68 to 72 nose panel header bar bumps

[Greg L.]

Does anyone know what would be the best procedure for a permanent fix on those ugly nose panel bumps? A removed the header bar last week to replace the corroded rivets but I remember reading some place that that will not be permanent...makes sence I guess. I have also heard of type of adhesive that will bond metal to this type of fiberglass but can't locate it. Any help or ideas on this would be great.

[Jack H.]

Re: 68 to 72 nose panel header bar bumps

Drill out and get RID of the factory original aluminum rivets.... It's the dissimilar metal (aluminum rivet through steel re-bar insulated with fiberglass) that forms a 'battery' when exposed to salt water over the years. The 'bumps' you see are the result of aluminum salt formation due to galvanic action that migrates to the head of the rivets beneath the upper exterior fiberglass.

To do the job right, you have to grind holes in the top nose surface, vaccuum out the aluminum oxide, cut/drill out what's left of the rivets, execute a fiberglass repair and repaint. Also, when I say a fiberglass repair, I'm not talking about filling the holes with simple 'bond' -- that'll shrink with time and stress and you'll see outlines of repair areas. You have to fill with real McCoy glass to get a lasting 'fix'....

[Donald O.]

Re: 68 to 72 nose panel header bar bumps

Greg,
A permanent adhesive is called FUSOR 100EZ. This is a professional product available only at auto paint and body shop supply houses. The supply house may also carry other Fusor adhesives wich you might prefer. They all require a special gun to force out of their tubes and through a special mixing nozzle.
This is also a GM recommended product for all fiberglass repairs. from the 53 to 2003. They have other adhesives that is used to "weld" metals and actually have a higher shear strength than spot welds.
Don

[Greg L.]

Re: 68 to 72 nose panel header bar bumps

Thanks for your help guys. I won't be using those rivets again and after checking out Fusors web site,my best bet is probably to prep the header bar and fiberglass bonding strip,take them to a body shop so that they can bond them together. Then I'll bond the assembly to the underside of the nose panel with regular fiberglass panel bonding adhesive. If anyone has any other thoughts on this I'd like to hear them. Thanks again.