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I am looking at my headlight bar, the bar that is on the underside of the top of the nose just before the hood. The headlight actuators attach to it along with some wiring loom. It appears to be bolted through the inner fenderwell. My question, is this piece bonded to the nose structure or is it simply bolted in? Mine is rusted and needs replacement, but I am not in a position right now to undertake bige project of dismantling the front end. Besides, I'm afraid if I do that I'll get the "while I'm in here" virus, next thing you know the body is off...
Mine is also separated so I have some epoxy ordered for the repair. Just stick a paint paddle between the body and the bar to keep some space open while you squirt the epoxy in between. Use rubber or plastic C-clamps with a rag for padding on the body and clamp it for 24 hrs.
If I were to fix mine I would use 3M #8115. It's a bonding adhesive recommended for metal to SMC. I will be doing this for my door that is partially separated.
Mine is also separated so I have some epoxy ordered for the repair. Just stick a paint paddle between the body and the bar to keep some space open while you squirt the epoxy in between. Use rubber or plastic C-clamps with a rag for padding on the body and clamp it for 24 hrs.
Grandmaster Corvette recommends preparing the metal properly before epoxy, or it won't hold for too long, according to him. He really seems to know his way around a Vette body.
What year car are you talking about? There are significant differences between 68-72, and 73 and later cars in that area. The repair process, depending on what is wrong, may also be different.
That makes life a bit easier. Chevy did away with the rivets in 1973, so the header bar is simply bonded to the fiberglass.
If you need to replace it, it will have to be "broken loose", which isn;t as hard as it sounds. It is, however, a significant undertaking.
If the whole thing has to come out, it is a job.
A number of others have posted possible solutions to rebonding one that is partially loose. The Corvette body man that I trust most just mixes up sone fiberglass resin, then adds finely cut up fiberglass mat to the mix, and uses that as his bonding agent.
...The Corvette body man that I trust most just mixes up sone fiberglass resin, then adds finely cut up fiberglass mat to the mix, and uses that as his bonding agent...
That works provided the materials used are compatible with the type of fiberglass of the panels. The old polyester resins will work with the older cars, but will not adhere to SMC panels.