Anyone ever replace the upper cross support in the nose of an early C3?

My dad and I have the radiator out to change the core support...and we noticed that a couple of the rivets are showing through. I talked him into grinding out the rivets and changing the support now...when we can get to it...as opposed to doing it in a few years after more show.

I'm planing on using 3M fiberglass to metal panel adhesive after grinding out all of the old rivets...to glue the new piece in place.

Has anyone done this or have any advice????


Thanks

 

I have done this job, but the rivets you are grinding out are holding the header support bonding strip that holds the header bar to the upper surround panel.

This is not an easy job to replace and I commend you on trying it. However, I would suggest you purchase the upper bonding strip, pop rivet it to the new header bar and bond it in place as original to the upper surround panel.

Grinding off the rivets will remove the old header bar from the car, but it will not remove the old aluminum rivets located between the upper bonding strip and the surround panel. These rivets are the culprit that leaves those ugly upward pops I the front nose of car all across the world. If you have these in your front end, then I for sure would remove the old bonding strip and start from scratch. Removing them while you have the header bar out would take a ton more time to remove but in the long run give you fresh start on the oxidation in the original rivets.

If you choose to remove the old bonding strip and header bar at the same time, send me an email at Willcoxcustomerservice@willcoxorvette.co m. I will give you some tips on doing this.

You can do exactly has you have described, and I’m sure the 3m adhesive will hold just fine. Leaving the original bonding strip in the car will give you an accurate alignment point for your new header. If you do not have any pops in the front upper surround from the old rivets this surely would be an easier way to replace the header.

Willcox Inc.