Cracked fenders from the factory

[Steven B.]

I ordered my '77 new and saw it come off the truck. One of the first things the dealer and I noticed before looking at the transit document was a crack about 2 inches long beginning where the driver side front bumper and fender meet and less than an inch above the beltline. The crack was painted over at St. Louis. It had not been filled in, just painted over. During late 1976 I saw 4 other '77 Corvettes with the same crack.

The dealer called his rep. and described the damage and advised him he had received other cars with the same crack in the same place. The dealer was advised that the crack was caused by dirty molds that were run without being cleaned. I worked around a number of presses, brake lining and clutch, and had seen the same results hundreds of times.

Has anyone else seen these cracks or heard of this problem?

[Paul S.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

I WORKED IN A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN THOSE DAYS . CRACKED SEAMS, CRACKS BY BUMPER COVERS ,ETC. MOST '73 TO '81"S HAD THESE TYPE OF PROBLEMS. WE FIXED A LOT OF CARS UNDER WARRENTY BACK IN THOSE DAYS . (MAYBE THAT'S WHY GM IS IN TROUBLE NOW )

[Alan S.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

My 71 had a small (2" -3") crack in the hood surround- driver's side fender seam right in front of the door when I took delivery. After talking to the dealer and hearing what he was willing to do, I decided to leave it.
Regards,
Alan

[Jake D.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

Our '81 four speed car had the same crack, when delivered new! I left it there because I didn't want them to repaint it. It went through Bloomington 11 years later, and received a Gold Certificate!

[Edward C.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

My 71 has a small bearly visable crack on the small surface in front of the pass. headlight door running from the door straight forward under the bumper then disappears. I always wondered if it came like that. Ed

[Mike M.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

I too saw my '78 SA roll off the truck. After the dealer pulled it inside for prep I walked around it, there were 1-1/2" to 3" cracks on all four corners at the bonding strips, like the seams were not completely filled with bonding material.
The front wheel openings looked like they were cut out with a chain saw.
First new car, the biggest disappointment of my life. I didn't own another GM car for fifteen years.
Yes, this may have been a preview of GM's future.
HaND

[George C.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

I too saw my '78 SA roll off the truck. After the dealer pulled it inside for prep I walked around it, there were 1-1/2" to 3" cracks on all four corners at the bonding strips, like the seams were not completely filled with bonding material.
The front wheel openings looked like they were cut out with a chain saw.
First new car, the biggest disappointment of my life. I didn't own another GM car for fifteen years.
Yes, this may have been a preview of GM's future.
HaND

Common problems for Corvettes, the factory over producing, selling every one like hotcakes. The front wheel opening on 78 & 79 Corvette were all cut when the optional 255/60R15 Goodyears were ordered.
While selling Corvettes at Palmyra Motors, one day a worker from St Louis was at our dealership. I asked him about the cracks on the seams and bad paint ,etc. He looked me straight in the eye and asked me if I had a garage. I said yes, and he proceeded to tell me that he could paint a Corvette in my garage better then at St Louis. (That's why GM had to make a new plant, to build more Corvettes) He also said they had to get every Corvette out and shipped. Let the dealer fix the "little" problems. Remember these Corvettes were selling for sticker price for years.


As far as GM future........ people would rather buy Honda and Toyota than Pontiac and Saturn. You do the math. Save the Wave.>George

[Terry M.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

Has anyone else seen these cracks or heard of this problem?

Here is a photo of Ralph Spears' 1973. I can't see the flaw, but I have only one eye. Perhaps those of you with more eyes will see what I can not.

[Steven B.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

Here is a photo of Ralph Spears' 1973. I can't see the flaw, but I have only one eye. Perhaps those of you with more eyes will see what I can not.

I have my glasses on and it appears to be parallel to the beltline just behind the bumper---or is that a shadow?

I just thought of something while reading the dealer installed accessories thread. Many of our cars came from the factory with cracks and my '78 SA rolled off the truck with the rear bumper part number stamp showing through the silver paint very plainly and the driver side door panel upholsterytorn and glued in place with weatherstrip glue. Since they came from the factory this way and probably are not questioned as happening after leaving St. Louis IF the car has original paint and interior I ASSUME no points would be deducted for condition, originality, etc. or should points be deducted?

[Terry M.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

Please remember that we judge typical factory production (TFP). If you can show a seat rip or cracked fender was TFP, then by all means go for it.

[Steven B.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

Please remember that we judge typical factory production (TFP). If you can show a seat rip or cracked fender was TFP, then by all means go for it.

The "typical" part might be the hard part to prove.

Thanks Terry!

Steve

[Walter G.]

Re: Cracked fenders from the factory

I definitely recall the same crack on my '79 I bought new. It was a black L-82, and I never had the dealer touch the crack as I figured the repair would be worse than the problem. Mine also had a kind of paint glob on the right rear fender on the wheel lip. I managed to polish the excess off myself. That would have been a good car for the TFP...