Header panel install

m3x1c0

Bad luck Buick
Joined
Jun 16, 2014
Searched it. Came up with nothing. Getting a new fiberglass header panel painted right now and plan to install it over the weekend. What do I need to look out for? How hard will it be to line everything up?
 
Aftermkt panel.. Did you test fit, and body work it, B4 you had it painted?
May/may not fit worth a hoot. BTDT...NOT fun doing it over.
 
Agh. It all happened so fast. I asked the guy if he could paint them and he said he could take them then and there for a good price. Didn't even think to test fit it :( What sort of body work is usually required to fit them? He is filling in the hole for the emblem thats it.
 
Used or aftermarket? You will find holes don't line up worth a damn.
 
Its back from paint and I have a few days off coming up soon... Get that popcorn buttered. This could be interesting...
 
Before you go forward, take a look at the fill in of the emblem hole. If not done w/ the correct material, it will cave in, and look like :poop:.
 
Before you go forward, take a look at the fill in of the emblem hole. If not done w/ the correct material, it will cave in, and look like :poop:.
I went over it with a light and cant see where the holes were. I can poke around on the back side. I assume if its bad it will crumble a bit? Also, the painter is top-notche recommended by a trusted friend who restores cars. I trust him but I do want to verify things.
 
Almost a year later and I'm starting this install! Tore down the front end and did a test fit... whoo boy is thing off in a lot of ways. Thankfully it lines up to the fenders nicely and the hood will probably just have to come forward a bit but thats no big deal. Biggest issue was getting the headlight bezels to sit nicely. The square tabs that the bezels screw into were built up way too much so had to shave those down quite a bit. The long studs that bolt the bottom of the header panel to the rad support were waaaayyyy too long. Just swapped for the old ones and that was fixed. Also the lower holes for the bezel to screw into are about 1/4 too high. I'm not sure how I will tackle that. I would need to build it down and the drill a new square hole into it... or I could just screw right into the fiberglass just to get it rolling... Now that the panel at least will bolt up I cleaned up and painted all the screws and supports. Should look better than new! I'll post some more pics soon but this is my dining table right now... guess me and the girl are gonna have to go out for dinner for a little while!

File Aug 22, 3 12 51 PM.jpeg
 
Almost a year later and I'm starting this install! Tore down the front end and did a test fit... whoo boy is thing off in a lot of ways. Thankfully it lines up to the fenders nicely and the hood will probably just have to come forward a bit but thats no big deal. Biggest issue was getting the headlight bezels to sit nicely. The square tabs that the bezels screw into were built up way too much so had to shave those down quite a bit. The long studs that bolt the bottom of the header panel to the rad support were waaaayyyy too long. Just swapped for the old ones and that was fixed. Also the lower holes for the bezel to screw into are about 1/4 too high. I'm not sure how I will tackle that. I would need to build it down and the drill a new square hole into it... or I could just screw right into the fiberglass just to get it rolling... Now that the panel at least will bolt up I cleaned up and painted all the screws and supports. Should look better than new! I'll post some more pics soon but this is my dining table right now... guess me and the girl are gonna have to go out for dinner for a little while!

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You gotta paint those trim rings black :)
 
^^^ I agree. I painted mine black on my T.

I also paint the chrome trim on the corner lights black.

D
 
You gotta paint those trim rings black :)
I thought about it but decided to go for the stock look for now. It's super easy to remove them later if I decide to paint them. One more note: if you are painting trim go for SEM trim black. I've used 3 or 4 different trim paints on different cars and nothing compares to the SEM. I missed a small spot and just sprayed that spot after the first coat had already flashed off and it blended with the rest of the paint perfectly. That just is not possible with any other spray I've tried! Love this stuff!
 
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