"66" Top Surround

[Thomas E.]

I am about to restore my first Mid-Year....a very original 3 owner "66" Roadster. The only area of major concern is the front clip which has had few poor repairs by the first owner.

The Top surround will have to be replaced as I will be doing a frame off and intend on showing the car. Question: Are NOS Top Surrounds available? Reproductins I have seen when restoring a couple of C-3's in the past would never be worthy of NCRS Judging.

I am a new member of NCRS and never having owned or restored a Mid-Year want this frame off to be correct. Your expert advice is appreciated.

Thanks, Tom #42996

[Michael Delehanty]

Re: "66" Top Surround

Back in 1994, GM was supplying them but they were being made out of a material which was not the common fiberglass. It was of dark color and was a bit "greasy". There was a term for this material that escapes me.... "R.E.A. Glass" or something like that. The aftermarket units I saw were tan in color but made of "traditional" fiberglass. Bair's Corvette in Pa. deals with quite a bit of panels and I'm sure he can enlighten you to what's available but if you want NOS, I believe you'll have to search the world and pay the big bucks. Not the best of responses but I see you haven't heard anything all day so maybe give Yogi at Bair's a call. Shifty people have been known to paint the back of the surround in an attempt to match the OEM color but that won't fool the judges.

[Michael Delehanty]

Re: "66" Top Surround

Back in 1994, GM was supplying them but they were being made out of a material which was not the common fiberglass. It was of dark color and was a bit "greasy". There was a term for this material that escapes me.... "R.E.A. Glass" or something like that. The aftermarket units I saw were tan in color but made of "traditional" fiberglass. Bair's Corvette in Pa. deals with quite a bit of panels and I'm sure he can enlighten you to what's available but if you want NOS, I believe you'll have to search the world and pay the big bucks. Not the best of responses but I see you haven't heard anything all day so maybe give Yogi at Bair's a call. Shifty people have been known to paint the back of the surround in an attempt to match the OEM color but that won't fool the judges.

[Tracy C.]

Re: "66" Top Surround

Tom,

The link below is to an eBay auction for a GM top surround made from Sheet Molded Compound (SMC). It's not the same as the glass used originally on any mid year car. I think this material started showing up a few years later. It is a fiberglass substrate, but the resin system is different and has a texture similar to ther****rmed plastic.

Form, Fit and Function is excellent but you need to use an epoxy based adhesive rather than the polyester based material used originally. Because it is a service replacment part from GM, I'd think the point deduct would be slight, but I can't speak with any experience on the judging aspects.

If you are looking for a "real" NOS top surround made from the same glass your car has, expect to pay at least $3000 or more IF you can find one.

Good luck with the project.
tc




SMC top surround

[Tracy C.]

Re: "66" Top Surround

Tom,

The link below is to an eBay auction for a GM top surround made from Sheet Molded Compound (SMC). It's not the same as the glass used originally on any mid year car. I think this material started showing up a few years later. It is a fiberglass substrate, but the resin system is different and has a texture similar to ther****rmed plastic.

Form, Fit and Function is excellent but you need to use an epoxy based adhesive rather than the polyester based material used originally. Because it is a service replacment part from GM, I'd think the point deduct would be slight, but I can't speak with any experience on the judging aspects.

If you are looking for a "real" NOS top surround made from the same glass your car has, expect to pay at least $3000 or more IF you can find one.

Good luck with the project.
tc




SMC top surround

[John C.]

Re: "66" Top Surround

Replaced a few front ends on mid year's.
Used Bair's fiberglass parts on all three good fit well formed.
They are a light milky gray coloration.
For bonding fiberglass epoxy(duramix 4188) or smc panel adhisive.
For me i find the epoxy is to porous and needs more than primer,, bonds great.
If you use epoxy you will need to undercut it and use a filler.
Smc bonds well and you have a factory looking seam.
Careful not to over work your bond lines.......
For what it's worth
John

[John C.]

Re: "66" Top Surround

Replaced a few front ends on mid year's.
Used Bair's fiberglass parts on all three good fit well formed.
They are a light milky gray coloration.
For bonding fiberglass epoxy(duramix 4188) or smc panel adhisive.
For me i find the epoxy is to porous and needs more than primer,, bonds great.
If you use epoxy you will need to undercut it and use a filler.
Smc bonds well and you have a factory looking seam.
Careful not to over work your bond lines.......
For what it's worth
John

[Tom D.]

See ad in new driveline NOS and others

Can't find the ad back at this moment. Someboday has three of them, two are NOS.

E-mail me if you want me to look again.

Tom Dingman

[Tom D.]

See ad in new driveline NOS and others

Can't find the ad back at this moment. Someboday has three of them, two are NOS.

E-mail me if you want me to look again.

Tom Dingman

[Thomas E.]

Re: See ad in new driveline NOS and others

Found it! Looks like only a "67" is available which is black but I may call anyway to see if he might have one for a 65 or 66.

Thanks, Tom

[Thomas E.]

Re: See ad in new driveline NOS and others

Found it! Looks like only a "67" is available which is black but I may call anyway to see if he might have one for a 65 or 66.

Thanks, Tom

[Thomas E.]

Re: "66" Top Surround

I talked to Brian at Bair's and he gave me a phone number for a gentleman in southern In. who he said makes excellent reproduction panels. The name escapes me but I have it at work.

Thanks Mike I will investigate further if an NOS Panel isn't located in the next few months.

Tom

[Thomas E.]

Re: "66" Top Surround

I talked to Brian at Bair's and he gave me a phone number for a gentleman in southern In. who he said makes excellent reproduction panels. The name escapes me but I have it at work.

Thanks Mike I will investigate further if an NOS Panel isn't located in the next few months.

Tom

[Wayne W.]

Re: "66" Top Surround

The surround panel that was supplied by GM after 1967 is black in color and is made of the same polyester fiberglass as the original. This panel is technically for 67, because of the color of the glass and the location of the holes for the front emblem. That is the only real difference from the 63-67 panel, and it was supplied for all years. In the early 80s GM started supplying the surround made from the new gray SMC compound. You will have a very difficult time finding a real 63,64,65,66 panel. I dont know that I have ever seen one. It would have had to be supplied back near the time of production. What you see advertized as a NOS will be the later black panel.

The next best thing is the reproduction panels made by Corvette Image. This is made from the same type materials as the originals and comes in colors.

[Wayne W.]

Re: "66" Top Surround

The surround panel that was supplied by GM after 1967 is black in color and is made of the same polyester fiberglass as the original. This panel is technically for 67, because of the color of the glass and the location of the holes for the front emblem. That is the only real difference from the 63-67 panel, and it was supplied for all years. In the early 80s GM started supplying the surround made from the new gray SMC compound. You will have a very difficult time finding a real 63,64,65,66 panel. I dont know that I have ever seen one. It would have had to be supplied back near the time of production. What you see advertized as a NOS will be the later black panel.

The next best thing is the reproduction panels made by Corvette Image. This is made from the same type materials as the originals and comes in colors.