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Louie71
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Joined: January 20, 2012
Posts: 30
Location: Whittier
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 Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:08 am Post subject: Fiberglass Front End |
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| I've posted about this before but never really got any replies, so here it goes. I have a 71 Squareback with a misaligned hood and some small dents in the front. I've been debating about replacing the whole front end with a fiberglass one intended for an earlier Square. My friend would be willing to weld the whole front end on for me. Have you ever seen(or better yet HAVE) pictures of squares with fiberglass front ends? Do you think this is a good idea? The more input the better, Thanks! |
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Soul Built 
Pimpin' Aint Easy
Joined: August 28, 2004
Posts: 1454
Location: SoulCal
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:19 am Post subject: |
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If you have a friend that welds, why not have him help repair the original metal and patch in pieces as needed?
In terms of resale value, 1 piece front ends aren't highly regarded unless it is on a race car |
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danielzink
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Joined: August 03, 2004
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 10:02 am Post subject: |
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First off....
You don't weld in a fiberglass front end. It's fiberglass - you can't weld to it.
You can however weld in supports so that the entire front end will tilt forward every time you want to access the trunk.
Think from the bottom of the windshield, the wheel arches - everything - will tilt forward - basically your headlights will be pointing at the ground.
IMHO.
Bad idea.
Dan
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danielzink
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Mike Fisher
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ataraxia
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:12 am Post subject: |
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This idea is one of those that sounds WAAAYYY better in theory than in reality.
Unless, of course, you're building a race car.
You'll spend more to do this than fix what you have-especially if you're in So. California and it'll make your car nearly impossible to sell.
If you want an early car, buy an early car...don't waste your time and money making what you have what you want.
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dragsters for life
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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| ataraxia wrote: | This idea is one of those that sounds WAAAYYY better in theory than in reality.
Unless, of course, you're building a race car.
You'll spend more to do this than fix what you have-especially if you're in So. California and it'll make your car nearly impossible to sell.
If you want an early car, buy an early car...don't waste your time and money making what you have what you want. |
well spoken
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Louie71
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Joined: January 20, 2012
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Location: Whittier
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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| From all the negativity towards fiberglass front ends I'm going to go ahead and assume it's not a good idea. I wasn't doing it strictly because I wanted that "older" look. I just want my hood not to be misaligned. I took it to a second body shop today and everyone just seemed clueless on how to get it to properly shut. |
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ataraxia
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Location: Chicago, IL
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Louie71 wrote: | | From all the negativity towards fiberglass front ends I'm going to go ahead and assume it's not a good idea. I wasn't doing it strictly because I wanted that "older" look. I just want my hood not to be misaligned. I took it to a second body shop today and everyone just seemed clueless on how to get it to properly shut. |
You're going to the wrong places...you have to start by asking the right people where they'd go.
Call Bill and Steve's in Downey, CA and ask them if they can recommend someone to help you out. Better yet, go down there-you might find someone who works there who can help you out. I'm not saying they'll do it for free-nor should you expect that-but you'll find people who know the car and know how to fix what troubles you.
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Soul Built
Pimpin' Aint Easy
Joined: August 28, 2004
Posts: 1454
Location: SoulCal
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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| ataraxia wrote: | | Louie71 wrote: | | From all the negativity towards fiberglass front ends I'm going to go ahead and assume it's not a good idea. I wasn't doing it strictly because I wanted that "older" look. I just want my hood not to be misaligned. I took it to a second body shop today and everyone just seemed clueless on how to get it to properly shut. |
You're going to the wrong places...you have to start by asking the right people where they'd go.
Call Bill and Steve's in Downey, CA and ask them if they can recommend someone to help you out. Better yet, go down there-you might find someone who works there who can help you out. I'm not saying they'll do it for free-nor should you expect that-but you'll find people who know the car and know how to fix what troubles you. |
I like Bill and Steve's but you would be better suited calling ISP West. |
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ataraxia
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Soul_VW wrote: | | ataraxia wrote: | | Louie71 wrote: | | From all the negativity towards fiberglass front ends I'm going to go ahead and assume it's not a good idea. I wasn't doing it strictly because I wanted that "older" look. I just want my hood not to be misaligned. I took it to a second body shop today and everyone just seemed clueless on how to get it to properly shut. |
You're going to the wrong places...you have to start by asking the right people where they'd go.
Call Bill and Steve's in Downey, CA and ask them if they can recommend someone to help you out. Better yet, go down there-you might find someone who works there who can help you out. I'm not saying they'll do it for free-nor should you expect that-but you'll find people who know the car and know how to fix what troubles you. |
I like Bill and Steve's but you would be better suited calling ISP West. |
True story...
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'To argue with a person who has renounced the use of reason is like administering medicine to the dead.' |
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Louie71
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Joined: January 20, 2012
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Location: Whittier
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| Posted: Wed Mar 14, 2012 9:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Ill go check it out, that's where I got my front emblem. I went to VW goldmine in Whittier and their body shop guys were nice and polite, but said they couldn't fix it. They referred me to another shop (Whittier Collision) so I went there. They were beyond clueless. His exact words were... "Go buy some front end things and ya, then we can figure out how to fix it" |
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nodrenim
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| Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 5:32 am Post subject: |
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| How about posting some pics of your problem? Take some of the hinges, the front and each side, so we can try and see your problem areas. Then you may be able to get some answers to your q's. |
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jrogers
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Location: orange
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| Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 11:02 am Post subject: |
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| I'm in Orange and I might be able to help you. |
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Louie71
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Location: Whittier
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| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:01 pm Post subject: |
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Here are some pictures. Sorry some aren't the best quality and need to be rotated. Hope this helps figure out the issue.
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Louie71
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Location: Whittier
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| Posted: Tue Mar 20, 2012 4:04 pm Post subject: |
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| jrogers wrote: | | I'm in Orange and I might be able to help you. |
That would be greatly appreciated!!! After you see the pictures, let me know if that's the type of problem you can help with. Thank you! |
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Louie71
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Posts: 30
Location: Whittier
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| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 2:17 pm Post subject: |
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| Definitely not going with the fiberglass front end, just trying to fix the front end. Hopefully you guys can offer some advice now that you can see the pictures. |
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Bill Jacobs
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| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 4:58 pm Post subject: |
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| For me it is hard to tell about the hinges from the pictures but how does the latch area look? Wondering if put of the aligment and gap issues are coming from the latch not being correct or in place. Just a thought. No way I would do fiberglass either. |
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Louie71
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Location: Whittier
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| Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2012 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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The hinges don't appear to be bent or misshaped in any way. I believe the source of the issue stems from the left side. It seems to wiggle as if the bolts are loose, but they aren't. The latch area seems to be well aligned, but then again I've not sure what it should properly look like. Here are some pictures of the latch.
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VWporscheGT3
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Joined: September 01, 2006
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Location: Gardnerville, NV
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| Posted: Wed Mar 28, 2012 9:05 am Post subject: |
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to me it looks like your front apron might be pushed in a bit and thats why the hood isnt shutting fully. i have the same problem on my bug ... i need to find some time to pull the nose out a little bit. if its not you can play with the locking mechanism to adjust for shut height and you might have to re-align the hood. make sure to remove the spare tire well for ease of access should anything go wrong. good luck
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