I read from various post of replacing the rivets in the nose. Some remove and just bond the support,others use SS flat heads,still other use the orignal rivets again.
What works the best? How do you remove the support for painting/checking for rust? I looked in the 69 assembly manual and didn't see a print for the support bonding/mounting to the nose.
If you drill out the rivets then the holes will have to be 'glassed and possibly have a shrinkage/paint problem in the future?
Thanks,
Gary

 

Can't help you on the rivet issue Gary - but I (also) could not find the
assembly/install of the header bar in my '75 AIM. My 75 bar popped right off
with a little help from the chisel and hammer - easier than some things I've
removed. You need to unbolt the side brackets that hold it to the inner
fenders. I broke most of my bolts. Count on new side brackets ($10 each)
and bolts.

 

Dave,
I have to see what you were referring to as side brackets? I think I have everything out from the engine bay and nose?
I know others have used different repair processes here so let see who else tunes in? I thought the AIM would have a print of this too?
Gary

 

Gary,
I'll be more then happy to look at mine and see how it was put back on. I would assume it was rivited back in place

 

Thanks Cory,let me know what you find :thumbs:
Gary

 

Gary,
Are you talking about the nose support bar, behind the front bumper (68-72)? If so, it's easy to drill out the rivets and re-revites it back on. There's no bonding there.

 

I think he is referring to the header bar. There wouldn't be shrinkage
issues regarding the rivets in the upper bumper/nose support.

Gary ?

FYI - ZIP had to backorder my side brackets 12-14 days. I hope they come
sooner. They asked to hold the entire order. Yes- of course. I wouldn't glue
the header bar into place without the side brackets bolted in too.

Here are the side reinforcement brackets - bolt from end of header bar to
inside fender skirts.


Am I incorrect ? Maybe you are talking about the nose reinforcement here :


That doesn't make sense - you are working on a 69 - right ? The nose
reinforcement is for 75-up.


[Modified by NHvette, 2:27 PM 4/9/2003]

 

I'm talking about the headlight support where you can see two rows of rivets popping up through the nose of the car to form a "V". I have to check on the supports Dave they may be there, I know I didn't remove them?
Gary

 

all i could see was the re-inforcement bar.. and thats rivited in.

 

Thanks Cory, I'll have to get back out there and look. Maybe Sunday,the weather is supposed to be near 60* :rolleyes:
Gary

 

I'm not so worried about the bumper side... but the side closest to the hood on my 73, there's a steel support strap with bolts anchored to it; it appears to be glued to the body. The bolts are OK and nuts came off with relative ease. But the strap itself pretty bad off, particularly near the fenders. It may be salvageable with some creative rust removal and a coat of POR... Or should I just tear it off and glue on a new one? Problem is I can't find it listed in any catalogs. Anyone know where i could find one?

 

Follow up to the some of my earlier questions.
Yesterday i removed the support header and side supports. I didn't have any problem with the side support screws- impact gun drove them right out. The header support was a different story,the factory did a good job bonding that in. I really had to hammer and pry it out. the rivet heads were all pushing up. I think I'll be able to reuse the support after I paint it with POR15. The bonding strip is ripped in several places though.

New question: For those that reglued the header, did you use a new bonding strip or just glue the support in? I see Zip has a new bonding strip in their catalog.
What is the best glue out there for this job; I think 3M was recommended but I don't have the part number?
I think you would have to bolt the headlight assemblies in and clamp in position to get the correct alignment when bonding?

Thanks,
Gary

 

TTT

 

Gary, here is a link to what I believe was referred to regarding the 3M products:
3M panel adhesives

This stuff gets pricey. The applicator gun for the 200ml tubes is over $100.
Maybe you can find one cheaper. I'd ask around locally at a paint supply place.
They will at least have an equivalent adhesive / applicator gun.

I'm thinking along the same lines as you - bolt in the headlight supports and
make up some kind of clamping jig. Not sure on the bonding strip, since I
don't think I have one on the 75 nose. What does it do, overlap the metal and
bond to the underside of the surround ? BTW - I have my nose off and
upside down on a piece of carpet. It makes this job SO much easier. I can't
imagine the headache of doing this right-side-up. Also, if you haven't ordered
the header yet, ZIP had to backorder the side brackets - so I'm just waiting
to get it. If you're in a hurry - you should call and confirm availability (I ordered online).

Good luck. :seeya


[Modified by NHvette, 2:38 PM 4/15/2003]


[Modified by NHvette, 2:51 PM 4/15/2003]

 

You can find it at ZIP (C1-C3 Restoration in the left side menu) under Headlight section. All the supports are here:
68-82-headlight-components-headlight-body-supports---reinforcements
I've shopped around and found the header bar for essentially the same price
elsewhere. Don't forget your CF-5 5% discount at ZIP.
:seeya


[Modified by NHvette, 2:37 PM 4/15/2003]

 

Gary, here is a link to what I believe was referred to regarding the 3M products:
http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/e...er/output_html

I'm thinking along the same lines as you - bolt in the headlight supports and
make up some kind of clamping jig. Not sure on the bonding strip, since I
don't think I have one on the 75 nose. What does it do, overlap the metal and
bond to the underside of the surround ? BTW - I have my nose off and
upside down on a piece of carpet. It makes this job SO much easier. I can't
imagine the headache of doing this right-side-up. Also, if you haven't ordered
the header yet, ZIP had to backorder the side brackets - so I'm just waiting
to get it. If you're in a hurry - you should call and confirm availability (I ordered online).

Good luck. :seeya

 

:cool: Thanks :thumbs:

Now I just need to get the old one off the car :smash:

 

Thanks Dave for the follow up. I found a local body supply shop that has the tubes for about $30 and loans out the gun like Autozone with CC deposit. Checked the archives too and the 3M 8115 was what was suggested. It's not too bad for me to get to because I have everything out of the front of the car. I have it blocked up on a kwiklift so it's about 35" off the ground and the nose is a good 4' off the ground.
The support was riveted to a wider bonding strip that was molded to the angles of the support then the whole thing was bonded into the nose. As I said, the bonding was still very tight after all these years. Zips has to order the strip from a glass supplier? Ecklers,ACI,? I don't know. They said about a 3 week backorder do you or anyone else know who the supplier is? There is a pscae difference between the bonding strip and nose which would possibly change the headlight bucket alignment? I think I'm going to get a new strip and bond it to the support,less rivets then bond to the nose. I should be able to tell if there's good bond between the support and strip prior to bonding it to the nose.
I was wondering how the guys who used ss flat head did this repair? Did they remove the support too or drill out the rivets and bolt in ss,which I guessing would shrink down and show up anyway?
Gary :cheers:


[Modified by gtr1999, 4:56 PM 4/15/2003]