1969 -- Body panel separation

[Joe #33194]

I am restoring my '69 that I have had for over 30 years and I have come to what I consider as the most difficult task. The main body panel is separated from the body panel support between the headlights and noise of the hood. As you know this causes body panel alignment problems. What are some of the ways to re-attach the main body panel to the panel supports without rivets)? The body is on the frame as I am not doing a frame up.

Also, what type of paint do you recommend I use when I get ready to paint the car?

[Greg L.]

Re: 1969 -- Body panel separation

Well Joe if you are refering to the steel header bar that the headlight assys bolt to then there is info on this in the archives...some of which are because of my "little" project.

There are adhesives at body supply shops that will bond the steel to the glass but I choose to debond the glass strip under the nose panel and re rivet it to the header bar and then bond the assy with bonding adhesive to the nose panel. Before I installed the rivets though I slipped a short piece of heavy heat shrink tubing over the shank so that the alluminum wouldn't be in contact with the steel header bar after the rivets were squeezed. I also put them in "wet" with bonding adhesive so that moisture could not contact the rivet at any place other that the tail. With our dry climate up here and my efforts,I'm pretty sure that it will be a long time if ever before those ugly bumps show through. Hope this helps.