Front Left Wheelhouse Repair
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Front Left Wheelhouse Repair
I'm new to the Corvette world and need info. I recently purchased an 03 Z. While detailing the front left wheelhouse I noticed a large crack around the airduct leading to the brake rotor. The airduct does not seat properly and the piece with the crack sags pretty good below the airduct....to be more specific the crack intersects where the air duct comes through on the inside area of the wheelhouse.....somehow I missed this damage during my inspection prior to purchase. Can the cracked part be repaired or replaced somehow or does the entire wheelhouse have to be replaced. If the entire wheelhouse needs replacement where can I find parts and about how much $$. If it can be repaired without replacement please tell me how. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Also....what would cause this type of damage and is this a common area for cracks?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
I had a crack in my inner fender (I think this is the wheel housing that you are talking about). It is easy to fix if you have the materials. Please post the photos. I can provide some information once the photos are posted.
Also, where are you located? You may want to update your profile.
Also, where are you located? You may want to update your profile.
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix AZ
Vettenuts.....profile updated....thanks for the reminder. Yes this is the left side inner fender at the brake duct area. I tried to post photos on this site after BC posted a reply but for some reason I cannot post pics. I sent BC an email with pics attached. Bear with me I'm new to this site and still learning.
Is this a common area for cracking.....maybe due to the low front end? If not what could cause this type of damage? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
Is this a common area for cracking.....maybe due to the low front end? If not what could cause this type of damage? Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Bill
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Can you access the crack on the front side where a repair would be out of view. If you crack is near the air duct, you would need to drop the little close-out panel just in front of the wheel housing.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Here is how I fixed mine. I had a crack in the upper part that I believe occurred the first time I installed a set of heads. Here is the view from below and above.
I got an inner fender from which I cut a backing plate that was much larger then the crack and then bought the gun with the pre-mixer since the adhesive is a two part epoxy made specifically for this task. Here is the gun and patch that I used.
Next I sanded everything smooth to roughen the surface and used two cleaners, one specifically for removing any chemicals and then lacquer thinner. I then installed the backing plate from below and put a skim coat of the adhesive above. I used a stick that pushed up against the backing plate until the adhesive set using wax paper to prevent sticking anything to the backing plate.
Final backing plate patch after I put a skim coat over it.
Above fender skim coat.
Callaway provides a CARB EO sticker with the Honker so I put the sticker over the skim coat and you can't even tell the fender was repaired. Also, even though the backing plate looks kind of bad in the photo due to the sanding, over time with sand hitting it you have to look hard to see it at this point in time.
I got an inner fender from which I cut a backing plate that was much larger then the crack and then bought the gun with the pre-mixer since the adhesive is a two part epoxy made specifically for this task. Here is the gun and patch that I used.
Next I sanded everything smooth to roughen the surface and used two cleaners, one specifically for removing any chemicals and then lacquer thinner. I then installed the backing plate from below and put a skim coat of the adhesive above. I used a stick that pushed up against the backing plate until the adhesive set using wax paper to prevent sticking anything to the backing plate.
Final backing plate patch after I put a skim coat over it.
Above fender skim coat.
Callaway provides a CARB EO sticker with the Honker so I put the sticker over the skim coat and you can't even tell the fender was repaired. Also, even though the backing plate looks kind of bad in the photo due to the sanding, over time with sand hitting it you have to look hard to see it at this point in time.
