GRP Front Valance Fitting

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clubbyal79ch
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GRP Front Valance Fitting

#1 Post by clubbyal79ch »

I've received my GRP front valance through the club (Great Speedy service) and was wondering if there are any tips and or pictures of how to fit it. I will drill out the spot welds on the old one to remove it, but not too sure of the fitting process after that.

Thanks
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Re: GRP Front Valance Fitting

#2 Post by cleverusername »

clubbyal79ch wrote: Fri Dec 01, 2017 9:02 pm I've received my GRP front valance through the club (Great Speedy service) and was wondering if there are any tips and or pictures of how to fit it. I will drill out the spot welds on the old one to remove it, but not too sure of the fitting process after that.

Thanks
I have fitted one of these and it is basically fiddling till it looks right. First make sure you have removed all the original outer valence, there is a bit on the top that caught me out. Then fix all the hidden rust you will find and rust proof.

Then it really is just a case of trial fitting it and getting everything lined up. Don't worry if doesn't line up, the GPR panel has some flex in it and will fit when it is all bolted up, assuming your car is straight enough. I drilled holes in the metal and the GPR and fitted with bolts, but you can use self tappers or anything you want. I didn't use sealant on mine, because I wanted it easy to remove, but you may decided otherwise.

1/4 inch self tapping bolts are very useful for attaching the wing to the valence along the lip. You can get a spanner in there easily and they will tap their own holes. Avoids the faff of measuring and drilling; then finding you got the holes wrong.

Good luck.
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Re: GRP Front Valance Fitting

#3 Post by clubbyal79ch »

Thanks for the info, the old valance doesn't seem to include the bonnet mountings where as the GRP one does. A bit confused as to where to take the old one off to
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Re: GRP Front Valance Fitting

#4 Post by xvivalve »

The bonnet mounts are formed from both the inner and outer valances overlapping; you have to remove the top slice of the sandwich. The outer valance has a welded inner lip beneath the bonnet; the GRP panel is a single piece replica of the original metal panel.

When fitting, you may have to grind some of the thickness off the GRP at the bonnet mounts as it is thicker than the steel it replaces.

Clamp the panel with the bonnet/bonnet fixings first as it will give you the correct bonnet shut line and a fixed point to work from, then stretch the panel down to meet the bottoms of the wings.

When cutting/grinding the GRP do use a mask as the dust created is significant!
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Re: GRP Front Valance Fitting

#5 Post by clubbyal79ch »

Does anyone have any pictures they could post or email to me please?
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Re: GRP Front Valance Fitting

#6 Post by Toledo Man »

THIS resto thread might help.
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Re: GRP Front Valance Fitting

#7 Post by clubbyal79ch »

Thanks, but a shame the pictures don't work
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Re: GRP Front Valance Fitting

#8 Post by yorkshire_spam »

clubbyal79ch wrote: Thu Dec 07, 2017 9:09 pm Thanks, but a shame the pictures don't work
Yeah, botophucket really screwed up a lot of blogs/forums/websites with their changes.
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Re: GRP Front Valance Fitting

#9 Post by Carledo »

That's my thread and yes the pics were all through Photobucket.

But when I click Dave's link, the pics come up fine! Anyone know why?

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Re: GRP Front Valance Fitting

#10 Post by tinweevil »

Carledo wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:03 am That's my thread and yes the pics were all through Photobucket.

But when I click Dave's link, the pics come up fine! Anyone know why?
Because they are your photos and you are logged in, or at least remembered on that device. Try viewing it in your browsers porn mode.
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Re: GRP Front Valance Fitting

#11 Post by xvivalve »

tinweevil wrote: Sun Dec 10, 2017 5:16 pm
Carledo wrote: Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:03 am That's my thread and yes the pics were all through Photobucket.

But when I click Dave's link, the pics come up fine! Anyone know why?
Because they are your photos and you are logged in, or at least remembered on that device. Try viewing it in your browsers porn mode.
I know the front panels are good, but they aren't THAT good!!! :lol:
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