| 1962 Corvette Restoration: Reconditioning and Installing Exterior Trim |
From "Classic Car Restoration"
episode DCR-208 |
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With the Corvette body back from the professional paint-shop with a high-gloss red paint-job, work can now begin reconditioning and installing the exterior trim pieces that were removed earlier. Note: This is a summary of steps included in the automotive restoration procedures shown in this episode of Classic Car Restoration. These are general guidelines for restoration procedures on this particular make and model of vehicle, and for the level of restoration selected for this project. There may be variations in procedures depending on model, condition of vehicle, level of restoration undertaken and the types of replacement parts or upgrade kits selected. Always follow proper safety precautions, and read and follow manufacturer's guidelines, diagrams and safety notices that come with any replacement parts or kit that you select. Safety Alert: Always wear eye protection when working with power tools or pneumatic tools. Materials: standard automotive tools (socket-wrenches, screwdrivers, nut-drivers, etc.)
bench grinder
chrome-polishing compound
shop rags
rust-preventive black spray paint
Chrome-Plated Trim In terms of trim, the Corvette has a combination of chrome-plated steel parts and polished stainless-steel parts. We addressed the chrome-plated parts first, assessing the various parts to determine which could simply be cleaned or reconditioned, and which would need replacing. As a rule-of-thumb, if a chrome-plated part is exhibiting signs of rust-pitting -- as seen on our front grille-bar (figure A) -- that part will either need to be replaced or re-plated with fresh chrome. In some cases it may be less expensive to replace the part than to have it re-chromed. In the case of our grille-bar, the replacement cost for the part is about $110. - Other chrome parts from our Corvette weren't pitted, but just showed signs of needing to be cleaned and polished. The chrome on a front-bumper portion was dirty, and showing signs of some rust (figure B), but the chrome was not separating from the metal underneath.
- To polish chrome parts like this, a standing bench-grinder is used. Making sure to wear eye-protection, use a soft-wire wheel for the initial clean-up and rust-removal on the chrome surface (figure C).
- For the next step, use a cotton buffing-wheel and a light-cleaning/polishing compound. Apply the polishing compound (in stick form) to the running cotton wheel until it's uniformly coated, then hold the chrome part steady as you pass it across the buffing wheel to achieve an initial polish (figure D).
- Next, apply a fine-polishing compound (a.k.a., "rouge") to the wheel until the polishing surface is fully coated (figure E).
- Repeat the polishing process as before to achieve a dramatic polished-chrome shine (figure F).
- Repeat the process on all chrome parts, where appropriate.
Stainless-Steel Trim - Inspect the stainless-steel trim pieces for overall condition. Extra-fine ("000"-gauge) steel wool can be used to clean up stainless-steel pieces that are dirty or have taken on a hazy appearance. The fine steel wool performs a function similar to what the bench-grinder brushes did on the chrome parts, but without the risk of damaging or breaking the fragile pieces.
- After removing oxidation and dirt using the fine steel wool, follow up with a good cream-polish to bring out the shine on the stainless-steel pieces (figure G).
Other Trim-Tips - Irregularly shaped parts that are pitted -- like our pot-metal taillight (figure H) -- are extremely difficult to re-chrome. In our case, it was more cost-effective to replace these parts at a cost of about $100 each. For taillights that are in good shape, you can simply replace the lenses for about $9 each.
- It's a good idea to paint the back surfaces of metal parts using a rust-preventive black spray paint to seal the metal against further rust and corrosion. Clean the back surfaces well using steel wool, then apply a coat of spray-paint (figure I) according to the directions that come with the paint.
- With all the parts cleaned and/or reconditioned as needed, work can now begin on reinstalling the trim pieces on the vehicle. Having stored the parts, following removal, in sealed and labeled zip-lock bags makes this job simpler. Work your way around the vehicle, reinstalling the trim pieces such as the vent trim and the Corvette logo behind the front wheel-well.
- The false vent-coves on the front of the Corvette look best when they are dark, so those areas are masked off with tape and spray-painted black as well (figure J). Once the paint has dried, the molding trim that surrounds this area is secured with screws from the back.
- Attach the front-grille molding (figure K) using a socket wrench to tighten the molding-nuts.
- Attach the rocker-molding along the sides of the vehicle (figure L) using screws that are secured with speed-nuts.
- Attach the reconditioned "Corvette" lettering, again using speed-nuts to secure the letters through the factory holes. The front-emblem logo (figure M) is attached in the same way.
- With the grill-molding and emblems in place, install the grill (figure N), making sure that the hood is raised as you install it.
- Install the trunk-emblem by securing the bottom piece from underneath the trunk-lid, and the top piece from above.
- The front-bumpers slip in across the false-fence (figure O), providing the Corvette with it's impressive face. We were able to recondition and re-use our original front bumpers. If they had to be replaced, the cost would have been around $450 for each.
- Finally, install the headlight-rings (figure P) which were stripped, primed and repainted along with the fiberglass body. The trim-rings simply screw into place.
In the segment that follows, restoration work is done on the plexiglass rear-window in the Corvette's removable hardtop.
RESOURCES :
Corvette Black Book : 1953-2001
Model: 0933534477
Author: Michael Antonick
Corvette: The American Legend
Model: 0785343741
Author: Consumer Guide Editors
Special Thanks, Classic Car Restoration: 1962 Corvette (Companies and Products)
Companies and Products
Corvette Central
Full line of Corvette parts and accessories.
Website: www.corvettecentral.com
Dunshee's Corvette Parts
Corvette restoration specialists.
7304 W. Villa Rita Drive
Glendale, AZ 85308
Phone: 602-938-8895
Fax: 602-938-9081
E-mail: 4vetteparts@cox.net
Quanta Restoration and Performance Products
Website: www.quantaproducts.com
Restoration specialists. Quanta Restoration carries (among other specialty items) "correct" fuel tanks for vintage cars.
Lectric Limited
Website: www.lectriclimited.com
Eastwood Company
Unique automotive tools and supplies.
Website: www.eastwoodco.com
Eastwood carries assorted tools, supplies and parts (many hard-to-find) of interest to the auto-restoration hobbyist.
House of Kolor
Automotive paints, primers and painting systems.
Website: www.houseofkolor.com
Strip Technologies of America
A media-blasting facility specializing in coating-removal & coating applications.
4001 Bruhin Road
Knoxville, TN, 37918
Bend-Pak Inc./Ranger Products
Bend-Pak provided the large equipment used throughout the Corvette episodes of DIY's Classic Car Restoration.
NAPA Auto Parts
National Automotive Parts Association.
Customer Support: 877-805-6272
NAPA provided many items that used throughout the Corvette series.
3M Corporation
Products available at retail stores worldwide.
3M provided many general supplies, including all safety equipment, used throughout the Corvette series.
Special Thanks, Classic Car Restoration: 1962 Corvette (Organizations)
Vintage Corvette video and photos provided by General Motors Corporation.
Used with permission, GM Media Archive.
Chevrolet's website: www.chevrolet.com
Corvette Organizations
The National Corvette Museum
Website: www.corvettemuseum.com
The National Corvette Museum is open to the public and offers plant tours and other services and products, including Corvette accessories and memorabilia. The museum also offers library and archive information, build-sheets and a database of information. NCM also sponsors events and gatherings.
For DIY's Classic Car Restoration, the NCM supplied research material and photographs used in episode #201.
National Corvette Restoration Society (NCRS)
Website: www.ncrs.org
The NCRS (National Corvette Restoration Society) is a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration, preservation, history and enjoyment of Corvettes made from 1953 through 1986. The group offers publications, database information, resources and discussion boards. They also sponsor Corvette events and NCRS Judging programs.
East Tennessee Corvette Club
The East Tennessee Corvette Club is a non-profit organization of Corvette enthusiasts in the East Tennessee area.
Corvette Expo
Website: www.corvetteexpo.com
Corvette Expo is a promoter of Corvette shows, swap meets, and auctions.
Special Thanks, Classic Car Restoration: 1962 Corvette (Books and Publications)
Books and Publications
Classic Auto Manuals
1910 E.S.E. Loop 323 #317, Tyler, TX 75701, 903-566-1939
Classic Auto Manuals offers factory-original shop manuals, service manuals, body manuals, repair manuals and auto-parts manuals on CD format. They provided the 1962 Corvette manual used as reference in the Corvette series for DIY's Classic Car Restoration.
Standard Catalog of Corvette: 1953-2001
ISBN #0-87349-235-8
Krause Publications
Website: www.krause.com
Book and photos featured in #201 (Corvette History).
Classic Corvette: The First 30 years
by Mike Mueller
ISBN #0-7603-1358-X
Motorbooks International (MBI) Publishing Company
Book and photos featured in episode #201 (Corvette History).
Corvette Buyers Guide 1953 - 1967
by Richard Price
ISBN #0-7603-1009-2
MBI Publishing Company
Featured in Classic Car Restoration episode #209.
Corvette: Fifty Years
by Randy Leffingwell
ISBN #0-7603-1180-3
MBI Publishing Company
101 Projects for Your Corvette: 1984 - 1986
ISBN #0-7603-1461-6
MBI Publishing Company
Author Richard Newton featured as guest on episode #209.
Motorbooks (MBI) catalog & information
Website: www.motorbooks.com
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