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hey guys, this might be a Q for DUB. but everyone please chime in if you have some knowledge on this!
i have seen a lot of c3 cars that the upper surround nose support has swell spots were the rivets are corroding...does anyone know a fix for this? i know you could remove it and replace all the rivets. i was hoping as big of a problem this is with the c3 cars someone would have some in site into this problem! and if removing is the only option too fix it right, please fill me in on how too remove it with out damaging anything? and then do you just sand down the zits on the surround? or would it be to thin there if you did that? give me your thoughts guys... thanks troy
Heat gun, tablespoon. press in making a concave dimple. Fill with VPA. Others will give their thoughts. This was given to me by Dub and it works so for me this is the way.
Heat gun, tablespoon. press in making a concave dimple. Fill with VPA. Others will give their thoughts. This was given to me by Dub and it works so for me this is the way.
ZIO
so you heat the area with the gun and press the spoon on the dipple, and it makes a indentation?
The black 69 was done about 5 years ago, The warbonnet Yellow 71 was done 1 year ago. This works for me!
ZIO
THIS IS GREAT! the 71 lt1 i bought, after closer inspection you can see the dimples faintly. i was debating on removing the nose brace. but this with save me a ton of work...thanks again troy
Heat gun, tablespoon. press in making a concave dimple. Fill with VPA. Others will give their thoughts. This was given to me by Dub and it works so for me this way
Aren't you missing a few steps ? Like taking out the corroded alloy rivets?
The rivets swelling and causing the dimple are the direct results of what is called Galvanic Corrosion or simply put... dis-similar metal properties. I wrote an article about how to fix this permanently years ago and you'll find a copy of it at the link below. While I admire the other techniques being used, as long as the aluminum rivet is still in place and as long as the metal header bar is still there an issue will arise over time. Why GM chose to put aluminum rivets in a steel bar I have no idea. Especially when you consider they had a wealth of knowledge about how to build car but ignored this small factor.
The fix is not to grind through the top of the surround panel that's for sure, if you do you'll see it when the primer and paint dries down and it will show over time.
You can go read my write up about this at this link and it is the permanent way to solve the issue.
Later model cars didn't use the rivets so the issue is not present in these cars. The headlamp header was bonded to the upper surround panel without the rivets and thus the issue went away..
IMHO.
Ernie
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; 07-22-2019 at 09:31 PM.
When I bought my '72 in 1974, it had the dimples. And that was the way car guys knew that you had an original no-hit front end. At car shows, they'd stop and comment on the original dimples. Now it seems that all the new guys (owners) think this is a problem that needs to be fixed. It's kind of like base coat/clear coat vs. original single stage on a C3. Many seem to have to improve on the original. And no, I'm not one of those purists. I guess you can do what you want to "FIX" it. I'll leave mine the
way it is - original. And for everyone's information, the dimples look no different now, after 45 years in my possession, than they did the day I picked up the car.
Duane
If the paint isn't cracked or popping off on those 'dimples', leave it alone. When the car needs paint, fix them properly. I have no idea how heat would cause aluminum oxide to shrink. I suspect the pressure put on the spoon compacted the aluminum oxide somewhat--with or without heat. If that works for you, fine.
Why GM chose to put aluminum rivets in a steel bar I have no idea. Especially when you consider they had a wealth of knowledge about how to build car but ignored this small factor.
Later model cars didn't use the rivets so the issue is not present in these cars. The headlamp header was bonded to the upper surround panel without the rivets and thus the issue went away..
IMHO.
Ernie
I read that they used rivets because AT THAT TIME the chemists who made the glue couldn't get satisfactory results with a metal to fibreglass bond and so couldn't guarantee longevity
Okay , so now I see what Dub is talking about when he tries to answer stuff. I guess you find yourself on the defense to support your comments. I'm not going their. To much to do right now. Not everyone wants to remove the support member at the time they are asking the question. Yes you should fix the problem assuming you are in a full blown restore. I was not getting into the whole process and cause since many just ask about the dimples and how to fix them. Not the cause! Wilcox explains it in their process very well so based on my inexperience with this stuff I will bow out..................................... ........................................ .................................
Okay , so now I see what Dub is talking about when he tries to answer stuff. I guess you find yourself on the defense to support your comments. I'm not going their. To much to do right now. Not everyone wants to remove the support member at the time they are asking the question. Yes you should fix the problem assuming you are in a full blown restore. I was not getting into the whole process and cause since many just ask about the dimples and how to fix them. Not the cause! Wilcox explains it in their process very well so based on my inexperience with this stuff I will bow out..................................... ........................................ .................................
ZIO
no worrys! i appreciate you answering me with DUBS fix, especially since it worked and still does after yrs... DUB has walked me thru a ton of stuff over the phone and email for yrs now.. i just hate bothering him..ZIO, you are a wealth of knowledge thank you for your help. i have not looked at the wilcox video yet but i will. and im sure he has the reason this happens figured out, with a fix as well....thank you all for your impute it has been appreciated also...troy
Okay , so now I see what Dub is talking about when he tries to answer stuff. I guess you find yourself on the defense to support your comments. I'm not going their. To much to do right now. Not everyone wants to remove the support member at the time they are asking the question. Yes you should fix the problem assuming you are in a full blown restore. I was not getting into the whole process and cause since many just ask about the dimples and how to fix them. Not the cause! Wilcox explains it in their process very well so based on my inexperience with this stuff I will bow out..................................... ........................................ .................................
ZIO
rvzio
I think your car looks great and don't bow out... it worked on your car and obviously you have the skills and experience to pull it off. Any idea is a good idea and it looks as if it worked for you.
My intent with my post was to show how to eliminate the issue for good and as stated some people either don't have the tools, the patience or don't want to remove the old header (which is a royal pain). Doing it the way I described can also lead to finding other issues such as the headlamp supports being rotted out as well and lead to an even higher cost to repair. Sometimes the easier way is the better way when associated with cost and I apologize, I wasn't trying to knock your post or method obviously it worked out just fine.
07-21-2019, 12:30 PM
68-72 front nose support rivets swelling fix?
Thanks
