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I've read quite a few threads on the correct way to repair the rivet head expansion issue on the front valence but then I was watching Fantomworks, which I consider to be one of the more credible reality shows, and saw this so I took a screen shot from the television. The car did have this issue and they didn't explain how they were fixing it but it looks like they just took a chunk out of the front leaving square corners and maybe replaced it with a new one? Seems like that wouldn't stand the test of time.
Hi S T,
That photo has been posted here before.
The consensus is that cutting the hood surround in that way is plainly just a BAD idea.
The work needed to repair that cut is involved and difficult to say the least. And, as you mention, too likely to cause problems in the future.
Regards,
Alan
I am about to go down this road on my car. I had a very lengthy conversation with DUB on this subject and learned the proper way to do it. If you are going to try this you might want to talk to him. All of the work is done from underneath. I agree with Alan, cutting out that section is a "Bad idea".
I usually take what they tell you on the Reality Shows, divide it by my phone number and then I'm left with half of the truth.
Cutting away an integral part of the structure up front that backs up to three gap areas including the hood is a flat out stupid idea.
I did Vette bodywork with my father in the 80's and 90's and the hood and headlight area is a miserable place to get gaps correct with even a brand new front end.
Agree with the above posts. I used to like that show... until they CLEARLY demonstrated that they need to stick to metal, and leave the fiberglass alone!
I was very lucky that the front clip was off the car when I did mine, so I did it upside down on the garage floor. Then, I set it on the car to glue the headers back in. I followed Willcox directions (which, I believe, are the same as Dub`s advice) in doing it from the bottom.... removing the header, digging the rivets out of the bonding strip, then gluing the header back in with extra glue in the holes and NO rivets.
the board and clamps worked very well!
Bubba is busy again. That is the dumbest thing that I have ever seen done to a corvette. That is just the beginning of the future problems for that car.
That show is usually pretty good at disclosing what the owner paid for the restoration or at least how many hours went into it and how much they spent in parts. I remember thinking that this guy spent way too much and he was only expecting 'touch ups' on the paint because it had been in storage for decades and he thought it was in good shape when he put it away.
Rivet repair
