Detecting panel replacement

[Roger G.]

Hi everybody,

New NCRS member here. Corvettes are not new to me, I've owned three, 73 Coupe, 67 Roadster, and currently a 70 Coupe which I've had for 28 years now. The world of Corvette enthusiasts however is relatively new to me. I've been hanging out at the CF, active for a year or two now.

Now the introduction is out of the way, I thought of a question which I think fits the expertise of NCRS people.

When I see people state a body has never been hit, aside from obvious give aways such as splices or cracks, how can you tell? If we assume a panel was replaced and was done well, is there a way to tell the difference between a well done repair and factory bonds? I've posted this question on the CF as well.

[John H.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

When I see people state a body has never been hit, aside from obvious give aways such as splices or cracks, how can you tell? If we assume a panel was replaced and was done well, is there a way to tell the difference between a well done repair and factory bonds? I've posted this question on the CF as well.

Roger -

Most dealer or body shop or home panel replacements are pretty obvious from the back side; partial (or no) bonding strips, really sloppy bonding material, use of fiberglass cloth or mat, wrong color panels and bond, etc. Others with far more fiberglass experience than I have will comment further.

[Terry M.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

I usually stay away from body issues, because I don't know too much about it, but ...

"If we assume a panel was replaced and was done well, is there a way to tell the difference between a well done repair and factory bonds?"

My answer is, given your stated assUmptions:

NO we can not tell if the panel was replaced skillfully. We might be able to tell in five years or ten years, but maybe not even then. I have seen some fiberglass work done that I could not have detected except I saw the damage before work started. There are people more skilled than I who might be able to detect the work, but I have seen work that was not detected by even those who think they are the best.

[Pat M.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

Another way you can sometimes tell is by the thickness of the panels. 3 of 4 of my 70's panels have been replaced with NOS panels, and the jobs were excellent, fiberglass, bonding stips, etc. look just right, and they got zero deductions at multiple meets. But the NOS panels are noticably thicker to the touch than the original panel. The two front panels also lacked the little tire "cutouts", which I later added.

[Roger G.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

Another way you can sometimes tell is by the thickness of the panels. 3 of 4 of my 70's panels have been replaced with NOS panels, and the jobs were excellent, fiberglass, bonding stips, etc. look just right, and they got zero deductions at multiple meets. But the NOS panels are noticably thicker to the touch than the original panel. The two front panels also lacked the little tire "cutouts", which I later added.

I'm not looking to buy a car, reason for the question is curiousity. I've wondered if someone replaced the tail panel on mine. The car is in storage right now, I expect to be getting it back next week. From what I recall the bonding strips are there, no fiberglass cloth or other evidence of repairs which I recall seeing. Problem I have is the lettering is uneven as if someone had tried to eyeball the holes. Wondering what happened to the original holes....

Tire cutouts? I've heard of cutouts to address tire rubbing issues on hard turns? Is this what you refer to?

[Pat M.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

Tire cutouts? I've heard of cutouts to address tire rubbing issues on hard turns? Is this what you refer to?

I'm really not sure what they're for or what they're actually called. On the front panels of early Sharks there are two little indentations in the middle of the wheel well lip. At nearly every meet I went to the first thing most judges did was to feel for these. A friend of mine has a no-hit car and I used his for a template to create mine. See pic.

At the National I was told one side was not exactly in the right spot, but I aint movin' it!

[Roger G.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

I'm really not sure what they're for or what they're actually called. On the front panels of early Sharks there are two little indentations in the middle of the wheel well lip. At nearly every meet I went to the first thing most judges did was to feel for these. A friend of mine has a no-hit car and I used his for a template to create mine. See pic.

At the National I was told one side was not exactly in the right spot, but I aint movin' it!

I'm pretty sure I have those on mine. I'll check when I get the car back. Looks like two? I see one small indentation in the middle of the picture. Looks like another to the right? Yeah, I hear you, they're tough to move...

[Pat M.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

Correct, there are two, one a little smaller than the other. Here's a much better pic of my friend's original cutouts. His cutouts are much better, too.

[Tom H.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

Weren't those cutouts used by the racks that held the body during assembly. As the body tipped forward, it helped the "rack" to hold the body ? Is this correct ?

[Terry M.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

Weren't those cutouts used by the racks that held the body during assembly. As the body tipped forward, it helped the "rack" to hold the body ? Is this correct ?

That's what I thought they were for, but WDIK.

[John H.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

Weren't those cutouts used by the racks that held the body during assembly. As the body tipped forward, it helped the "rack" to hold the body ? Is this correct ?

Tom -

I don't think so - the body was never "tipped" during assembly; it was always horizontal, on the body build and trim truck, and in the Body Drop tackle as well.

[Patrick H.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

Another photo:

[Glenn D.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

Should a 74' built in Sept of 73' have these "tire cutouts" ? If so,are they present on both front and rear fenders ?

[Terry M.]

Re: Detecting panel replacement

Should a 74' built in Sept of 73' have these "tire cutouts" ? If so,are they present on both front and rear fenders ?

Glen, the earlier C3s pictured in these photos are all of the front wheel opening. No such animal on the rear.

And if they are for tire clearance during turns, as some believe, you can perhaps understand why they might not be needed on the rear. Or at least we all might hope they wouldn't be needed on the rear.