Flared fenders repair

[66for2]

Larry,
The previous owners of my car flared the fenders and made the headlights fixed. I am going to have my "driver" brought back to the original body lines. My question is do I have the shop install the fender patch panels or should I have them just change out the entire front clip and rear quarters.

[fatherlarry]

Welcome aboard 66for2,

Great classic Vette!

On the rear quarters, I would definitely replace the rear quarter panels, taking it from the factory seam.

On the front, being you said the front is flared also, that's a lot of patch work that you'll have to do if you're doing it in sections, so I would go with the entire front replacement, being the labor to do all the patchwork may add up to the same amount of $$ as replacing the entire nose. As far as originality, they make two types of replacements. They make the pre-assembled press molded front ends which go for around $3500, and then they also make a one piece front end-door to door for around $1000. Of course the pre-assembled would be more original.

See what condition your front skirts are in. It's a tough call without looking at the car. There are a lot of different manufacturers out there and some panels are made better than others. In California you should be able to find excellent restoring shops and custom shops and they could recommend the best manufacturer if you're going to purchase the section or complete nose. It all comes down to how much money you want to spend and what you're going to use the car for. Being these cars are rare and sought after, you could never lose money if you do it the right way. If you want to put just the sections in and then you start stripping, you don't know what is underneath the paint and how much body repair may already be on there, so that's why to play it safe, get the best complete pre-assembled front end, where you're hood, lights etc will line up. Why go through the headaches of putting piece by piece in and having to line up the hood, lights, bumper, lower grill etc. Good luck and let me know how you make out.