My '75 didn't have a lower valance panel, nor an air damn, so when I was putting it back together for the season I went to add them.

But they don't line up...

I can get the driver side to match up with my lower bumper retainer and fender. The fit is tight but acceptable. The passenger side is another story. The fender is about an inch off and the lower valance panel is off of each hole in the bumper retainer by 1/4 to 1/2 inch progressing from center to fender.

I think the fender was damaged at some point and not aligned correctly.


At this point I'm thinking I either need to:
1 - Go without the whole setup. The car ran OK before without it and I just put in a DeWitt aluminum radiator.
2 - Lock down the driver side per normal and then drill and bolt the passenger as best as possible. This will mean additional holes in the lower bumper retainer and just using a bolt/washer/nut setup to pinch the panel in place. This only solves the connection to the bumper retainer, I'm still not connected to the fender. Any ideas on how to bridge that gap? I do not have the ability to fabricate anything from scratch.

#1 is the easy way out. #2 still leaves me unattached from the fender.

Any ideas?

 

I would suggest having a body guy, Vette body, to see where your panels bond together and make sure it's all assembled properly. If your fender was bonder on incorrectly it might need to be re separated and re-bonded in the correct position so the panels all line up.

You really need to do whatever it takes to get a chin spoiler on the car. It's an integral part of the cooling system.

 

Thanks DB, I'd really like to get it on as I understand how important it is. Right now a body shop is not an option. So I think I'm going to drill a few holes and bolt it up as best as possible. I might get a litte of that reinforced bar from Home Depot and use it to 'fab' up some reinforcement on the side that doesn't reach the fender.

 

My 75 has got the same problem but not quite as bad as yours I sanded a little recess so the lower fender would line up flush you can't tell after I had it painted does yours still have the egg crate deal behind the bumper?

 

I've still got the egg crate which makes things hard to manipulate. This is a crappy replacement bumper the previous owner put on the car.

My real issue is that my club is in a show next weekend and I am supposed to debut the car there. This is like my last 'issue' item. Everything else is just reassembly.

I just got back after buying the bolts/washers/nuts so I'll give this a try.

I'm thinking for the fender side I might have a frend fab up a metal piece to support the gap. It won't be ready for the show but in the next couple of weeks.