Greetings! I am installing a new front end on my 69 convertible( It came with a 73 front end for some reason, I guess it was cheaper to get one at the junk yard) I've replaced or rebuilt all of the mechanics on the car and now I have to install the new front end. Its on a lift in my garage and no one that I know has much experience with this. If anyone out there can give me some help I'd apprecite it. So far I've ground off the old glue and made the surface ready. I'd like to know if you glue the inner fender skirts right away or after the front end is glued. What steps do you take to make sure it turns out good.Or if anyone knows of a "how to " book or video Thanks

 

I ran across a website where someone has posted the process they used. I don't know if it's the best way, but it sure seems to me like this guy knew what he was doing. His work looked real nice from what I could see. Check out his website:
http://www.corvette-restoration.com/

Good luck>

 

http://www.corvette-restoration.com/

This is a great site !

 

I did exactly the same thing on my 72 last year (and for the same reason).

I put the inner skirts on first. They attach to the radiator support, which attaches to the removable crossmember, which attaches to the removable frame horns, which attach to the front of each frame rail. I assume you have all those parts.

After you have the inner skirts attached, you can trial-fit the clip in place. The radiator support establishes the height of the hood, and you basically fit the front clip to line up with the height of the hood. I didn't have a wiper door mechanism, but if you are putting that assembly back in, you can mount that and use it to set the height of the clip at the rear, near the cowl. All the bolts that attach the radiator support, the crossmember, and the frame extensions have some wiggle room and space for washers or shims. I put my clip on, and took it back off several times before I was happy.

You also have to make sure the clip is square reference the ground. I repeatedly measured between the top of the wheel arch and the ground to get it close. You will also have to trim the door gap, which I did little at a time with a cut-off wheel, then a dremel when I got close.

PM me with your email address and I will send you pics of before during and after. I am very happy with the results of my work. I had zero experience with this stuff, and it wasn't that bad!

Temvette72

 

I have all those parts, the radiator support is in. I'm going to order a new hood since the 73 does not line up with the body by the windshield.How and when do you glue the inner fender skirts to the body? What steps id you take when you glued the front end on? Thanks for your help you have a nice car hope mine turns out as nice
Laith gilmershell@att.net

 

I will email pics shortly. Are you using the wiper door mechanism? In 73, they eliminated that whole set-up and used a longer hood. The original 68-72 hood is shorter and not sculpted to match the contour of the fender by the windshield. On my car, I used the 73 hood that was with the car and actually modified the upper fender to blend in with the hood. When I finally got the clip to fit the way I liked it, I glued everything at the same time. I used Fusor 127EZ to attach it, and it has plenty of working time after you apply it. Some guys use drywall screws right through the body into the bonding areas on the cowl. I didn't do that. I used clothespin clamps and a long tie down strap with a come-along around the whole body at the cowl. I did screw the clip to the fender wells (temporarily) along the drip rail where the hood rests. I figured those holes would be easy to fix and hard to see my less than perfect body work. It is a pain to lift the clip into place. It is quite flexible, so it will fit around the inner skirt after they are in place, but you'll need a helper.

I will add more in the email I will send. I am no expert, just an amatuer shade-tree mechanic, so I am certain there is more than one way to skin this Stingray, but mine turned out okay with minimal frustration.

Temvette72

 

I have the 73 hood, I'd be interested to know how you modified the fenders. Did you build up on both sides to match the curve of the hood?
I don't feel like spending the extra $600 on a hood if I can get away with itThanks

 

I sent you an email with some pix and more text on what I did.

Temvette72

 

Temvette, do you happen to have a good picture showing your frame horns showing how they line up to the frame at the top? In other words, are the frame horns even with the top of the frame or a 1/2 just above the frame? The ajustment the holes gives will let it be below, even or above the frame. I am having issues I cant figure out with this ajustment. Right now my front clip is up just high enough to give clearance for the radiator cradles and radiator between them and the top corner of the frame. But, with it this way my hood sits good at all 4 corners but is higher in the middle than the fenders are. Makes me think the front clip is too high, but lowering it gets into the clearance between the frame corner and the radiator/cradles. I'm trying to put a car back together that I bought in pieces.. big mistake

 

I don't have a pic that shows any detail, but I went out just now and looked. The extensions are not flush with the frame horns, They sit about 1/2 inch higher than the frame. You know, I shimmed the radiator support up a little off the crossmember to line everything up. There is also that rod that attaches to the header bar right in the center of the hood surround, by the front of the hood opening. I had to push down on the clip and tighten the attaching nut to get the center of the hood to line up with the clip at the front. (the rod has a slotted hole, so it had a lot of adjustablity. I also never got it perfect without the use of a little filler across the front of the clip. You can see it in this photo:

 

I re-read your post...Do you mean the hood is higher in the middle as in front to back, or the middle as in left and right? If the fenders aren't attached to the inner fenders yet, there is alot of flex in the panels that can help you line up the top of the fenders with the hood. There is also the bad situation where the hood could be warped. There are some threads out there where guys have adjusted poor fender-hood alignment with minimal carnage on already finished cars. If you can cut the joint between the fender and the skirt, you can adjust the height of fender relative to the hood. I hope this helps.

Temvette72

 

Don't glue the inner fenders to the surround until the nose is on. You can set the height of your fenders to the hood by moving the top of the surround up and down. When you set the nose make sure the center of your hood is just a bit higher than your fenders. You can use small pieces wood or pieces of fiberglass to shim the height the way you want it. Remember it's easier to raise the surround than it is to lower it.

 

Hey thanks, thats two people that have said 1/2 inch, my hood problem is both sides running along the fender. Like I said its good at all four corners but the hood runs higher as it get to about midway down. Seems like the front nose needs to drop a bit to get that out but if I drop the front down I run into problems with radiator and radiator support problems with the top corner of the frame. I'm thinking I need to shim up the front body mounts to raise it there rather than lower the front crossmember..?? maybe? lol Also the front fenders are not off and havent been. This is a problem I inherited after the previous owner bailed out right when the shop was ready to drop the body back on. Thats what they did, just dropped it and shipped the car out..

 

If I understand correctly the hood & the surround are at different heights along the sides? If so you can push down & up on the surround to get the alignment better. The fender skirt gets glued to the surround in this area and has some adjustment. You'll need to find a way to hold it in place as the glue sets up.

Jim