I'm still fairly to to this forum as well as a 1st time Corvette owner. Always dreamed of owning one, and after 25 years of dreaming (kids almost grown and wife finished school) I found what was presumed to be a good buy. A 1978 Silver Anniversary Corvette that needed some TLC for $3000. It had been parked outdoors in the sun for the last 3 to 4 years due to leaky brake calipers. Obviously it was in VERY despearate need of TLC. It only shows 78K miles and based on my looking things over I think it's original miles. This poor thing was simply driven, not abused, but not well cared for. I've replaced some things, fixed some things and continue to tinker/drive her when I can. I love the lines on these cars and still can't believe I FINALLY own one. Moving on....

My question at this point (sorry for the long intro) concerns the nose. At some point in it's life it appears to have suffered some minor damage to the front. The lower area (around the park lights) had new parts glassed in. But the area I need info on is the top around the headlights where the point of the hood is. This are seems to be raised up causing the headlights to rub/bind when opening. I've noticed a metal backing plate under this area, but there is a gap between it and the fiberglass nose. Should it be there? Or should the metal backing be bonded to the fiberglass? When I press down on this area in the middle so the fiberglass contacts the metal backing the lights clear with no problem.

Any insight would be greatly apprecited....
Rowdy :steering:

 

Shortly after purchase....


Currently sporting 2 tone primer sealer (short term paint job!)
:cool:


[Modified by c3vettelover, 9:46 AM 8/6/2003]

 

heres an idea silly enough that it might work, consider gluing it and put something very heavy on the top to hold it down while drying.

 

Welcome to the forum Rowdy...how bout a pic of the area in question pls.. thanks ...joe! :seeya

 

Or instead of glue, how about some fiberglass. It will hold allot better than glue, but it might be a little tricky to work with in that area.

 

This is a common occurance with C3's parked in the scorching heat for several years. The sun causes the support beam to separate from the body. I'd get under the car and make sure the support is solid. Mine was badly corroded and needed replaced.
If it is solid, you can simply re-bond it to the body. I used some 3M superfast eurathane. I was told to use this by a very well known Vette restorer (Yogi Bair) http://www.bairs.com
If you need more specifics, let me know.

Stew

 

Yogi Bair... :skep: :lol: I would get my name changed. :lol:

 

I don't have a problem with re-bonding the area. I guess my biggest concern was if it SHOULD BE bonded together. And from what I've seen so far the answer looks to be YES.

Thanks for the help and insight....
A forum such as this is priceless....
Rowdy :thumbs:

 

congratulations on your vette and welcome to the forum :chevy
i think you got a great deal!!!

 

Wow! I think you bought into a great hobby with a great deal on a great car! Hope you enjoy it. You said "I love the lines on these cars" and as you can see by my paint, I think the 25th Anniversary paint scheme was a really fine enhancement to those lines. Welcome to the club.

 

nickname :rolleyes:

 

Just a word of caution, don't use metal rivets to hold it in place. I stripped a '69 to bare glass and noticed circular repair spots in that lacation but didn't think anything of them until the car was repainted. About one year later the paint bubbled where the repaired spots were. The problem was someone had used metal rivets to repair the nose and they started to rust/expand. I have since seen it on a number of other Vettes. Bond it...

 

Early C3's used rivits.