My 82 I purchased had sat for 20 almost 21 years before I got to it...However sometime before it was parked the front nose must have been fixed to some degree, because there was lower fender replacemement both sides, 2 wheel wells as well as a new surround (all GM parts) Im guessing a crunched nose to some degree and since 21 years ago, it would have been pretty much a new car, it was fixed correctly with GM parts that were still avail at the time.

Now that I have it and doing a frame off...I had to also seperate the fenders, surround and wheel well into seperate pieces. Also im having to rebond the under nose support (piece that holds rear of headlight housing) all because whoever fixed it before....GET THIS....used the WRONG bond agent/adhesive!

The fenders and surround as well as the other componets were just popping apart. I actually was able to pull the lower fenders off the car with very little effort. It seems that whoever did the repair used plain fiberglass resin and mat. its that yellow, brittle, stringy stuff...its not bonding at all.

But the sad part is whoever did the repairs did an amazing job at bondo/filler work and also did an excellent job at putting it back just like it should have been....they just used the wrong stuff.

As good of a job as they did, im sure this was not their first corvette. I wonder how many other cars out there they have done....just popped apart.

 

look on the bright side............. it's going to be so easy for you to take apart

when you get lemons............ make lemonade........ and in your case ,add vodka

Hammadown

 

 

It happens. The older polyester products will not stick to SMC.

 

You bought a 7 almost 8 year old car and let it sit for 20+ years? Thats would be like buying a 2003 and forgetting where I parked it till my kids(that aren't born yet) graduate high school. Please tell me that it sat inside, nicely covered.

Twenty years of exposure could have had something to do with the strength of the joint.

It would be AWESOME if you could figure out the dealer that did the repair and complain about their quality of work. Just for grins.

 

No...the original owner bought it new in 82...drove the car for about 2 years or so and put 40000 miles on it, then parked it for 21 years. i then bought it few years back and have been rebuilding it.