Alan 71

Hi Craig,
Not attempting to be a **** here..... but seeing this photo and knowing that the other door will be painted too, I don't see how you don't end up painting the whole car.
?!?
Regards,
Alan

Primoz

Alan has a good point here.
If you have gone through soo much trouble and finding all the imperfections why not go all the way.
Would it change much the situation financially or in any other way?

CraigH

Yes he does and it is tearing me up.

I can’t decide re leaving or removing the luggage rack as it looks nice against the blue,.

Also I see a lot of extra things I would fix if I did the entire back.

It would also mean removing the rear window seal, ttop stainless etc etc....

Cost is not the big issue....may still happen....let’s see if I can make my mind up.

caskiguy

I kind of like the look as it is, add's character.

Primoz

Well the luggage rack looks nice. I have it to on my 71 mulsanne blue and also looks very nice.
Well in the back there is the rear filler panel that will take you some time to get it right and if you are at the back than it is good to take the gas tank out to see in what shape the fiberglass is under there. Also check behind tail light housings for cracks and of course wheel wells, but you already did that quite nicely as I see from the posts.

caskiguy

#Keeptherack !

PainfullySlow

Obviously it is entirely personal preference so this is a decision that only you can make. Personally, I am a FIRM believer in luggage racks do not belong on these cars =).

CraigH

I told my son I thought I may get rid of it and he was not happy.

When I took it off before to clean it he did not like the look of the empty rear deck.

DUB

I can AGREE. The Del-a-lum bushings from Global West are worth EVERY CENT! Rubber and poly do not come close....in my opinion also...depending on what the owner is wanting out of their Corvette...obviously. It is hard to beat a grease-able fluted bushing that is also serviceable and made out of delrin.

________________________________________ ______________________


I know my opinion in this matter does not mean jack-squat due to it is your car.

PROFESSIONALLY SPEAKING:

I would prep the door and paint it when you do the rest of the car. I have lost count on the Corvettes that I have painted that I got paid by the insurance company to paint the entire rear clip and front clip. But the insurance company was not going to give me money to paint the doors and T-tops. SO... I went ahead and prepped the T-tops and doors and painted them when I did the car.

The customers were super happy and it actually made it much easier on me to make sure the cars paint was consistent and I did not have to buff the T-tops and doors to try to get them to look as good as the freshly painted front and rear clip.

As for the luggage rack. All I know is that I will not install one on a Corvette that has not yet had the panel drilled for one. If it is a 'survivor'...I am NOT going to be the one who drills into the panel. I will let someone else do that.

DUB

wabco40

I have to agree with Alan, Craig.

Instead of doing a colour blend on the rear clip and painting the remainder of the car, it would be just as easy to paint the complete car.

I'm not sure what your car is painted with but if its base/clear coat then doing the colour blend is no real problem but as for the clear coat it would mean doing a clear blend on that rear quarter (a temporary repair at best) or re-clear coating the complete rear clip. In which case your basically going to be painting the whole car.
If Peter can match the colour then you might be able to get away with not having to paint the hood, wiper door, roof panels etc.

CraigH

Ok Ok...You have worn me down.

I will get the Vette back from Peter next week.

He has mentioned the advantages of doing it all as well.

There is a few cracks along the back of the rear roof panel behind the T-Tops. Not sure if its bonded together there or what.

I assume I will find out.

That and a fine crack in the inside of one of the rear extensions behind the rear window.

I am sure I will find more but.

Thinking I am going to keep the luggage rack as my son likes it and It does work well with the blue.

BTW Brad, Hood is being done as well as part of insurance claim.

Alan 71

Hi Craig,
There IS a separate panel bonded to the halo that forms it's underside.
Perhaps you're seeing that seam?
Regards,
Alan

I hate to type this.... now is the time to think about the luggage rack.
The decision is clear in my mind.




It has turned out to be the right decision for me.

CraigH

Thanks Alan, yes the hairline cracks are on the top edge and on one side join of that panel.

At least it should just need grinding back working with new filler.

CraigH

As for the rack i am not convinced. I looked at pictures of my Vette with and without and it adds to the look.

Jury is still out but I am leaning to keep it.

OldCarBum

My wife noticed a luggage rack on a Corvette at a show we attended.
She said "wow that would be nice to have for when we go away for the weekends".
Even though our car will be heavily modified my answer was "yes dear it would be, but it didn't come with the car and it would take away from the value".
She accepted it
Its your car and you can do what you want.

Primoz

I would also remove the t-top center panel (chrome) and look under there to see in what shape is the cage there. I think you have to remove it to paint that part of the roof anyway!

CraigH

Got the Vette back home today so i can start the remained of the pre paint repairs.

Have pretty much decided to keep luggage rack as my son really likes it.

I also like the way it breaks up the rear deck and the stainless against the blue paint.

However i will be modifying it somewhat.

I will be taking 1/2" out of each spacer to make it more subtle and streamlined. :-)



The question is are these stainless or chromed pieces ?

I am thinking the later.

So will be looking for best way to cut them down.

Mocked up it comes down a fair way compared with before.

OldCarBum

Nice

Primoz

Good thinking about streamlining the rack.

DUB

They can be both. On the stainless steel luggage racks the stands are stainless steel...on the chrome ones...they are chrome plated and if they are cut...they will rust unless you do something about that.

Now this is still assuming that they are being sold to what I knew how they were sold a few years ago.

DUB