front end on a 68 corvette

[Wade D.]

Was there a recall on the front end fiberglass nose of the 68 Corvettes? We were told that if the corvette hit a pot hole the fiberglass nose was not braced properly and would crack. Is this true?

[Wayne W.]

Re: front end on a 68 corvette

Never heard of any recall. I don't think they would have done that anyway, but, there were some structural weaknesses in the 68 front end. It can be remedied by placing the later header bar braces at the ends of the header.

[Terry M.]

Re: front end on a 68 corvette

There was a 1968 recall for Large Motor corvette dealing with cooling issues, but none for structural issues like Wayne said.

[Wade D.]

Re: front end on a 68 corvette

Thank you for the information

[Michael H.]

Re: front end on a 68 corvette

There was a 1968 recall for Large Motor corvette dealing with cooling issues, but none for structural issues like Wayne said.

Terry,

I remember that issue. It wasn't actually a recall, if I remember correctly, but was to be performed on a customer complaint basis. The modification included cutting large rectangular openings in the front lower fiberglass panel that allowed more air to enter the radiator.

[Terry M.]

Re: front end on a 68 corvette

Terry,

I remember that issue. It wasn't actually a recall, if I remember correctly, but was to be performed on a customer complaint basis. The modification included cutting large rectangular openings in the front lower fiberglass panel that allowed more air to enter the radiator.

MY bad, Mike. You are right. It was not a campaign, but rather a Technical Service Bulletin. The TSBs are done on customer complaint, as you correctly point out.

I fell into a semantics trap that I should have known better. What the general public calls "recalls" are actually called Campaigns. In that process the car owner is notified to return the car to a dealer for service. The TSB simply alerts the service staff to known technical issues and there is no requirement or request to return the car for service. While there are often hundreds of TSBs issued in a model year, there are usually only a handful, if that, of Campaigns (or recalls) issued.

I scanned both TSBs and Campaigns for the next edition of the 1968-69 TIM&JG and, like the general public, I mixed them up in my response. I am embarrassed because I should have known better.

There were no 1968 Campaigns relevant to Corvette.

[James H.]

Re: front end on a 68 corvette

Can you elaborate on the brace your referring to. I have a 5 inch crack at the hood hinge fender area. I know that they made a change for the 69 model year and never figured out what they changed to improve the structural strength of that spot. Is this bracket your referring to address this issue??
Jim

Never heard of any recall. I don't think they would have done that anyway, but, there were some structural weaknesses in the 68 front end. It can be remedied by placing the later header bar braces at the ends of the header.

[Dick W.]

Re: front end on a 68 corvette

Can you elaborate on the brace your referring to. I have a 5 inch crack at the hood hinge fender area. I know that they made a change for the 69 model year and never figured out what they changed to improve the structural strength of that spot. Is this bracket your referring to address this issue??
Jim

If you will look at a '69 up, you will notice that there were changes to the upper surround. There was a lip added to the corners at the front, eliminating most of the cracking you are talking about.

[Wayne W.]

Re: front end on a 68 corvette

These RT and LT plus the backing plates. Jack up the bar to the correct position taking the stress off the panel and install.

http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/corvette-outer-surround-panel-bracket-right-1969-1982.html