1969 Rear Valance

[Kent K.]

Notice, there are numbers cast in the fiberglass lower valance across the bottom and numbers in the license plate panel center (looks like 3877854) adjacent the yellow crayon marking. Without a note pad, I forgot to verify all of them.

[Chuck S.]

Re: 1969 Rear Valance

Kent, what is that gray film on the lower valance? From looking at the area around the rubber bumper in the center, it appears to be flaking like paint...maybe it's the primer-sealer used just before the color coats?

If it's primer-sealer, then it's unusal because it's pretty much limited to the valance. The yellow crayon mark above on the tail light panel is not touched at all...the gray extends to the boundry of the lower valance and then stops. Seems perculiar if the lower valance was on the car when it was painted.

[Kent K.]

Re: 1969 Rear Valance

Chuck - Since the car is a 1969 model, there is no rubber bumper, it's all fiberglass or maybe I misunderstood your post. The lower panel may have been removed during the 1st ownership when he had the car painted and there could have been some overspray. I've simply brushed the dust around with my hand since it's not easy for an old fart like me to get under the tank area and back out with the car on the floor to retrieve a brush or damp cloth. Next time I'll plan ahead, have my wife sit, read and be ready at my beckoned call to find what I need. Happy dreamin'.

BTW - I really don't wish to remove the lower panel until after I take the car to a regional meet (Old Town) if it can be made driveable by then. I'm having to replace the fuel tank because the car sat outside and collected approximately 2 liters of water, hence the rust inside the original tank. Note that there was a nipple in the filler area rubber boot but no drain hose with spring. Either it was removed without being recorded (see my profile for further info.) or missed on the assembly line.

Regards,
Kent #6201

[Chuck S.]

Re: 1969 Rear Valance

"...Since the car is a 1969 model, there is no rubber bumper, it's all fiberglass or maybe I misunderstood your post..."

That round depression in the center of the valance panel, between the two plastic nuts that receive the lower license plate screws, has the "nib" of a rubber bumper in it. On the other side not shown in the photo, that rubber bumper is a flat disc about the diameter of a dime and about 1/8" thick that keeps the license plate from vibrating against the lower valance panel. In the 70 AIM, that bumper is Item 17 on UPC14, page B1...it should be near that location in the 69 AIM.

The bumper may be painted body color making it harder to identify as rubber. Mine was body color, but I assumed it was painted when car was repainted. Perhaps that bumper was already installed in the lower valance before factory paint, and they're all body color...I've seen only mine without the rear license plate installed.

[Kent K.]

Re: 1969 Rear Valance

Oh Chuck, the license plate rubber bumper. Sorry, I thought you were speaking about a "flubber" as used on '74 and up. Well, after 37.75 years of not being cleaned, you might have collected a little road dust too. I took a damp shop paper towel to it and both sides are definitely black. Actually, the panel in which it resides may be black also but I only nocked off the dust around the depression. This car is almost exactly the way is was when I bought it from the original owner a few years ago and I am yet undecided whether to restore it or not. That's why I would like to take it to Old Town first for more learned opinions. It might be a canadate for several stars ... probably not a bowtie though.

Regards,
Kent #6201

[Terry F.]

Re: 1969 Rear Valance

Chuck, I believe I saw factory pictures of either a 68 or 69 getting painted and the rear valence was loosely bolted in place and hanging straight down as I recall. When finished, the bolted it the rest of the way in. Just an observation I had. Terry