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Topic: Nose Dimples

in Forum: C3 Body


Nose Dimples

Posted: 10/23/06 6:12am Message 1 of 8
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Dorr, MI - USA
Joined: 8/21/2002
Posts: 2581
Vette(s): 71 Colonnade Hardtop Coupe Torch Red with black interior originally L48 built to push around 360hp

Has anyone had expierience in removing the nose dimples on a 71? Or maybe a site that tells how? Terry




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Nose Dimples

Posted: 10/23/06 11:01am Message 2 of 8
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Waterford, MI - USA
Joined: 9/13/2002
Posts: 1754
Vette(s): 1973 Red coupe
Under the dipples are aluminum rivets that hold the support to the fiberglass. Then they used a body filler over the top of them. Later cars no longer have the rivets for that reason. You will need to remove them and replace them. I believe that the later cars support are just glued together in that area.  


Brian - NCM Lifetime Member

73 coupe L48, Flat-top pistons, Performer RPM Heads, Crane Cam and roller rockers, Holley 650 vac sec. Performer intake,
3.55 gear BTO 200-4R trans,
Leather seats, Seatbelt Plus 3point seatbelts, Pioneer CD player
Magnaflow Exhuast System

Dewitt radiator and dual electric fans
Borgeson Steering box
 


Nose Dimples

Posted: 10/23/06 6:45pm Message 3 of 8
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
If you're talking about the "bumps" across the nose, behind the headlite openings, it is indeed the rivets popping thru. Bad news is, the only real way to correct the problem is to remove the support, and the bonding strip it is riveted to, and start over. If you just grind it down, and fill the holes, it doesn't stop the rust, and the problem will still be there.
The problem is the rivets rusting. When they rust, it pushes the 'glass up around them, and creates the dimples/bumps. The support that goes across the nose is steel. There is a bonding strip riveted to that, and then the bonding strip is 'glassed on the nose.
I have heard of some people being able to remove the support w/bonding strip from underneath, and repairing it that way. There is a lot of disassembly involved, but...the alternative is to remove the front end from the car.


Joel Adams
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Nose Dimples

Posted: 10/24/06 5:42am Message 4 of 8
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Dorr, MI - USA
Joined: 8/21/2002
Posts: 2581
Vette(s): 71 Colonnade Hardtop Coupe Torch Red with black interior originally L48 built to push around 360hp
What about digging out the filler, drilling out the rivet and replacing it with a stainless steel screw?


Nose Dimples

Posted: 10/24/06 4:02pm Message 5 of 8
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
What filler?? The bonding strip is 'glassed directly to the front nose body. Any hole you drilled to try to repair it would have to be larger than the rivet area, which would mean even more bodywork to fill in those holes!


Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Nose Dimples

Posted: 10/25/06 6:20am Message 6 of 8
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Dorr, MI - USA
Joined: 8/21/2002
Posts: 2581
Vette(s): 71 Colonnade Hardtop Coupe Torch Red with black interior originally L48 built to push around 360hp
[QUOTE=Adams' Apple]What filler?? The bonding strip is 'glassed directly to the front nose body. Any hole you drilled to try to repair it would have to be larger than the rivet area, which would mean even more bodywork to fill in those holes![/QUOTE]
 
 Thanks Joel. I guess I'll sand it down and decide what to do from there.
my7T12006-10-25 06:21:02


Nose Dimples

Posted: 10/26/06 2:03pm Message 7 of 8
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Dorr, MI - USA
Joined: 8/21/2002
Posts: 2581
Vette(s): 71 Colonnade Hardtop Coupe Torch Red with black interior originally L48 built to push around 360hp

I sanded it down and your right Joel no filler. I wonder if I could paint over the blems and seal the rivets from the back side to keep them from corroding? Think they'll come back?




Nose Dimples

Posted: 10/26/06 3:50pm Message 8 of 8
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Duncanville, TX - USA
Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20214
Vette(s): #1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas
Yep...
The corrosion/rust has already started. Sealing won't do anything to help at this point. It may take a while to re-show, or it may show again in a few months...hard to say...


Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    

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(click for Texas-sized view!)
             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

in Forum: C3 Body


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