Front clip removal question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 884
Likes: 84
From: New Boston, NH
Front clip removal question
Hi all,
Maybe this belongs in the paint and body section but I have been pondering something and wondered if someone has an answer. Is it possible to remove the front clip with the engine in place? I have seen plenty of pictures of removed clips and the bare firewall, and have read tutorials on the process. In all of the pictures I have seen, the engine bay is empty. I have serious poor alignment issues with the front clip along with a growing portion of the bonding surfaces that are coming undone. I am going to be painting soon and need to decide the approach to take with the clip.
Thanks,
Bryan (BEJ)
Maybe this belongs in the paint and body section but I have been pondering something and wondered if someone has an answer. Is it possible to remove the front clip with the engine in place? I have seen plenty of pictures of removed clips and the bare firewall, and have read tutorials on the process. In all of the pictures I have seen, the engine bay is empty. I have serious poor alignment issues with the front clip along with a growing portion of the bonding surfaces that are coming undone. I am going to be painting soon and need to decide the approach to take with the clip.
Thanks,
Bryan (BEJ)
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
I would say yes you can I have removed a front clip, but to tell you the truth, I could not remember if the engine was in it or not.
Check the AIM for the bonding places you need to split or undo.
Check the AIM for the bonding places you need to split or undo.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 884
Likes: 84
From: New Boston, NH
I will check that out. I installed vintage air so the passenger side is pretty accessible with the heater box gone. It's the driver's side that has me concerned. I just don't see a way to get to the firewall bonding area on that side.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 884
Likes: 84
From: New Boston, NH
Pro
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 535
Likes: 104
From: Chicago, IL
i removed mine with the engine in, i used a heat gun and a coupe of metal scrapers one soft one hard. the worst part was separating the front flange near inner fender area. i got a crack on both sides near fender to top surrond bonding strip. otherwise went well and reused clip, set clip with car on all 4 wheels properly inflated.
2026 Loser of the Year
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 36,595
Likes: 7,042
From: New Or-leens Loo-z-anna
Rookie advice: Take your time with the heat gun and a long-handled gasket scraper.....no sense in cracking good fiberglass
Long handles...............short handles.......you'll probably need an assortment.
Long handles...............short handles.......you'll probably need an assortment.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 3,753
Likes: 721
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Agree and good advice.
Agree and good advice. When I removed the front clip off a 69, I think I had a half dozen of the ones doorgunner shows on the right. With a heat gun you can start on each side with a scraper or putty knife and work towards the middle tapping with a hammer. Eventually the glue seam will pop open. Easy to get outside the glue seam and into the fiberglass so agree patience is needed.
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