When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Has anyone else ran into this problem....my convertible has developed a crack over both rear wheel wells.Pass side about 2 inches,dvr side about a inch.Any help would be great as I have not ran into this before. Thanks in advance.
Has anyone else ran into this problem....my convertible has developed a crack over both rear wheel wells.Pass side about 2 inches,dvr side about a inch.Any help would be great as I have not ran into this before. Thanks in advance.
I noticed about a 3/8" crack in mine on the drivers side just recently just about the apex of the wheel well. Have no idea why though, tires and rims have been stock. I will look at pass side later.
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Originally Posted by jrose7004
I can't say that I've heard of the problem in a C5.
I haven't heard of this either. I would think something had to hit it to cause the crack - haven't seen any posts about stress cracks occurring on the C5.
My '97 coupe has the same hair-line cracks in the area you described. While it may not be "normal", it can occur on cars approaching 20 years old. Since nothing can be done other than sanding all the way down to bare paint, I just live with it.
I once saw an original '53 'Vette that was a sea of cracks. Hardly an area on the car that wasn't cracked.
I'm one that believes the more you keep your paint nourished with polymers/protectants, the longer your paint will last. Or who knows, they may just be "stress" cracks, and it won't matter what you do to the finish.
Last edited by WetteVette; Dec 30, 2013 at 03:32 PM.
In 2010 I drove to Texas, along I 40 somewhere in New Mexico, it was dark and I hit something, it was loud( probably a piece of re-tread off a 18 wheeler), and I expected the car to be messed up real bad.
I pulled over at the next town, and saw no damage, so I thought well ok, drove on.
It was'nt until I was washing the car I saw the crack, you how to be down low to see it, I'm assuming that is where the crack is from.
My '97 coupe has the same hair-line cracks in the area you described. While it may not be "normal", it can occur on cars approaching 20 years old. Since nothing can be done other than sanding all the way down to bare paint, I just live with it.
I once saw an original '53 'Vette that was a sea of cracks. Hardly an area on the car that wasn't cracked.
I'm one that believes the more you keep your paint nourished with polymers/protectants, the longer your paint will last. Or who knows, they may just be "stress" cracks, and it won't matter what you do to the finish.
thank you for your reply...but the crack is the fiberglass broken
I haven't heard of this either. I would think something had to hit it to cause the crack - haven't seen any posts about stress cracks occurring on the C5.
thank you for your response, I posted pics of the cracks
Looks like a fiberglass crack but I cant see how a torsion body twist would happen in this area...I think someone hit your Corvette from the rear. I had almost the same damage on my C3 as a result...?? Not happening on my '03 C5!
Looks like a fiberglass crack but I cant see how a torsion body twist would happen in this area...I think someone hit your Corvette from the rear. I had almost the same damage on my C3 as a result...?? Not happening on my '03 C5!
My 72 454 has those. Of course it also has a a 38 year old body and frame with a 500 ft/lb of torque 454 in it.
I noticed these small cracks on several convertibles that I considered buying. I noticed that they occurred at the top of the rear wheel wells. And seemed to have started from the inside of the wheel well and progressed to the outside.
I would run my finger at the top and inside part of the wheel well opening-just above the wheel opening ridge--- and feel for any cracks.They would seem to start right next to the opening ridge at the top of the wheel well opening. Many would only be apparent on the inside of the wheel well-and wouldn't be visible on the outside of the rear fender. They were closed cracks and very small in length-less than a quarter inch in length
About 10 percent of the convertibles I examined had a beginning of a crack on the inside-just to the top of the small ridge of the opening. Most of these cracks were on the inside only-and hadn't progressed pass the ridge and further to the outside of the rear fender.
Never found any cracks in the front wheel wells. Rear minor collision or driving on irregular surfaced rock roads could cause the start of these cracks-I would assume. Stress seems to be concentrated at the top of the rear wheel openings.
I noticed these small cracks on several convertibles that I considered buying. I noticed that they occurred at the top of the rear wheel wells. And seemed to have started from the inside of the wheel well and progressed to the outside.
I would run my finger at the top and inside part of the wheel well opening-just above the wheel opening ridge--- and feel for any cracks.They would seem to start right next to the opening ridge at the top of the wheel well opening. Many would only be apparent on the inside of the wheel well-and wouldn't be visible on the outside of the rear fender. They were closed cracks and very small in length-less than a quarter inch in length
About 10 percent of the convertibles I examined had a beginning of a crack on the inside-just to the top of the small ridge of the opening. Most of these cracks were on the inside only-and hadn't progressed pass the ridge and further to the outside of the rear fender.
Never found any cracks in the front wheel wells. Rear minor collision or driving on irregular surfaced rock roads could cause the start of these cracks-I would assume. Stress seems to be concentrated at the top of the rear wheel openings.
this is my first rag top,prob mylast,just not a fan of them.The car has never been hit in the rear.the cacks are in the same place on both sides....10:00 and 2:00. I can fix not a prob,just would like to know the cause..tank you for your nput.