Driving about 60 mph with cruise control on and going around a corner and bingo , the thread comes off a trailer in the other lane and I keep it from center punching me but it caught the right part of the bumper. Finally stop about another mile down the road before I could pull over and the tread is wrapped around my front tire. So, jacked up the car and got it out but a bit of damage to the right side of the bumper.



So, drove back home, about 40 miles and waiting till the next day to put it on the quickjacks and see what all was broke. Did have intentions of repainting the front again next Spring but gonna be sooner now. So took a pic to the damage from the outside before going to work to take the front bummer off.
Wow, Lots tore up after I got the thing all apart.



So today, Cleaned and measured and build a card board template to guide on making a fiberglass piece to attach to the innner fender. Then super glued a few cracked place and holding them closed with welding grip pliers. Plan to just close off the air inlets to the brakes on both sides as I don't ever drive this car hard enuff for the brakes to need cooling. Probably just do a glass patch for the drivers side also. Can't see any of that stuff once the car is back together anyway so does not have to be perfect.
So, tomorrow is , check the glue job and add is necessary, check to see if one of the parts places in town have fiberglass kits, if not order it.
Then, after that's done we'll start checking for the other stuff. Vette Villain's 1st inquiry as I've use them before on parts.
Will; continue on with the job on this thread in the future.
Then after the fiberglass work, will see about getting parts needed on the way. Hoping to find a silver fascia but if not , I'll just paint it to match.

 

Sorry to see the extent of the damage to your car. That tire tread really did a number on it. Best of luck with the repairs.

 

That's a bummer, looks like the biggest pain is going to be the inner fender. If the part that broke off is in one piece, it could be mended back on. Had good luck with Goop Adhesive. I believe you have the plan and right attitude. Best luck with your repair.

 

Sorry to see that. Those road-gators can take a pretty big bite sometimes. We have a lot of them here is Arizona. Good luck with your repairs.

 

Doh!
Good to see no one was hurt. Ever think about doing a Tiger Shark front bumper?

 

Perhaps a sliver lining....look for your build sheet in the front bumper if you don't already have it. It will be in the tube behind the foam. That's were mine was on the Z16. Good luck with the repairs.

 

I just got my car back from the body shop a little over a week ago. Similar issue in that another person's tire exploded on the interstate. My insurance covered the repair. My damage wasn't as bad as yours. However, I did need a new AC compressor from where a piece of the tire was bouncing around under my car. I was very pleased with the way State Farm handled it. They covered it with zero deductible under my comprehensive coverage.

 

Glad your insurance took care of you. State Farm is a little higher priced than some, but when I was with them, they were one of the best companies I ever dealt with. OP-Wont your insurance cover this? Some companies will work with you on what you want to do. For instance, the tiger shark front end, should you like that, some companies (at one time, at least!) may give you what a new front bumper would cost, and you could pay the difference out of pocket to have the front end you want. I actually went to the body shop about this on an IROC Camaro I had years ago, and they had no problem with it. Just sayin'.

 

Did get the sheet out this time. Didn't know about it last time had the bumper off for repairs.

 

Gorilla Glue done a good job on holding the two split pieces together. Today, go get a fiberglass kit from AutoZone , If I like what the have. If not, order one.

 

More stuff done to the car in the last couple days.
Building a fiber glass panel to fix in place. Had it layed over a cardboard mock up.



Then took it off the cardboard / plastic bag set up and put another coat of epoxy on it.








Next was kinda clean up where it's gonna fit , pin it in place and add a strip of glass and epoxy to hold it in place. Tomorrow , More glass and epoxy will be added.
Have located the Right Fog light cover and spoiler so will order that tomorrow. Next is finding a 2nd hand nose.

 

Well , did order the fog light cover, filler and spoiler from Vette Villians this morn for 75 bucks with shipping. Now, the search a stock looking front bumper cover. Used and preferable Silver but can paint. LOL Was gonna pull the bumper cover and paint it again this Spring but was no anticipating having to change the whole thing. Ha ha ha ha. If can't find I may just go with a fiberglass replica and paint it.

 

And this morning work on the front fender is in the dry mode.

 

Progress coming along on the repair job.
Did finish the inner fender and painted it.



And did get parts in from a salvage group but they sent the rear inter fender piece that covers the computer department instead of the spacer between the front of the inner fender and the spoiler. So , decide to just put some fiberglass on it and drill the hold out.

The before with the corner torn off.


And the after patched and hole drilled.


The one pint paint kit from New Orleans is on the way to me today says an email from the company.

Now, the wait for the nose section to come to a near by Fedex shipping depot and I go pick it up.

 

Well, if all goes good, my new stock nose section will be in at Fedx Lake Charles , La. tomorrow and should have it home in a few more days. With the weather the ways it's been last few days, not gonna start painting till Maw Nature behaves for a few days. ;-)
Decision a few days ago was not putting the air tubes for the brake cooling back in. As would have to cut the hole and notches for the right side and found a bit of damage to the air tube, decided not to put either one back in. No way I'm ever driving fast enuff or racing where that is really necessary.





So, let's stop up the hole on the left side to keep rain water and stuff being thrown by the tire inside the fender wall.
So, some pieces of fiberglass, a bit of sanding, some epoxy , some paint and VaLaaa. We good.

 

And after about 30 mins waiting around finally picked up the front bumper cover in Lake Charles yesterday morning. Got home and took out of the box . Now, for this weather to warm up to the 60's so I can get this old 77 yr old body to do anything as per getting it ready to paint. But lost one of the springs that help hold the daytime running lights/ signal lights up. So gotta find a replacement.

 

Well , what happens when you attempt to time the breezes and paint outside the garage? Gonna be a mess for sure and wasted time. But , after going ahead and putting the cover on the car and putting this back in the garage, resanding and wiping down, it's covered with one coat of primer from the paint gun now. Next coat today after light 400 grit pass over and wipe down. Then if satisfied> > Base coat.

 

Perhaps the final prime coat. We'll look at it good in about an hour or so. If like , here comes the Base coats. ;-) Make it silver again ;-)

 

Glad to see you're nearing the home stretch. Looking good!

 

Well , yesterday evening it was repairing a couple snafu's I caused not paying attention to the hose and throwing my gloves on the same bench at the nose piece. I credit it to 77 year old brain damage. ha ha ha ha. But got all repaired, Some spot painting with primer, spot painting with base and later 1st overall clear coat. Checking all out this morn and it's all good and dry so 2 more clears this morning and let it cure.
Heck it's not ever gonna be a show car and with 159K miles on her , she just wants to be on the roads and not some car show or even in town that much. LOL.