1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

[John R.]

Wondering if there are any videos or other detailed steps in any publications that I can review to assist in replacing a 1957 front hood surround and lower front valance (keeping existing front quarters/cove area)? My new surround already has the front lower valance bonded to it. This will be a first time project for me and really do not want to screw it up! Any direction/advice/tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[John R.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

Saw this video on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8kj0DTSX4Q

They installed with body off. Any advantage to doing it with body on vs. body off? How about cutting off and gluing in the windshield channel vs going all the way into and through the dash? Any words of caution? What common errors to you see guys make? Want to make sure I get this on straight and the hood lines up nice. Have seen many hoods that don't line up in the front on 56-57's.

[Mark S.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

The hoods on many 56-57's did not line up right from the factory! Be sure to measure accurately; and test the fit before you bond the pieces together. The headlight area and grille surround are crucial areas. The grille surround area on the bottom was also not a great fit from the factory.

[David H.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

Wondering if there are any videos or other detailed steps in any publications that I can review to assist in replacing a 1957 front hood surround and lower front valance (keeping existing front quarters/cove area)? My new surround already has the front lower valance bonded to it. This will be a first time project for me and really do not want to screw it up! Any direction/advice/tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

John,

Is your radiator support currently installed?

Dave

[John R.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

David, yes it is currently installed. Car is basically all there and assembled. Thanks.

[David H.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

David, yes it is currently installed. Car is basically all there and assembled. Thanks.

John,

Use radiator support as your reference point. Easier if body is off frame as you can work firewall latch from below.

First, test install/attach hood, that is: 1) hinges bolted to radiator support, 2) hood bolted to hinges, 3) hood latch pins bolted to hood, and 4) hood release latches NOT attached to firewall. Second, lower hood, and identify any latch/firewall fitment issues. i.e. do latches need to be shimmed away from firewall? If not enough clearance, then radiator support was not properly placed.

Presuming no issues, locate upper surround to fit the hood as placed. e.g. fit body to hood. Latch pins don't have much adjustment tolerance.

Seen work (needing rework) by some folks where radiator support was not centered properly, inner fenders not properly fitted, replacement firewall not square side-to-side with body, etc.

If you can, get some measurements from a known good car.

Might be worthwhile to drill small holes in latch levers and run an individual cable from each lever through your firewall - that way you can release hood/pins if they bind or if regular hood release malfunctions.

Dave

[Roger W.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

Looks so easy. I wonder how many times they installed and removed the surround before final assembly?
There were 2 different articles in "Vette Magazine" last year about installing a surround. I think that both cars were 59's.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

John: I've hung several top surrounds on c-2's with fitment success. I wouldn't think about replacing one on a 57. unless u have years of fiberglass installation experience, its a job best left to a corvette body shop with years of experience. my ole 57 powerglide FI that appeared on the cover of a restorer about 10 years ago was under the care of Zane Finney's body shop in hancock, md. good luck working on the most attractive Corvette ever manufactured. mike

[Dan P.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

It is hard to get everything in place before the bonding agent starts to cure.You can use a Epoxy product called PC 7. Available at home Depot . You may have to order it Home Depot on line . It will give a very long time for fitting the panels. It is VERY thick and hard to mix together . Heating it a bit really helps. Once mixed put it in a plastic bag . One heavier than a baggie. Then tear one end and use it like a squeeze tube . Another way is to get a old empty caulking tube and take air and blow out the the end plug . Then fill the tube with PC7 and put the plug back in and use it like a regular caulking gun.Bets to buy a new tube and empty it . Make sure you have the car setting on all 4 wheels to fit everything You can use the plastic bag to make the squeeze out look like factory. The PC7 is black and looks like the factory stuff.But be sure when you let it cure you have ever thing were you want . Because you will never get it apart .Look at my post on how to fix and strengthen around the hood hinges and how to fit the hood so it does not stick up in the front .

[Chris S.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

I have done several
just to clarify - your installing a one piece front end? it is already bonded?
Couple tips or things I do
Measure measure measure
I measure from the headlights to the door opening - normally I can get within 1/16
Measure your height side to side
Install your core support to the front end - this will help you set your front end height
I make my cut thru the windshield gutter - divide the gutter in half and cut
there is also a bonding strip under the gutter to give you strength
Grind off all your old bonding material
You will have the front end on and off seems like hundreds of times
Are you replacing the inner fenders - if so you will have to make sure they fit at the braces at the firewall
I assume your using the OE bonding strip on the lower fender
Lots of clamps and self taping screws
I use 3M Panel Bond - it looks very close to OE and has a longer working time
Do not use Body filler to bond the panel or Kitty Hair
Other products that are 2k may have a short working time - like the PC 7 - and your going to need some material
If you have questions let me know
Its not hard - but time consuming and have to think forward as not to get your self into a bind later

[John R.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

Chris, I have a new press molded front surround with the lower valance bonded to the surround. I did not purchase the front cove sections, since I plan to use my originals. I also plan to use my original inner fenders. So I will have to carefully separate these pieces, so they can be reused. Core support and body (including the original front clip, damaged of course) is still on car as originally assembled at factory.

[Chris S.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

Ok
Perfect
Leave the core support and inner fenders attached and installed
This will help
You can seperate the inner fenders from the upper surround with a heat gun, putty knife and a small hammer
heat up the bond area - just a little - insert the putty knife
I try to find a crack or a weak spot in the bond
tap the putty knife in - I use a 1.5 or 2 in
once in - you can tap on the side of the blade an it will split the two parts.
you will need to split the upper surround at the firewall upper - at the hinge pillar, at the core support
You can get them to come off clean
Then grind off the old bonding adhesive and start test fitting
Using the lower fenders and inner fenders will greatly help you line it up
If you need help - PM and I will call you

[John R.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

Chris, thank you.

[Chris S.]

Re: 1957 Hood surround and lower front valance replacement

John - left you a message on your VM