C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

[John S.]

I am in the process of helping a fellow C3 owner on another forum with the R&R of his headlight assemblies and the subject of the front header/reinforcement bar came up.





Thanks,
John

[Gary R.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

John
73 I believe was the year of the change where they were just glassed in. The 68-72 had the bonding strip with the aluminum rivets. I removed my 69's header bar years ago in preparation for a full body off, which I haven't got back to yet. I chiseled them from underneath so I didn't break the surface.

[John S.]

[Bob W.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

Gary Was the header bar bonding strips riveted and bonded or riveted only?

Bob

[Paul O.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

Bob

On c3 before 1973 the header support had a Fiberglass strip attached to complete the assembly. I think C2 also had a similar type assembly.

[Gary R.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

Bob,
Pauls pictures show it, the bar was riveted to the large bonding strip which was then glassed to the nose so the rivets were sandwiched between the nose and the bonding strip.

John
I also have a 72 and the rivets are starting to show a little.

[Bob W.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

Gary When you removed the rivets and the header bar Is out are you now going to glue the bar back to the bonding strips?


Bob

[Gary R.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

Bob
I did that job about 14 -15 years ago and put the car away. I bought a NOS bonding strip so my intention was/is to glue the bonding strip on instead of rivets and then line up the buckets, mark it and glue it to the nose. I believe going back beyond that time the new bars were/are made to compensate for the thickness of the bonding strip so it is no longer needed.

[Paul O.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

A little trick to fool a judge is to epoxy the bonding strip and header bar together. After it cures cut the epoxy that comes through the rivet holes. Then take some rivet shafts cut them then compress them as if they were riveted and then epoxy them in place. This is only needed to be done if you are having the car judged I do look at that when judging. Not sure about other judges.

[Bob W.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

Paul So after the header is glued in place do have any tricks to remove the ghost circles from the top surround?

Bob

[Paul O.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

Yes after a period of time they will shrink back to normal. If you let it sit in sun this well happen faster.

[Bob W.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

Paul So remove the header as Gary Ramadei did then glue it to the bonding strips and in time the bumps will just shrink and be gone. Will a heat gun help speed it up?

Thanks for the tip Bob

[Paul O.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

It may but get it to hot could cause damage. Once the pressure is released from the corrosion of the rivet heads the process will start shrinking the bumps. I let it return to normal after a few days.

[Terry M.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

1973 for the change to go along with the change in the nose to accommodate the "rubber" bumper.

[Patrick B.]

Re: C3 Headlight Header Bar/Reinforcement

Do you have to take the radiator core support out to remove the header bar?