Daytona Front End?
#2
#3
Drifting
Thread Starter
#4
To a lifelong DIY fabricator the effort is not awful (I installed a fiberglass front clip and also a rebody kit on a couple of cars). To someone that can only "sand and do some things" it might be a rather large and daunting effort.
There are several kits made over the years and each is somewhat different. Some are just fender flares and sugar scoop headlight buckets and others are whole replacement clips, and many in between.
Just handing your car to a body shop I would budget at least $20k.
If you like the "clean look" you might want to consider just glassing in the headlights or use a bolt in lemans or fixed headlight kit to start and see if you really like it before taking the plunge.
See these two recent threads.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ightening.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...onversion.html
Last edited by Dynra Rockets; 01-13-2018 at 12:33 PM.
#5
Drifting
Thread Starter
To a lifelong DIY fabricator the effort is not awful (I installed a fiberglass front clip and also a rebody kit on a couple of cars). To someone that can only "sand and do some things" it might be a rather large and daunting effort.
There are several kits made over the years and each is somewhat different. Some are just fender flares and sugar scoop headlight buckets and others are whole replacement clips, and many in between.
Just handing your car to a body shop I would budget at least $20k.
If you like the "clean look" you might want to consider just glassing in the headlights or use a bolt in lemans or fixed headlight kit to start and see if you really like it before taking the plunge.
See these two recent threads.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ightening.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...onversion.html
There are several kits made over the years and each is somewhat different. Some are just fender flares and sugar scoop headlight buckets and others are whole replacement clips, and many in between.
Just handing your car to a body shop I would budget at least $20k.
If you like the "clean look" you might want to consider just glassing in the headlights or use a bolt in lemans or fixed headlight kit to start and see if you really like it before taking the plunge.
See these two recent threads.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ightening.html
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...onversion.html
I was thinking of the better aeros of the Daytona front end.
My stk 74 is beat up and needs work.
I was thinking of upgrading while I was in there! lol
Any weight lost would be a bonus.
#6
Team Owner
It is not the money..... it takes a big set of nuts to take a Sawsall to each fender and cut the car in 1/2 just in front of the fire wall. Then you have to be a fabricator to figure out how to support the 1981 Daytona Twin turbo front end.
My ecklers came with a seam above the head light and I glassed it in. You have to figure out your own custom chin spoiler. I used my stock pop up lights for about 15 years. Then I broke the front end out road racing and I decided to loose more weight off the front and remove all the heavy steel and vacuum reserve tank along with the light assemblies.
It was a disheartening job a few times, but in the end the fiberglass Daytona saved me 150 pounds by it's self and great aerodynamics.
My ecklers came with a seam above the head light and I glassed it in. You have to figure out your own custom chin spoiler. I used my stock pop up lights for about 15 years. Then I broke the front end out road racing and I decided to loose more weight off the front and remove all the heavy steel and vacuum reserve tank along with the light assemblies.
It was a disheartening job a few times, but in the end the fiberglass Daytona saved me 150 pounds by it's self and great aerodynamics.
#7
Team Owner
Fixing the glass after the wreck at home
Just back from a friends paint booth
Just back from a friends paint booth
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Dynra Rockets (01-14-2018)
#8
Drifting
Thread Starter
Next Question?
If the Daytona front end is too much time and money.
What is the biggest bang for the buck I can do to the front end?
The 74 aeros are not the best to begin with!
TIA
R
What is the biggest bang for the buck I can do to the front end?
The 74 aeros are not the best to begin with!
TIA
R
#9
FYI. There is a Daytona front nose for sale on the FB Corvette Buy Sell & Trade page.
Last edited by Dynra Rockets; 01-14-2018 at 07:57 AM.
#10
Drifting
Thread Starter
What is your intended purpose for the car where you would need improved aerodynamics? Quarter mile, road course, Bonneville? Are you trying to improve drag coefficient or downforce? (usually they are mutually exclusive)
FYI. There is a Daytona front nose for sale on the FB Corvette Buy Sell & Trade page.
FYI. There is a Daytona front nose for sale on the FB Corvette Buy Sell & Trade page.
The cleaner look is also nice, but not 20K nice!
R
#11
Team Owner
but that was about 20 years ago. The flame paint job was probably 5000 of it
#12
Team Owner
I paid and made arrangements with a local body shop to rent floor space, materials, tools, and the paint booth. I think that it was ecklers who I bought the front end and hood from. I had it shipped to the shop and we inspected it before I drove my Vette down. The shop was a fiberglass and boat shop so they were around to give me pointers. They had all the disposable suites and air masks and lots of beer in the fridge! I paid some of the guys in the shop for their time.
I was working on it every day when I got off work at 2 pm for about a month. I brought my painter in right at the end of the project.
I was working on it every day when I got off work at 2 pm for about a month. I brought my painter in right at the end of the project.
#14
Melting Slicks
Check out this company based in Toledo Ohio http://www.acivette.com/
They have a good line of glass parts.
Daytona front bumper for C3
They have a good line of glass parts.
Daytona front bumper for C3
#16
Team Owner
I can't find a front end like mine. But this might be close
https://www.corvettemods.com/C3-Corvette-1969-1982-Fiberglass-Daytona-Front-End_p_14113.html
https://www.corvettemods.com/C3-Corvette-1969-1982-Fiberglass-Daytona-Front-End_p_14113.html