Fred's Backyard LE Restoration Options

[friethmiller]

Front LE Valance - Part 1 (8/10 - 8/13/2025)

Knowing this valance would take a lot of time, I got underway on its restoration starting Monday evening. Here are a few photos of the progress to-date. It's going to get ugly here so hang on. First task was to finish all the plastic welding that I had done about a year ago just to hold the parts together. This ended up helping me out a lot since I didn't have to puzzle-piece anything together.



Next, using a bulb grinder bit I hollowed out all the major cracks on either end of the part from the front. This worked very well. Note the metal "floss" sticking through from the plastic welds.





Next, in order to bond the cracks I used JB Weld's 2-part epoxy resin glue. Mixed a few batches and used a popsicle stick to make sure all the cracks got filled. Just like pre-school art here!



After all that dried, I went in and started the process by replacing two missing sections at the bottom-center of the valance. This is a very critical spot that, when repaired, will give back a lot of the rigidity to the part. To do this, I used cardboard as my form. I simply taped it in to provide just a bit of backing support for the fiberglass. With this done, I then mixed up the resin and layered in several pieces from the front. Note in the 3rd photo how I trimmed back the extra fiberglass. First with scissors and then with the grinder with a flip disk. Last photo shows the results of most of the cardboard and tape removed - showing just this outside layer applied/hardened.







Next up is the application of addition glass to the backside of the repair. I also took the opportunity to cover the plastic welded areas with 2x sheets of glass to provide additional strength to these areas.





After letting all this dry overnight, I will trim every up and continue with additional repairs that are necessary for this valance. More to come soon... Cheers! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[Root_Werks]

If that's an original LE front valiance, worth every effort to repair it. If it's replacement fiberglass, hard to believe they are $400, yikes!

[Puebloswatcop]

You are moving swiftly on it Fred (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif) . Don't build too fast, or you won't have anything to keep you out of trouble. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[friethmiller]

It's hard to believe!


This isn't an original LE valance that I'm working on here but a vintage OEM replacement. It isn't worth saving on it's own. I'm just unwilling to pony-up 400 clams for this part. I'm also worried that the AA part, while cheaper, won't be the same quality.

It's too late at this point anyways... I'm committed (IMG:style_emoticons/default/screwy.gif)

[friethmiller]

Front LE Valance - Part 2 (8/16/2025)

On Saturday, I started from a point where the epoxy glue had been sanded down and the panel cleaned. From here... many iterations of body filler & hand sanding with blocks (soft and semi-soft).





Once satisfied that I was getting close, I mounted the spoiler to check gaps and see how the wheel arches looked. These non-factory panels tend to have some weird forward sweeping ends that I was going to try and fix. Using washers to simulate the thick rubber spacers (which are on order), I had a look at the backend of the spoiler. Not great. You can see by the last set of photos what I'm shooting for, approximately. I used cardboard to help mock up where I wanted the new edges to be.











Once the valance was removed, I then trimmed the cardboard and taped it onto the panel from the backside. Next, it was a couple of layers of fiberglass put down from the front. After drying, most of the cardboard was removed and glass was placed on the backside. Once this was dry, I then trimmed back the excess fiberglass and used 3M Fiberglass filler to fill and help strengthen the ends. Love this stuff! It's super strong but hard to sand! You need 40 to 80 grit, to get any where with it. Here are some photos of the process. Sunday will be painting and mounting this panel.

[friethmiller]

Front LE Valance - Part 3 (8/17/2025)

I had the paint ready this morning at sunrise. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) After hitting the spoiler with 2 coats of gray epoxy, I let it dry for a few hours. I then came out and mounted the panel on the car with the new mounting hardware [that I had bagged from the previous day]. Here's a quick set of photos showing the rebuilt spoiler + other shots. While it still needs additional bodywork and finer sanding, I think I call it restored.









Next up, bumpers!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bootyshake.gif)

[slowrodent]

Very very nice job on the glass repair! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[trojanhorsepower]

Looks great. Looking for ward to seeing how you deal with the bumpers.

[Montreal914]

Very nice job on the LE replica valance. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

While you are working on the ends, ever though of adding those dowel shaped reinforcement à la real LE valance? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Phote courtesy of Jeff Bowlsby's website:

[East coaster]

I’m confused by the plastic welding portion. Isn’t it a fiberglass part?

[friethmiller]

I’m confused by the plastic welding portion. Isn’t it a fiberglass part?

Perhaps @JeffBowlsby knows more about it but this vintage part is some sort of plastic - not fiberglass. I just added some for this repair, of course.

[friethmiller]

Very nice job on the LE replica valance. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

While you are working on the ends, ever though of adding those dowel shaped reinforcement à la real LE valance? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Yeah, I thought about doing that but it's not anything close to the original in shape. I may, however, close the ends with a vertical piece. It looked like it once had closed off ends. Not sure. It's more work but I think it would look more finished.

[friethmiller]

Very very nice job on the glass repair! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Looks great. Looking for ward to seeing how you deal with the bumpers.

Thanks guys! Front bumper has a good bit of damage in the middle - just removed a lot of bondo (1/2 inch thick in places), this afternoon. In progress on the rear bumper. It has damage on the left rear, as well. It's not as bad but more bondo. Going to need to get out the BFH and a dolly (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Montreal914]

Very nice job on the LE replica valance. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smilie_pokal.gif)

While you are working on the ends, ever though of adding those dowel shaped reinforcement à la real LE valance? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

Yeah, I thought about doing that but it's not anything close to the original in shape. I may, however, close the ends with a vertical piece. It looked like it once had closed off ends. Not sure. It's more work but I think it would look more finished.

My replica folds in on its ends for a thicker/sturdier look. Unfortunately it's in the rafters so I can't take pictures...

[friethmiller]

My replica folds in on its ends for a thicker/sturdier look. Unfortunately it's in the rafters so I can't take pictures...

No worries! I'll see about adding them when I get a chance.

[friethmiller]

Bonus Photos

Better lighting and larger photos so you can see the less-than-perfect body work. Definitely needs some additional blocking with finer grit sandpaper.

[JeffBowlsby]

I’m confused by the plastic welding portion. Isn’t it a fiberglass part?

Perhaps @JeffBowlsby knows more about it but this vintage part is some sort of plastic - not fiberglass. I just added some for this repair, of course.

I was told by a plastics specialist who examined my original factory spoiler that it is fabricated using molding dough compound. MDC is (or was) used prolifically in the automotive industry for fast, high volume parts. It’s a process that uses a two part mold, heat and compression to make the part. Epoxy/fiberglass is compatible with MDC.

[JeffBowlsby]

I’m confused by the plastic welding portion. Isn’t it a fiberglass part?

Perhaps @JeffBowlsby knows more about it but this vintage part is some sort of plastic - not fiberglass. I just added some for this repair, of course.

I was told by a plastics specialist who examined my original factory spoiler that it is fabricated using molding dough compound. MDC is (or was) used prolifically in the automotive industry for fast, high volume parts. It’s a process that uses a two part mold, heat and compression to make the part. Epoxy/fiberglass is compatible with MDC.

[friethmiller]

I was told by a plastics specialist who examined my original factory spoiler that it is fabricated using molding dough compound. MDC is (or was) used prolifically in the automotive industry for fast, high volume parts. It’s a process that uses a two part mold, heat and compression to make the part. Epoxy/fiberglass is compatible with MDC.

Thanks Jeff! This stuff was definitely not fiberglass. The spoiler had been repaired before so no telling how old it actually is. Glad it will live on for a little while longer (IMG:style_emoticons/default/driving.gif)