I'm getting everything ready to install a complete front end. I'll be using VPA 870 as the adhesive, but I was wondering how much I should purchase. Any insight? Would one quart do it?
thanks

 

When bonding front ends, it is better to mix more than you need (and waste some) than to be short...Time is critical, and you have no time to stop and mix another batch in the middle of setting the front end....
If you are installing a one piece front end, and the inner fender skirts, 1 quart is enough
If you are bonding individual panels and bonding strips, I would get at least 2 quarts...
But I usually get a gallon since I use it as a filler as well...
I use large cake decorating bags to apply large beads quickly,
A long time ago, (late 70's) when I lived in Evansville, and was new to fiberglass repair, I used to buy panel bond from Jim Shermersheim. Later, I began making my own using Everglas w/ short strands and added a bit of black pigment...
This was on C1, C2 and C3's up to 73 only...Did not use on SMC panels.
The Everrglass bond is stronger than the panel and the black pigment made it look factory original.
I never tried the old or new VPB since I like my mix just fine. (Time proven)
Good luck!

 

Can you say where the front clip is coming from? Does the front clip you're going to use include the deader bar...the bar that runs near the hood opening and is used to bolt the headlight assemblies to. Also all the other fiberglass brackets.

Thanks. I'm planning on removing my front clip and buying a new one. The original clip, now on the car is a Bondo sculpture. It was in a previous front end collision.....previous owner.......and fractured pieces were all just glued back together.

Thanks

 

Never though of this, great idea! Thanks for the info, really appreciate it.

 

I purchased an entire front clip from a '72 and had it shipped from California to Florida. I purchased it from SoCal vettes in California.


This is it, upside-down in the crate

 

Impressive! Looks complete. Looks like it includes the radiator frame also. The shipping container looks bullet proof and looks expensive also.

 

First let me tell you I'm no expert, but I recently finished the very thing you are going to attempt and if you are willing, I can tell you what I did, what it took, and what I used. It took a long time to do this and unlike many others, I did not use one screw to hold things into place. I also did not use VPA to bond things. I used it as my filler. I'll stop right there, so if you want more info, just let me know. Many other members have helped me get this far so I thought I might be able to pass along the things I learned.
Good Luck,
Mark

Here is a photo of what I started with.

The previous owner swerved to miss a truck, hit their bumper, snapped a ball joint, and drove the tire into the driver's side door.

Here is the front clip after having the paint stripped and before I removed it from the donor car.

Here it is after I finally managed to bond the new clip into place.

Just another shot of the replacement clip after bonding.

Grinding out the old fender/hood surround bonding seams.

Spotting in some epoxy after blocking out the Feather Fill G2

This is where I am now.

Needs to be cut and buffed, but so far so good.

 

Awesome work, just beautiful. Spot on. thanks for sharing!
Can wait to see the finished product!

 

I used pro set. Purchased 2 quarts. Only used one to install the clip. Used the other for body seams.
make sure to test fit your hood before bonding.

 

Wow, that looks fantastic. I'm always trying to learn as much as possible from those who've already done this. Did you also do the painting?

 

Hi Tewski,
I pretty much did the whole thing from start to finish. Lot's of lessons learned with this one. I've done two other cars, but they were metal. One was an 87 Squarebody Chevy truck and the other one was a 67 Camaro Convertible. Working with fiberglass certainly had a steep learning curve. I relied heavily on the advice I found on this forum to get this far, but I could not really find too much information about replacing an entire clip. Probably because you must be out of your mind to do this. No offense meant...I knew what I was getting into. My wife says I have a disease when it comes to these things and I think she is correct, but I love a challenge. That's why I documented the process and materials I used.

If anybody wants to use it to help plan their repairs I will gladly send it to them. They can see what a relative "Newbie" did and adapt it to their needs.

You mention using VPA to bond the clip into place. The VPA 870 I used, made by Evercoat worked really well when I filled the bonding seams on the surface and I used it everywhere I needed some filler work, but man that stuff kicks fast! If that's the stuff you are planning on using to set the clip, you might want to investigate or mess with some on some scrap pieces first. I'm certainly not a pro so take any advice I offer with a grain of salt. It's just based on my personal experience.
God Bless,
Mark

 

Thanks. I can't wait to actually drive it. C3's have always been my favorite car and I never dreamed I would actually own one. I guess I'm living a dream!
Mark

 

Mr. K
I'm going to be re-installing my front clip this upcoming Spring. I'd love to hear the details on your process.

Don

 

Hi Don,
Hopefully the two files I attached, or tried to attach, will help. This was my first attempt working on a Corvette and it was a very long drawn out process, but the results were worth it. I think the process I used is relatively detailed and it makes sense to me (it should since I did it), but if you have any questions just send them my way and maybe I can help.
Good Luck,
Mark

 

Thanks Mark!!

Don

 

Thanks Mark!!

Don

 

Hi Mark,
I just read your PDF file. I am very very close to bonding my clip on my 1969 and was working on adjustments yesterday. You sequence and ideas were a little different from what I was planning but I will incorporate some of you ideas.
Many Thanks, Pete

 

Hi Pete,
I found two things very challenging when I went to do this. The first one is the fact that there are so many pieces that need to fit together pretty well such as the hood, surround, fenders to doors (gap as well as being flush), grill, wiper door...and so on, but once it's glued into place, your ability to adjust the fit is severely limited. Getting those pieces to sit just right without being forced into place was a bear. The second part was getting the adhesive spread and slamming things together while the glue was still within it's working time.

If you find a way to do some part of this quicker and better let us know. If I can find another wreck I just might do this again. Like I said, it's a disease.

Good Luck,
Mark

 

Hi Mark,

It is more than a month later and I have been using your instructions and they have been very very helpful. Many thanks for spending the time to document all this and make it available in a PDF file.
I will likely bond my clip this week as my test fitting is nearly complete,,,"FINALLY" !. I am sure I would have forgotten something important without your instructions. For example, make sure you have at least one shim in for the hood hinges and the wiper door and the main doors. Once bonded, you have a way of moving something in either direction, with no shims, you only have an option of adding but not taking away. I am not sure I would have realized or recognized the importance of that till it was too late.

The only one thing I would add to your instructions that helped me was making a couple of screw jacks from threaded rod from my firewall to the radiator support. I got this trick from the fellow from Dynamic Corvettes on YouTube. For anyone trying to install a from clip, the inner fenders of course drive the location of the hood hinges thereby driving the gaps on your hood. Using the "Screw Rods" helps with aligning the hood once the clip is in place (inner fenders not yet attached) and the wiper door installed. I will add a picture of the rods I made. I am not sure this would be helpful if your inner fenders are already attached the clip??

Thanks again and for anyone crazy enough to try to remove and reinstall a front clip, the key words are patience and persistence. For example, my wiper door has been in and out at least 25 times!

Pete

 

Hi Pete,
Glad I could finally help someone else after all the guidance I got on this forum. If my used front clip did not have the inner fenders bonded in place I think I would probably need to use that screw jack set up to get things aligned just like you did. I was really focused on the gaps, which is a good thing, but I wish I had noticed the way the hood was not flush with the center of the hood surround at the middle of the fender. I ended up having to break the inner fender free from the hood surround just enough to let me raise the surround about 1/4" and then I bonded them back together. Now the hood is flush and the gaps are good. Live and learn.

If I can offer a little advice for the big day...Decaf coffee and three buddies you can count on. Knowing the bonding material will kick at some point and not being sure I would have everything in place by then stressed me out a bit.
Good luck and let us know how things work out.
Mark