is the same as a Vette, but we repaired the rubber Leguna bumper on my 73 El camino. It was in bad shape as a woman turned in front of me and I almost avoided it {crash} iWe were a little apprehensive of what would happen because of the composition of the bumper. We just proceeded as usual with todays products on a 73 bumper. All the cracks were dug out and filled. It came out better than new.
