1980 Nose & Tail Replacement

Thanks to the wrecker driver (back the first weekend of October) I will have to replace the nose and tail caps.  I have the lower air dam piece already but need to replace the nose & tail.

I am looking for input on fiberglass vs factory urethane vs the new maxi flex stuff.

Any thoughts, suggestions, hints, complaints etc would be most appreciated.

Go with the "Flexiglass", or "True-flex" stuff, unless you want to maintain absolute originality of sorts. Way better in the long run than solid 'glass, easier to work with, and paint. Cheaper than urethane, also. You may have a hard time finding good urethane caps, anyway.

Joel;

Thanks, where can I find the True-Flex?  Mid America shows E-Zee Fit flexible fiberglass or original stuff.

I checked Bairs, but they don't have those parts for C-3's.

"True Flex", and "Flexiglass" are simply trade names. Some companies may call their stuff other things, but the end result is the same. The bumper covers are not solid, nor or they as pliable as urethane.
As much as I hate to say it, Ecklers may be the place to get the covers.
My rear cover(solid 'glass) was made by "American Sports Cars", and I've seen them advertise in many 'Vette rags. I think Vanacor's also has them.
The last "True-flex" one I bought(for another car) was from Rik's, and it was a really nice one.

This will be one of the few times I disagree with Joel. I like the glass bumpers. I have a glass front & a urearhane rear (easy on me Joel).

Glass looks smoother (slicker) and is more durable. Bad part would be it is not very forgiving. If you error in judgement and pull / back up to close to somthing end result could be AAARRRGGGHHH.

Ureathane if you bump something will bounce back but can leave a stress mark. It also has a life expectany that will need to be replaced.

I have both only because I bought the rear dirt cheap ($80.00) at Bloomigton Gold. This was for bumper & tailights.

Someday I will have glass on the $ss too. My nose is from ACI and it fit pretty good with only minimal shaving / fitting. It does have some slight craks at the corner seem lines after 5 years but this is due to my not laying enough glass in these areas during installation. When the rear bumper finally cracks and dies and I replace it I will glass in the front corners better. Tuxblacray2006-12-29 07:57:24

Uh...HUH?
I thought I was recommending the 'glass, or "TrueFlex" covers over the urethanes...?
My car is just the reverse of yourn, Tux...urethane front, 'glass back.
The solid 'glass covers are not flexible at all, so if you do bump it very hard, it will crack.
The TrueFlex/Flexiglass covers will flex quite a bit, just not as much as the urethane ones will. The up-side is, they do not have to have a special flex agent added to the paint, to make the paint flexible. These things are made from regular fiberglass, but they have a different type of resin, that makes them flexible.
Truth is, if you bump any of them, the paint is gonna get damaged...
Next time I have to replace either of mine, it will be with the fleixble kind...

[QUOTE=Adams' Apple] Uh...HUH?
I thought I was recommending the 'glass, or "TrueFlex" covers over the urethanes...?
My car is just the reverse of yourn, Tux...urethane front, 'glass back.
The solid 'glass covers are not flexible at all, so if you do bump it very hard, it will crack.
The TrueFlex/Flexiglass covers will flex quite a bit, just not as much as the urethane ones will. The up-side is, they do not have to have a special flex agent added to the paint, to make the paint flexible. These things are made from regular fiberglass, but they have a different type of resin, that makes them flexible.
Truth is, if you bump any of them, the paint is gonna get damaged...
Next time I have to replace either of mine, it will be with the fleixble kind...[/QUOTE]


My bad... when I was looking at bumpers and looking at the "flex versions" I was leaning towards them. One of the companies explained to me these were basically urethane bumpers with a glass mixed fiber composite added to the resin prior to being poured. From that analogy I figured the thangs leaned more torwards urethane than glass. So I took your comments out of context.

My preference would be fiberglass and the car parked way the HE-double hockeys sticks away from objects. That and a visable Glock 9mm and I'm pretty comfortable wherever my car sits.

Since I didn't do the bodywork/paint on my car.(cause I suck at it, so I stick to the mechanical end of it) Darryl812006-12-29 16:56:32

Thanks guys.  My mechanic called yesterday and said he could save me about $75 off the Ecklers price plus shipping.

Don Higgins, the guy that is going to paint her is checking to see what he can do on price.

There is more to the story but I don't want to jinx it just yet so hang on.

My mistake.  The painter's name is Don Huggins, if anyone knows him.  He used to be a painter for GM.  PPG is his preferred product.