Headlight Surround for 69 Corvette
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 401
Likes: 11
From: Hertford NC
Headlight Surround for 69 Corvette
The pot metal headlight surround on my 1969 corvette is broken on one side. The replacement part is made of fiberglass. Can pot metal be welded or repaired? I would like to keep the car original since I purchased the car new in 1969. I have looked in flee markets for years and have not seen a pot metal surround. The broken surround is on the left (driver) side.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,240
Likes: 294
From: ESCONDIDO CA
2025 C2 of the Year ('63 and '67) Finalist - Unmodified
C2 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Good used original parts are easly found at J&D Corvette, Ebay and corvette salvage yards.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 401
Likes: 11
From: Hertford NC
The pot metal bezel is very, very hard to find. I have seen them available but only as a complete headlight pop up assembly. They were only used from 1968-1972. Most of them broke like mine did.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,274
Likes: 4,366
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi n6,
Since you mention originality you may want to investigate having your bezel repaired. Some of the shops that do custom plating also do pot metal repair.
Finding a used one for your car might be quite a job since the bezel changed over the model years as headlamp washers came, moved, and disappeared; so there are different variations that at first glance look the same.
I really don't agree that "most" of the bezels broke. The vast majority of 70-72 cars that I look at have both original bezels.
Regards,
Alan
Since you mention originality you may want to investigate having your bezel repaired. Some of the shops that do custom plating also do pot metal repair.
Finding a used one for your car might be quite a job since the bezel changed over the model years as headlamp washers came, moved, and disappeared; so there are different variations that at first glance look the same.
I really don't agree that "most" of the bezels broke. The vast majority of 70-72 cars that I look at have both original bezels.
Regards,
Alan
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Several original metal bezels on ebay right now:
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_...506.m270.l1313
http://motors.shop.ebay.com/i.html?_...506.m270.l1313
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,069
Likes: 220
headlight bezel
Take it to a welder and have it alum weld on the inside. May cost you 25.00 to 40.00 Take it home and grind the spots down with a metal die cutter shape of a spade. Grind the inside down and on the outside crack fill in with sandable metal compound. Then repaint with Zinc primer and you are done.
You can pm me if you are having mixed feelings about this process. I would not use glue or epoxy other than a straight alum weld.
Hope this helps.
Grant
You can pm me if you are having mixed feelings about this process. I would not use glue or epoxy other than a straight alum weld.
Hope this helps.
Grant
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 401
Likes: 11
From: Hertford NC
Take it to a welder and have it alum weld on the inside. May cost you 25.00 to 40.00 Take it home and grind the spots down with a metal die cutter shape of a spade. Grind the inside down and on the outside crack fill in with sandable metal compound. Then repaint with Zinc primer and you are done.
You can pm me if you are having mixed feelings about this process. I would not use glue or epoxy other than a straight alum weld.
Hope this helps.
Grant
You can pm me if you are having mixed feelings about this process. I would not use glue or epoxy other than a straight alum weld.
Hope this helps.
Grant
The one on Ebay is $359 and appears to be in poor condition.
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Pro
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 575
Likes: 3
From: Tampa / Ft. Myers FL
Take it to a welder and have it alum weld on the inside. May cost you 25.00 to 40.00 Take it home and grind the spots down with a metal die cutter shape of a spade. Grind the inside down and on the outside crack fill in with sandable metal compound. Then repaint with Zinc primer and you are done.
You can pm me if you are having mixed feelings about this process. I would not use glue or epoxy other than a straight alum weld.
Hope this helps.
Grant
You can pm me if you are having mixed feelings about this process. I would not use glue or epoxy other than a straight alum weld.
Hope this helps.
Grant
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 8,877
Likes: 3,556
From: Fernandina Beach FL
2023 Restomod of the Year finalist
2020 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
OK- I feel a little better now-do a "completed listing" search and you'll see that a metal one went for $50... And the "rare" one for $125 didn't sell...
Keep looking!!!
