Front Clip Replacement and settling
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 340
Likes: 0
From: Dublin
Front Clip Replacement and settling
A question about front clip installation:
My car been sitting on stands for over a year now and i'm about to install the new front clip, looking for some advise on settling of the car.
Can't really drive the car far without the front clip in place, would driving a couple of hundred meters settle it?
I saw on this forum before where a member took the car off the jack stands and installed the front clip without moving the car and he had to do the whole job again!
My car been sitting on stands for over a year now and i'm about to install the new front clip, looking for some advise on settling of the car.
Can't really drive the car far without the front clip in place, would driving a couple of hundred meters settle it?
I saw on this forum before where a member took the car off the jack stands and installed the front clip without moving the car and he had to do the whole job again!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Install the new front clip while the car is on the jack stands. Suspension or suspension settling has nothing to do with clip installation. All of these cars had the bodies completly assembled and painted before body drop.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,729
Likes: 267
From: Austin Texas
Corvette of the Year Winner 2017
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
No settling required for front clip install,
the front clip is glued/ bonded/ riveted to the firewall birdcage,
and supported in the front from the radiator support.
suspension settling does not come into play.
however, I would suggest do Not do this on jackstands, put wheels on, set on the ground.
the wheels this will help determine/see... side to side clip adjustment.
once the clip is bonded/glued it's not moving.
the front clip is glued/ bonded/ riveted to the firewall birdcage,
and supported in the front from the radiator support.
suspension settling does not come into play.
however, I would suggest do Not do this on jackstands, put wheels on, set on the ground.
the wheels this will help determine/see... side to side clip adjustment.
once the clip is bonded/glued it's not moving.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 2,709
Likes: 3
From: Savannah GA
My 77 spent enough years on stands for the frame to "take a set"... after I put the suspension back under it and let it sit "on wheels" for a month my upper door gaps closed noticeably, like from needing correction for sure to being good enough to live with. Your experience may differ, but I would certainly get a project I was going to hang a new nose on on the ground for awhile, especially if there's the luxury of time... I hate doing things twice.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 987
Likes: 7
From: Surrey British Columbia
The front clip bolts to the chassis at three locations; one on each side just forward of the door posts and at the front (on my '80 there's a rubber mount and bolt in the center of the bumper extension). The area of the front clip that attaches to the Bird Cage is held on with rivets and an epoxy adhesive. There really is no settling of the clip. The adhesive cures in about 45 minutes, but the rivets would already be in place.
I like 69Vette's suggestion. Install the clip with the car's wheels on the ground. I totally forgot about adjusting for side to side. I'll have to remember that one for myself.
I like 69Vette's suggestion. Install the clip with the car's wheels on the ground. I totally forgot about adjusting for side to side. I'll have to remember that one for myself.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 2,609
Likes: 12
From: Massapequa Park NY
The frame will flex if the jack stands under the frame & not directly under the suspension. There are stands that go directly under the wheels however you would need a lift to get them in place. the suspension will settle if you roll the car a couple of feet, but it should not affect frame flex.
I would make sure the car is on it's wheels for the installation. Also for the best fit the wheels should be on level ground side to side. I used a couple of vinyl tiles for this purpose along with a 6' level.
Search for some old posts on installing the front clip, there's a of of goo info on this site that I used
Good luck
Jim
I would make sure the car is on it's wheels for the installation. Also for the best fit the wheels should be on level ground side to side. I used a couple of vinyl tiles for this purpose along with a 6' level.
Search for some old posts on installing the front clip, there's a of of goo info on this site that I used
Good luck
Jim
