'65 Front Grille Question

[Roger P.]

What's up with my front grille? I had noticed this since I bought my car 3 years ago, but have been cruising and taking care of other issues. Came across the two attached photos from when my car was inspected before purchase, and it reminded me that the grille is tighter to the body on the driver side than the passenger side. There are also two unused attachment holes (side & bottom) in the body on the passenger side that aren't being used. Is this correct, or is the grille out of alignment? Am I missing some mounting hardware? Doesn't seem like a big deal, but I would like to get it right.

Thank you,
Roger (50141)

[Russ S.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

The side holes in the fiberglass are for a 63-64 car which means at least part of the front end has been replaced with either a 63-4 front end or 63-4 parts. If it has been hit and these replaced it is quite possable that a poor job of fitting the parts is the cause of your difference in gaps from side to side.

[Jim D.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

The side holes in the fiberglass are for a 63-64 car which means at least part of the front end has been replaced with either a 63-4 front end or 63-4 parts. If it has been hit and these replaced it is quite possable that a poor job of fitting the parts is the cause of your difference in gaps from side to side.

Yup. My 65 doesn't have those mounts, but at least you have a 65 grill.

[Wayne W.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

If you are talking about the attachment holes that we see in the picture, they are not used on `65. Problem is, they aint supposed to be there either. Which means the car has sustained some body damage and both of the side park lamp panels have been changed. I suspect we would find some damages to the innerfenders too, but more pictures are necessary.

Replacement panels have included these mounting points since the end of 67 production. One replacement panel supplies all from 63-67, but are not technically correct for 65-67.

[Page C.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

As Russ stated, those unused holes on the parking light panels were used to secure the grill moulding for the 1963 & 64 Corvettes. They were also present in all service replacement GM panels until the panels were discontinued. If you were working on a 1965-67 they were not needed and should have been removed before installing the panels.
Regards,
Page Campbell

[Roger P.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

Thank you all for your replies. I guess my car had some front end damage at some point during its life. I know that's not uncommon, but I have spoken to all previous owners other than the original owner and none of them mentioned any accidents or repairs when asked. Perhaps owner #1 knows something that the rest of us don't? Anyway, I'll take a look to see if it is possible to "tweak" the grille to align it a little better between the parking light panels.

Happy Holidays,
Roger (50141)

[John M.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

You'll also note a relief behind those holes in the inner fender which allows room for the bolt. If the relief isn't there the inner fenders are probably original. Fun detective work.

[Wayne W.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

You'll also note a relief behind those holes in the inner fender which allows room for the bolt. If the relief isn't there the inner fenders are probably original. Fun detective work.

This is true, and the 65 is the only inner-fender panel that did not have a relief. 63 and 64 had them because they needed them, and 66,67 had them because they had already changed to the re-designed part that would cover the whole range in service.

[Stacy C.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

Great thread! I'm in the same boat, a 65 with a replaced front end, except I knew my car had been hit at some point in the past. I didn't know about the mount holes on 63-64's only. Thanks for that info, although I didn't think the holes were supposed to be there.

I have, what I've been told is a service replacement inner fender on passenger side. I don't understand what a "relief" is though.

[Wayne W.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

Great thread! I'm in the same boat, a 65 with a replaced front end, except I knew my car had been hit at some point in the past. I didn't know about the mount holes on 63-64's only. Thanks for that info, although I didn't think the holes were supposed to be there.

I have, what I've been told is a service replacement inner fender on passenger side. I don't understand what a "relief" is though.

These are all reproductions, but they exhibit the correct configurations. You will note that 63-64 have a dimple at the point in question, and on the 65 it is slick. It was added back in 66-67. There are several other differences though.

[Stacy C.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

My inner fender passenger side has the dimple too, the driver side doesn't.

Thanks for the help.

[Roger P.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

Interesting information... I learn something new every day about my car thanks to you guys! Thanks for the great photo, Wayne. Do the current attached photos give any additional clues to my particular inner fender situation? Not sure that I understand the "relief" that you are referring to, John? Is it the bump where the hole is located in the fiberglass as shown in Wayne's photo? I assume at this point that my inner fender on the passenger side was a service replacement. I need to look closer at the driver side to see what is happening there.

Roger (50141)

[Stacy C.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

I guess I mis-spoke, my inner fender is a 66-67 inner, not a service replacement.

John, I'm not an expert but it looks like your inner fender is something other than a 65. I think you'll have to show a better pic of the inner fender from the engine side to verify. Your car looks good by-the-way.

[Wayne W.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

After 65 production, the service part would have been the 66-67 style. In addition to the dimple, the RH side hood support mount was flat with the hood hinge mount. On the earlier years it was slighty raised, and in the rear area where the expansion tank is mounted, there is a sharpe square corner.


66-67 style, and replacement.

[Roger P.]

Re: '65 Front Grille Question

I will take a closer look and get some photos from the engine side this weekend when I take my car out to play. Thank you for the compliment on the car, Stacy (you said John, but I think you meant Roger). I agree that she looks good !! I've had fun cruising and doing small projects over the past 3 years. During the holiday break, I will be removing my hood to repaint the underside with two coats of fresh satin black. Wayne, I saw your website and now know that you are the authority on this subject... nice work and great cars!

I'll be back,
Roger (50141)