Dimple

[Joe C.]

Many original midyear front headers have a small dimple cast into the rain gutter (under the hood) on the after edge (adjacent to the vent grille). I have seen some, but I don't remember if it's on the drivers' or passenger side. Was this a rivet location, used for specific applications? Did it appear on all midyears? Was it seen on all bodies (both Smith and St Louis)?

Thanks in advance.

Joe

[Mike McKown]

13 louvers to the right of the left end of the

cowl grill. Driver's side.

[Kent K.]

Re: Dimple

This is what I've heard from other mambers and read on the TDB. The dimple was on A.O. Smith cars and was the result of a flaw in the mold. Others may confirm/dispute/add further to this, I hope. Merry Christmas!!!
Kent #6201

[Bill Lynch]

Re: Dimple

1963 St. Louis cars also had this dimple/pimple.

[William C.]

Re: Dimple

As did all the St Louis cars in original configuration.

[John H.]

Re: Dimple

All cars had the "dimple" regardless of where the body was built - the same outside supplier molded the surround for both plants.

[Rick A.]

Re: Dimple

one telltale sign of a car being repainted is the "lack of" a dimple

[Richard B.]

Re: Dimple

its by the 13th grile

[Michael H.]

Re: Dimple

Exactly right Rick. Unfortunately, most restorers years ago sanded the troughs and removed not only the dimple, but all of the raw unsanded look of the fiberglass. No one at the panel source or St Louis ever sanded any part of that trough. Should have that "quilted" look to be correct.

[Joe C.]

Re: Dimple

John,

Was it Dow-Smith?

Joe

[Joe C.]

Re: Dimple

John,

Do you know what it's purpose was?

The other "dimple" that comes to mind, is the one on the door hinge pillars, used to locate the holes for the power window harnesses. But, this one is only found on St. Louis bodies. I know, that some AOSmith cars have this dimple, but most do not.

Were all body panels molded by Dow Smith? If so, then all panels should have had the same mold characteristics.

Joe

[don22567]

Re: Dimple

I have had a number of original unrestored 67 big block cars. Some had the dimple and some did not. I still own a 67 435 that I bought from the original owner with only 8,000 miles on it and it does not have the dimple. not even slightly. At one point I used to think that if the dimple was not present than the car must have been repainted but after owning as many original cars as I have I know this not to be the case.

[Nick Culkowski]

Pimple vs Dimple

I think it's more of a pimple than a dimple in the top surround. In the front of the door jamb it is more dimple than pimple, for pw conduit hole location.

[Nick Culkowski]

Re: Dimple vs Pimple

On the right center edge of photo is the dimple in the door jamb

[John H.]

Re: Dimple

Joe -

I don't recall who the supplier was, but it wasn't Dow-Smith; was probably Rockwell, MFG, Eagle-Picher, or General Tire. Here's a photo of one being made - pouring the resin/hardener mixture on the preform before closing the heated mold in a hydraulic press.