Hi Guys,
I'm just about to start a new build on a 356 coupe body and I wanted to know the best way of bonding the headlight bowls into the body. Also where can I find accurate measurements for the light placements etc?
I've looked on here and a found a couple of images but any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
John
Replies sorted oldest to newest
I see you are in UK. In US I would rough up bonding surfaces, clean with acetone, and use Clausen Gorilla Hair. It's a gel fiberglass resin mixed with fiberglass strands (the hair). If you can't find that product - fiberglass gel resin mixed with chopped up fiberglass mat would be the same. You could tack them in place with Liquid nails or Bondo and then finish with fiberglass resin. West Marine has some great fiberglass products. Alignment shouldn't matter since the headlight assemblies themselves are adjustable. Post some pictures of you future ride.
Is this any help? Maybe you can read measurement at the .NL site.
I wish this chart were clear enough on my monitor to be able to read the dimension from the front edge of the bumper guard to the center of the front wheel.
Notice especially on this drawing how uniform the front wheel circular cutout conforms to the tire itself (as it does on old nostalgic photos of my '59 coupe)...Whereas on my VS, and other VS's, (but not all replicas) there's a widening asymmetrical gap between the front of the tire and the curve of the cutout beginning at the bottom of the fender to about 320 degrees of the circle. My speedster is black so this visual asymmetry is usually hidden in shadow...but it's very apparent, and to me distracting, on lighter painted bodies.
Were all VS pans simply cut too short?
NO, they were meant to be appreciated only in the dark....
I have yet to see a replica with the front wheels centered, most favor the back of the wheel arch. I hated this, so when I restored mine I extended the front and moved the wheels forward 2 5/8 inches. They fit perfectly now !!!
No I take that back. The Beck is perfect I have seen them, But the pan based (most all of them) the wheel spacing is not correct
Autobahn,
Extending the front 2 5/8" is beyond my present wrenching and welding skills, but in case it should make a future 'to do' list, please tell me how you accomplished it.
For now I'll try to keep the visual profile of my black VS in shadows!
I see you are in UK. In US I would rough up bonding surfaces, clean with acetone, and use Clausen Gorilla Hair. It's a gel fiberglass resin mixed with fiberglass strands (the hair). If you can't find that product - fiberglass gel resin mixed with chopped up fiberglass mat would be the same. You could tack them in place with Liquid nails or Bondo and then finish with fiberglass resin. West Marine has some great fiberglass products. Alignment shouldn't matter since the headlight assemblies themselves are adjustable. Post some pictures of you future ride.
Thanks for your help. It confirmed what I'd previously thought, I just wanted a bit of a confidence boost before I cut them out. I'll get some images up when I've made some progress, I'm still very much in the planning and buying parts stage at present.
