Grand Am nose job

by Pontichev327 Wed May 28, 2014 3:33 am

Well. I am trying to fix the cracks once again in the old urethane nose instead of getting a fiberglass replacement. The original owner had those pinstripes put on in 1983 and I am trying to preserve them while prepping the area around them for primer. I have about 1/3 sanded down and am starting to tape off the other side now. More sanding to follow. That is all...[img][url=https://servimg.com/view/17914608/387] Grand Am nose job Ga_nos11

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by driveit Wed May 28, 2014 9:09 am

Good luck. I hope it comes out good. Take more pics please!

by Mcarlo77 Wed May 28, 2014 9:13 am

What product are you going to use to fill the cracks? I had begun doing some research on that when I still had the spare Laguna nose, but didn't really find any conclusive information as to what was the best filler that would flex with the bitter cold temps and the hot summer temps.

by ratnfested Wed May 28, 2014 11:19 am

Fusor make urethane repair stuff and its very flexible. I would try that.

by ant7377 Wed May 28, 2014 9:29 pm

Is there something wrong with the fiberglass nose? I mean for future reference in case I ever decide to buy a Grand Am. Does it not fit well or look different than the original?

by dynchel Wed May 28, 2014 10:17 pm

ant7377 wrote:Is there something wrong with the fiberglass nose? I mean for future reference in case I ever decide to buy a Grand Am. Does it not fit well or look different than the original?

Fiberglass is usually race only with no flex at all, ie instead of a flexing when you pull up a little to far in the garage and bump the bench it will crack and or break. Mad

by Pontichev327 Thu May 29, 2014 11:50 am

The replacement noses are only from one company ( Motorrealm, used to be In-Design) and like any fiberglass part, it doesn't fit too well right out of the box. You need to work with it to get it to fit. They don't mount with the original fasteners, they use screws. The grill openings are not an exact match, but look ok after install and fitting. So if you have a driver Grand Am like my 73 White one, that's a good option and I have one on it now. BUT, if you have a 75 one-of-a-kind Grand Am with factory date stickers and chalk marks still on it, then you want to keep the original nose if it's at all possible. I have used several epoxy products with success on areas that are not under stess, and they have held up well. But the Grand Am nose is VERY DIFFERENT than the Laguna nose. The 'Guna has an extremely thick urethane nose, and is easier to fix with flexable fillers. HOWEVER, the GA nose is less then 1/3 of an inch thick and even thinner in the grill bars. plus the grill bars are hollow and flex a bit. The nose originally could be pushed in with your hand and it would pop back out. After almost 40 years, it will shatter into pieces if you try that now. I am using kitty hair fiberglass resin around the sides where the wind really gets it. I am hoping to give it more strength there where it wraps around the steel bumper. As long as you give it lots of sanding scratches to grip, it stays well.

by Pontichev327 Sat Jun 14, 2014 8:05 pm

Well i made a few more steps toward getting the nose cracks fixed. Pulled off the "Park Bench" and tried to get the grills out, but even though only 4 screws hold them in, they also go thru the openings a little and won't come out on the car. So i gently removed the urethane nose and steel sub-structure and will try to ease them out now. While I had the nose off, I took pics of the tabs on the bottom of the nose that keep it from flapping in the wind on the fender bottom. One has been torn loose and I will have to fabricate a replica and mold it on. I also found more FACTORY MARKINGS!!! Inside the nose near the point is written in grease pencil MMR and a date code of 11/20/73. I love finding stuff like that!! It is too hot to keep working today, so I will attack it later. Grand Am nose job <a href=

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by Pontichev327 Sat Jun 14, 2014 8:07 pm

You can see how thin the urethane is by looking at the broken rib I'm holding in the grill opening. WAY different than a Laguna nose!

by Joe73 Sat Jun 14, 2014 9:27 pm

Looks to me that you need something that is strong and still very flexible. Epoxy hardens and when flexed, cracks.
I love and swear by 3M 5200. It is an adhesive that remains flexible and rubbery for ever. They even use it to adhere boat hulls to their deck. It does take 48 hours to tack and 7 days to cure. They do have fast dry 5200 and a fast dry 4200. I've never used either one of them.
It adheres to anything. Just scuff up the area and put it on. Stuff is unbelievable. Perfect stuff for the urethane nose. Once dry, there is no way of picking or scraping it off.
I'd look into that for your repairs. BTW, its pure white in color and no mixing. Use it right out of the tube.
Another good use would be for anyone who has a cracked rubber bumper extension.

by Pontichev327 Sun Jun 15, 2014 12:34 am

Sounds good, is it sandable/ paintable? Has to be for this fix. I broke more grille ribs trying to get the actual grille out. Not gonna happen i guess. I will have to work around it somehow. Not ideal, but what can you do!

by Joe73 Sun Jun 15, 2014 7:27 am

Since it stays flexible you wont be able to sand it smooth. It would be best used on the back of a piece and inside the crack.

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