Priya's 79 chrome bumper conversion project
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,600
Likes: 7,046
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Priya.......you can MAKE it fit the '79 body. Stay focused on the general appearance of the new piece in relation to the car. If you focus mainly on the character line----the new piece will NEVER seem to fit. I think you will really like it once it is finished!
I think the striping in your sample pic really exaggerates the actual character line......when you remove approx. 10 inches (or less) of the rear secton of the '79 bumper the character line will be even less noticeable..........
(forgive the uneven/rough VPA...I didn't rough-sand anything yet)......
As I learned...."Easy Does It".......do not cut the '79 bumper off EXACTLY where you think it should be cut.......leave several EXTRA inches on the '79 for positioning the new piece. The new piece will not LOOK as though it will fit when you position it OVER the "extra length". After being positive that you have the new piece positioned to your liking.........(I waited a couple days/repositioned the "new piece" a little before I made the FINAL cut to remove the "extra" material on the '76 rear bumper)........remove the extra material so that the '79 edge will butt together evenly with the new piece---it will take a little "coaxing" to make everything fit "flush".
I hope I worded it so that it make sense.
Last edited by doorgunner; Mar 30, 2016 at 12:44 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 31
From: Ontario
I meant to say 19 CFM at 90 PSI. Sorry. You could make a dandy little wind tunnel with a 90 CFM unit.
PAuto had 6 or 7 different pump sizes on sale in the last mail out flyer. Here's the pumps they currently have at regular prices.
http://www.princessauto.com/en/searc...ompressor+pump
Good luck on the project. My 76 Vette is a prime candidate for a conversion like that so I'm pretty interested in your results.
PAuto had 6 or 7 different pump sizes on sale in the last mail out flyer. Here's the pumps they currently have at regular prices.
http://www.princessauto.com/en/searc...ompressor+pump
Good luck on the project. My 76 Vette is a prime candidate for a conversion like that so I'm pretty interested in your results.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Still a very good price on a 19 CFM unit. Thanks for the link, they have that 19-29 CFM unit I saw for $729 on sale for $550. My husband was looking at Devilbiss pumps for around $2000 and a used complete Devilbiss compressor for $1500 and I didn't much like the idea of spending that much money, especially for a used unit. I showed him the place in Calgary selling rebuild parts for our present compressor pump and we're (he, lol) going to take it apart this weekend and see what kind of shape its in. He sounded pretty motivated even saying that if there was a hole in a piston he's got a Tig and a milling machine he can fix the piston and so on. The thing had a knock in it from the time we got it so hubby said that might be a problem if there isn't one connecting rod close to original size so he can know how big to make the rod hole.
Last edited by Priya; Mar 30, 2016 at 01:13 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 430
Likes: 31
From: Ontario
$729 US or CDN?
Hey Doorgunner.. I'm getting older by the day so get cracking on your Vette project. Obviously not a Cadillac, but when I see your `68 I think of Johnny Cash's 'One Piece At A Time' tune because yours has different years of parts too
Hey Doorgunner.. I'm getting older by the day so get cracking on your Vette project. Obviously not a Cadillac, but when I see your `68 I think of Johnny Cash's 'One Piece At A Time' tune because yours has different years of parts too
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
A tip that will save you much time:
When the filler hardens it will reach an intermediate stage where it is not quite hard yet. At that time you can do your rough-shaping using a body file, aka "cheese grater". It lets you get 90% of the work done quickly. Then you let it harden all the way and have very little sanding left to do.
When the filler hardens it will reach an intermediate stage where it is not quite hard yet. At that time you can do your rough-shaping using a body file, aka "cheese grater". It lets you get 90% of the work done quickly. Then you let it harden all the way and have very little sanding left to do.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
I am slightly confused...are you using the rear bumper section that you recently got...or using rear clip that you have been laminating on???
Not that it matters...but trying to stay up with your thread.
DUB
Not that it matters...but trying to stay up with your thread.
DUB
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
I'm going to use the rear bumper section I recently got. I decided the 69 rear clip I've been working on is too beat up for me to have a good chance of getting it properly shaped.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,600
Likes: 7,046
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 19,294
Likes: 2,754
From: Charlotte NC
FOR WHAT IT IS WORTH:
Doing this type of work for a living....I do AGREE...I measure like crazy...but I do not get OBSESSED with it. The reason is SIMPLE....we all know that laminating is going to occur....and there is going to be seam that will need to be filled and shaped.....so...we all know that body work is involved....and IF the panel has a gap...no big deal.
Properly applied mat and resin and laminating techniques and curing processes still take place. That does not change...regardless of the amount of gap between the body and the rear bumper section.....so...it an extra step is needed due to finally getting it in place ....then it is what it is and move on. YES...I know people want it to the minimum gap....and I do also....but if it is not.....I do what is needed and do not loose sleep over it.
SO do not freak out.....if you feel that you are or may do that.
DUB
Doing this type of work for a living....I do AGREE...I measure like crazy...but I do not get OBSESSED with it. The reason is SIMPLE....we all know that laminating is going to occur....and there is going to be seam that will need to be filled and shaped.....so...we all know that body work is involved....and IF the panel has a gap...no big deal.
Properly applied mat and resin and laminating techniques and curing processes still take place. That does not change...regardless of the amount of gap between the body and the rear bumper section.....so...it an extra step is needed due to finally getting it in place ....then it is what it is and move on. YES...I know people want it to the minimum gap....and I do also....but if it is not.....I do what is needed and do not loose sleep over it.
SO do not freak out.....if you feel that you are or may do that.
DUB
Pro
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 679
Likes: 18
From: Vernon Hills Ill
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 6,397
Likes: 649
From: Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Actually before I started looking for a C3 I had my heart set on a 69 Charger. Stripped rusty hulks with no interior or drivetrain were asking 10K and nice examples were 35-50k and up so they were out of my price range.
