Headlight support member

[Alan Collins]

Hi, thanks to all the club members for their help on my recent calliper issue.

I was reading posts and came across a comment that rivets showing through the front panel between bonnet and lights is a sign of corrossion of the head light support member. I have the above symptoms and was worried what I might find the next morning. Relieved to report that the support member is sound. I purchased the car knowing the previous owner had imported it with minor accident panel damage to the front passenger corner. A repair had been carried out by a "specialist" UK bodyshop and the owner had done a respray. I suspected there may be trouble lurking under the fresh paint so negotiated a price allowing for body works and a proper respray. I have used the car for 3,000 miles and let the bodywork settle, I now have cracks around the head lights and rivet heads showing where the support member is attached. My questions are:

1) Should there be a support rod running from each side of the support member to a point on the chassis below each end of the radiator. If these are missing this would explain my problems as the body will be flexing and then cracking. I can see one central support rod only, shown in the attached photo. Please can anyone advise what support sytem should be present and if possible post photo(s).

2) I have read that the support member should be bonded in place with a two part epoxy panel adhesive, not riveted. How should the member be fitted and should I drill out the rivets remove the support panel and refit with panel adhesive.

 

[Oneball]

The rivets are original. It’s the rivets themselves corroding that’s causing you to see them.

If it’s had an accident and the paint is cracking my guess would be that any damage to the fibreglass has been filled and not repaired.

Not sure if this photo helps it’s a 69.

 

[Daytona Vette]

I had my Headlight Bar Bonded back to the fiberglass and I am not aware of a situation of using Rivets (mind you it is a 78 and not a GM body
You can often see the lines of a Headlight Bar that has rusted, through the paint work and actually feel the distortion it has created - most just sand it down and re- paint - but that is not the correct way to deal with the situation, you have to remove, replace the Bar and re-bond.

 

[Oneball]

I think the rivets were only on the 68-72 cars.

 

[Alan Collins]

The rivets are original. It’s the rivets themselves corroding that’s causing you to see them.

If it’s had an accident and the paint is cracking my guess would be that any damage to the fibreglass has been filled and not repaired.

Not sure if this photo helps it’s a 69.

View attachment 4553

Hi Again Oneball, Thanks for the photo, not sure if I have the two pressed steel struts between valance and upper body, will check it out. Yours and Daytona Vette's comments add up as the article I read was based on a eurothane bumpered Vette so I guess the vivets must stay. I reckon it is cracking of filler/GRP due to vibration as there is no bubbling. After a sand down to clean metal and glass I think impregnation with epoxy followed by a layer or two of lightweight mat followed by tissue and gell coat.

I agree, my 72 is showing signs of bodged repair(s) with patches of filler. I shall do properly with feathered edges filled with strips of mat top and bottom.

 

[Alan Collins]

I had my Headlight Bar Bonded back to the fiberglass and I am not aware of a situation of using Rivets (mind you it is a 78 and not a GM body
You can often see the lines of a Headlight Bar that has rusted, through the paint work and actually feel the distortion it has created - most just sand it down and re- paint - but that is not the correct way to deal with the situation, you have to remove, replace the Bar and re-bond.

Hi Daytona Vette, thanks for replying again, form your reply and Oddball's it seems my problems originate from poor repairs around the nose rather than corrosion of the headlight support.

 

[Oneball]

The little pressed steel uprights also act as mounts for the plastic grills so you’ve probably got them if the grills aren’t lose.

 

[Daytona Vette]

Hi Daytona Vette, thanks for replying again, form your reply and Oddball's it seems my problems originate from poor repairs around the nose rather than corrosion of the headlight support.

Alan I do not know about your repairs but; it is a common occurrence the Bars rust and then break their bond with the fibreglass

 

[Alan Collins]

Alan I do not know about your repairs but; it is a common occurrence the Bars rust and then break their bond with the fibreglass

Hi, I seem to have all the supports. I shall check out for any corrosion between the member and bodywork, is the member riveted and bonded in place or just riveted?

 

[Daytona Vette]

Hi, I seem to have all the supports. I shall check out for any corrosion between the member and bodywork, is the member riveted and bonded in place or just riveted?

To my knowledge just bonded - I have seen the lines of the bar showing through the paintwork on both early and late C3s where the metal bar has expanded due to rust, the lines are subtle but certainly no rivet points, plus thinking about it, my bar was changed and bonded when I had a body off and if rivets were used paint and body making good would have been required.

 

[Alben78]

Spent quite a while looking through the Factory assembly manual on the 78 for this part but it seems to be part of the headlamp / front end assembly and not shown as a separate part. The headlamp support reinforcements seem to be bonded onto the fibreglass so I would expect this part to be attached in the same way but obviously not on assembly at GM.