65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

[William B.]

I need a top surround for a 65, I have looked a few corvettes with the top surround replaced and you can see the difference in the inside hood drip rails, when viewing a replacement/repo.
Does anyone make a correct repo or should I keep looking for a NOS surround

[Timothy B.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

FWIW, I would go out of my way to use a NOS part over any reproduction. If you have the $ maybe someone here will know where to find one.

[Bob W.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

William I saw few for sale @ corvette Carlisle $2000.00 to $2500.00

Bob

[Joe R.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

Original surrounds are hard to find and expensive. BUT when you use one you will not have the problem that all reproduction panels have and that is shrinking and showing thru the paint.
Left a complete door to door reproduction front end outside for one year. Snow, rain, heat and birds. The panel showed thru the paint.
Get you an original surround and you will be happy.

JR

[James B.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

David Sokolowski (310) 329-5334. I believe he may still have one available. Not cheap. NOS surrounds fit best. I hope this helps.

Jim

[Patrick B.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

William I saw few for sale @ corvette Carlisle $2000.00 to $2500.00

Bob

If those were real GM tan, grey or black glass rather than the later white SMC GM replacements, they were about half the price I've seen them going for. The white pieces are also much better than the repros and are probably worth the prices you mention.

[William B.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I guess my search for an NOS grey top surround begins now, I am willing to pay, but I hope I can find one within driving distance, I live in PA. David S is in California, shipping would be an issue

[Gene M.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

Which ever way you choose be sure to bond/assemble it so the belt line is correct be it you have an AO Smith or St Louis body. The St Louis having a bowed profile and the AO Smith having a straight belt line. It would be rather fruitless to have GM body panels and assembled wrong for the body build of the car.

[William B.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

Gene, not sure I have noticed the differences, I have the st louis body, is there an easy way to tell?

[Stewart L.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

I have seen and also heard good reports the new press molded surround from Vette Masters in Virginia. They were probably the ones Bob saw at Carlisle. I talked to the guy selling them, they are not "reverse engineered" as many reproductions are, which leaves them too thick and a large hood gap among other things. Wayne Womble used one on one of his last repairs and said it worked well. You might check with them.
A light gray NOS one will be expensive if you can find one at all. Most of them are dark gray.

[Gene M.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

Gene, not sure I have noticed the differences, I have the st louis body, is there an easy way to tell?

Yes, easy if you sight down the belt line from the front. There is a decisive difference in the bow outward on St Louis vs the straight of an A O Smith belt line profile. We have covered this with students in the advanced judges classes at regionals and national. The differences is in the way the two assembly plants built the bodies. Understand the fiberglass parts are identical, it is just the method of bonding and securing that yield the results.

[Bob W.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

William I live in NEPA (WILKES-BARRE) My friend has a nos blk one he will sell. let me know if you would like his phone number.

Bob

[Timothy B.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

Gene,

If you have a picture of the difference in the belt line I would like to see it.

[Joe R.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

The rounded belt line is on earlier C-2 and not on later C-2's! Don't know when it changed but probably by the 65 model year.

JR

[Gene M.]

Re: 65 top surround? NOS or correct repo?

Gene,

If you have a picture of the difference in the belt line I would like to see it.