Grill and side-lamp clips (Riviera)

[edwinn]

You guys can probably tell I'm in "maintenance and update" mode after a major cross-country trip. Is there a GM auto body and paint forum to post this stuff in?

Meanwhile here are a couple questions. I've had chronically loose side lamps, especially the FRONT which I believe are rattling, also due to increased firmness after a spring/strut replacement job. The front lamps are hidden (cannot access directly) but here's a photo of the right-rear lamp where the spring clip has popped off (and wasn't in the correct position to start with.)


Right rear side lamp. Retaining clip has come off, and was probably attached to the wrong tabs.


Front grill clips

Have already replaced the front grill some 10 years ago after popping a S10 pickup in front of me. There just wasn't enough room to stop, maybe 5 or 10 more feet? The grill clips were rusted even then. I have the grill off again and need to get new clips, as they have rusted badly. After soaking them in CLR, now they are pretty much unusable.

Here's a view of the four clip locations on the hood.


Four grill clip locations on leading edge of hood. Rust from clips has stained paint and damaged finish.


Close-up of clip #2 area.




Close-up of clip #3 area.




The rust was starting to show on the hood from the outside. How best to spot-treat those areas before reinstalling? Doesn't need to be fancy, just coated somehow. And BTW, I scrubbed and scrubbed with polish and the rust stains are very stubborn!!


-Ed

[edwinn]

Have a photo of the grill clips after soaking them in CLR. I think we're looking a some cheap, flimsy body construction here. The black oxide coating has come off both the torx-head screws and the retainers. These things are TOAST!!




Will have to get with the body shop guy this week to see what's available for replacements.


In the mean time.. some sanding, feathering and prep.














Hood Latch foorprint




Hopefully get some paint on these spots today!!


-Ed

[edwinn]

Update:

The foreman at the local shop inspired me to do some armature body work. A couple grits of emery cloth, some white Rustoleum, a 3/8" paint brush and a few days later the grill is almost ready to go back on. Have ordered new retainer nuts and screws that should arrive today. Also did some rust and corrosion control on and around the hood latch while at it. Is that getting carried away?







A lot of road crud and yellow stain was removed from under the hood in front and on each side of the heat-pad with denatured alcohol. It works really well but takes some elbow grease.

The photo above was taken last night (after dark). Hot summer weather, garage, some cold beer.. GREAT!!



-Ed

[edwinn]

This is turning into a monologue so.. will keep this one brief with a photo of new Grill screws and retainer clips (nuts) from a local dealer. 19 bucks sounded expensive for a few fasteners but now I'm glad to have bought them.




The grill and hood latch will be going back on today. Oops, missed a spot on one of those latch bolt washers!!




Nothing like summer, garages and cold beer.


-Ed

[edwinn]

The Riviera front end touch-up and "decontamination" is now [almost] done!!

Just to restate.. GRILL clips rust was showing up on the "leading edge" of the hood and damaging finish. The foreman at Leehigh suggested a DIY project to save a boatload of money.

Here are the final pictures. It's not perfect, but from the front, you cannot see any rust!! and cannot distinguish spots that were touched-up with gloss white Rustoleum from the normal roads nicks on a 15 y/o vehicle.





Close-up from LEFT.




Close-up from RIGHT.





Close-up of CENTER with hood latch plate which is mostly hidden when standing in front.





You can see there's STILL some road crud to remove with a rag and denatured alcohol in the photo below:

http://home.comcast.net/~edwinn/crud_to_remove.jpg

The garage is kinda' small so there are no views of the front-end to present at ths time, plus it was raining yesterday.


The project was easy and fun!! What took the longest was waiting for the paint to dry.


-Ed