Press-molded Fiberglass Source?

[Mark Maccan]

Howdy Folks -

I'm in the process of restoring a '63 SW coupe that's been stored since 1972. The body had been "disfigured" with flares at front and rear. I've replaced the rear sections with donor glass and an older NOS repair section, but am having a heck of a time with the front side panels (from door post to wheel wheel crown on the stock bond strips). We ordered up a set of PM replacements from "The Corvette Image", but had to return them due to excess thickness and warping. Tried again through one of the major aftermarket houses, but found that it purchased their parts from Corvette Image as well. Called Corvette Image, and apparently the remainder of their 63/64 passenger side fender stock had a warpage issue, so it might be a mold problem. Is anyone aware of another manufacturer of Press Molded glass parts for the C-2 series that I can go to for parts? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks Much!

/s/mark m.

[Dick W.]

Re: Press-molded Fiberglass Source?

Jim Sermershiem in IN does a good press mold repro Sorry that I do not have a phone number

[Brad K.]

Re: Press-molded Fiberglass Source?

Sermersheim's is located in Evansville, Indiana and his phone number is 812-424-4701. He too, has some issues with warpage and thickness. I think they all have issues. There is another supplier on the west coast in Washington or Oregon but I can't remember their name or number. You can call Mary Jo Rohner at 858-451-1933. Ask her for their name and number.

[Dick W.]

Womble, do you want to jump in this one? *NM*

[Mark Maccan]

Re: Press-molded Fiberglass Source?

Thanks Folks! I've got a catalog coming from Sermersheim's, but it sounds like there might still be an issue there! My guess is the aftermarket folks can't afford the monster presses/metal molds that Chevy used, and are doing their best with hand-fabricated molds and "press simulators". The west coast folks are probably "Corvette Image", in Gresham, Oregan, (800) 550-1200. I contacted a restorer in Calif. that had some short original GM repair panels available (they don't have the thin "eyebrow" extension right above the wheel wheel), and he was working to cobble up the eyebrows from his donor fleet. I believe the seam will end up on the bonding strip, so should hopefully be "invisible". The price is a higher, but it may be worth the delta to avoid the hassels. My opt to go this route instead. Anybody have any experience with using the two-piece repair approach?

[Mike Cobine]

Re: Press-molded Fiberglass Source?

Mark,

I ran into problems locating original-looking fiberglass a few years ago. What I found was that all of the reproduction stuff is different from original, and that is all there is with anything made new.

The option is to locate original fiberglass, and thanks to eBay, that is now a bit easier to do. Just keep watchign for it.

However, the whole world watches, and bids, so the price goes up, too.

Good luck.

[Wayne W.]

Re: Press-molded Fiberglass Source?

Since I was asked to comment, I will. The 63 side fender has been a problem for many years, beginning with the abortion that The great GENERAL OF MOTORS issued to replace the originals many years ago. The reproductions are great compared to those things. All of the reproductions have issues mainly because no one has searched out good original examples to copy. They are nearly unattainable as NOS, and good used ones are also rare. The thickness of the reproductions is not much of an issue as far as I am concerned, because it would be hard to tell when mounted on the car. The waves and distortions can be dealt with somewhat after installation, but the contours may never be absolutely correct, and may not suit you. The colors are always an issue as you are dealing with various shades of tan to gray at any general time during the year. No reproduction has an exact match to any of those shades, just approximations. So where does that leave you? If you are as particular as you seem to be, the only way to get what you obviously want is to find some used ones. They can be separated, cleaned up and reused. HAPPY HUNTING.