Reproduction front end

[Richard M.]

Re: Reproduction front end

These tools help, and a good heat gun on the bonding adhesive......Rich

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[Dave C.]

Re: Reproduction front end

perfect i have all of those!

[Robert M.]

Re: Reproduction front end

Or not.

That will get you "boxed" in the other judging organization resulting in a less-than-Gold rating.
In NCRS you just lose a boatload of points.

Patrick

I have gotten numerous responses from members that used the entire Semersheim front clip and Top Flighted at both Regional and National events with no point deductions. I also had a Bloomington Judge tell me that a car can get a Gold with it. Can you document your information as to losing NCRS points and being boxed at Bloomington? Thanks

[Patrick H.]

Re: Reproduction front end

Patrick

I have gotten numerous responses from members that used the entire Semersheim front clip and Top Flighted at both Regional and National events with no point deductions. I also had a Bloomington Judge tell me that a car can get a Gold with it. Can you document your information as to losing NCRS points and being boxed at Bloomington? Thanks

You omitted the most important part of my response, that being the "one piece hand laid" portion of the response.
A one piece hand paid front clip is quite different from a (sort of) press molded multi piece front end from Sermersheims or Corvette Image.
I'm talking apples, you're talking oranges.

Please read through the entire thread and you will see Rich M as well as others describe the differences as well as my additional comments.

[Robert M.]

Re: Reproduction front end

Patrick, My apologies, I just hit the quote button. Are you saying the Semersheim front end is OK? What about"typical factory production"? Does Semersheim repicate what the fiberglass looked like from the factory? Maybe I was looking at the wrong stuff. The front I looked at had bonding strips and was black and the surface was very smoth on the inside.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Reproduction front end

Patrick, My apologies, I just hit the quote button. Are you saying the Semersheim front end is OK? What about"typical factory production"? Does Semersheim repicate what the fiberglass looked like from the factory? Maybe I was looking at the wrong stuff. The front I looked at had bonding strips and was black and the surface was very smoth on the inside.

Sounds like the one you were looking at is the correct style.
The hand laid ones have obvious fiberglass strands and texture showing on the back side.
The "correct" reproductions are smooth on both sides.

Pic below is of hand laid piece.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Reproduction front end

dave: it'd pay to consult with wayne wobble, who jigs c-2 front ends and does excellent work. wayne is a fairly frequent poster on this tdb. mike

Hey McKaw, Thanks for the plug.

[Steven S.]

Re: Reproduction front end

I replaced my front end on my '63. Choice was $1800 from Ecklers or a correct jig assembled one for $4500. As mentioned above, the cheap ones will shrink and move with time and hot sun on them showing the glass fibers as it ages. The jig made ones are really SMC which contains much less resin and more filler. This is the same material as on newer C3's and above. Much better body stability. Smooth both sides and proper thickness.

[Robert M.]

Re: Reproduction front end

I must admit that when you reach my age, memory fades. I certainly did not look at the innser fender of a 67 corvette 47 years ago. My question therefore is, what was the exact color, texture and finish of the fiberglass on a 1967 Corvette on the inside?

[Steven S.]

Re: Reproduction front end

On the inside, it was smooth, no glass pattern. The colt was off white to grey. This was due to fillers used in the resin mix when parts were built at MFG.

[Richard M.]

Re: Reproduction front end

I must admit that when you reach my age, memory fades. I certainly did not look at the innser fender of a 67 corvette 47 years ago. My question therefore is, what was the exact color, texture and finish of the fiberglass on a 1967 Corvette on the inside?

On the inside, it was smooth, no glass pattern. The colt was off white to grey. This was due to fillers used in the resin mix when parts were built at MFG.

I believe the glass was a more blackish color in 1967 than earlier gray of the 'mid' midyears, where white on '63, and mix of white and gray in '64 IIRC. '67 with a obvious grainy texture to the eye, but not too feel, i.e. the texture is not raised. Below of a late march car I just snapped a few photos of. The color appears gray in flash photography, but to the eye it's more black than gray of the earlier cars.

PC100027.jpgPC100029.jpgPC100030.jpgPC100031.jpg

[Mike M.]

Re: Reproduction front end

i've observed, over the years, that the early 63 panels(and some 64 panel pieces ) were light tan prior to sanding and they tend to get the "White" handle once sanded. late 63's, for the most part, are colored in what i refer to as light gray and these light gray panels were used in 65 and 66 as well. the 67 panels, prior to sanding, appear dark charcoal colored to my old peepers. mike

[Roy S.]

Re: Reproduction front end

Hey McKaw, Thanks for the plug.

Now that was funny

[Robert M.]

Re: Reproduction front end

One final question I have on this subject. Does a correct reproduction Press Molded front end, greatly devalue am otherwise documented correct car?

[Wayne W.]

Re: Reproduction front end

I think that would depend on just how well it was done and how accurately it was detailed. The only better possibilities would be to build it with factory NOS parts or to locate and install a good used original, but that is not an easy thing to find.

A well done front end should not devalue the car much, but there are some of us that would know what it is.