How to repair plastic/vinyl air dam (69 BB w/ AC)

[JoeC]

I have done some repairs on old dirt bike plastic where I cut and fit in a "I" shape patch. I used plastic of same thicness (scrap piece from newer car bottom shield) and fit it and glue it. The shape of the patch holds it together and the glue just holds the patch in place.
I used a 3M glue from auto parts store that is used to glue on emblems. After sanding and painting they looked good.

[9T4Z]

I have successfully done numerous plastic repairs.  Fiberglass patch will not work and make a mess.  Polyethylene repairs successfully with heating donor patches. ABS and some mixed composite plastics repair extremely well with plumbing cement.  There are PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and ABS cements that will literally cold weld parts together. I agree you should do your research and try a small area to assess your results... but if you get the right material and cements together you will amaze yourself... find some donor material and try it on an edge you can cut off if not successful.  Where appropriate you can overlap material to reinforce it adjacent to the missing/damaged bolt holes.  Do not be afraid to ask a body shop for advice as this part is certainly quite rare.

Good luck,     

[BlackoutSteve]

I have found that if the plastic is ABS, Plastex work the best and is easiest to apply. http://www.plastex.us/PLASTEX/index.html

I have modified my Vintage Air evaporator's ABS plastic housing and converted my repro dash carrier with the stuff, among other things too.
Scroll this post.. http://www.usmuscle.com.au/Forum/showpost.php?p=15047&postcount=97
and http://www.usmuscle.com.au/Forum/showpost.php?p=29543&postcount=294
and http://www.usmuscle.com.au/Forum/showpost.php?p=30334&postcount=335 including much of the rear vent and heater control that wasn't photographed. (was done prior to getting a camera!)

Also, after the on-line enquiries that I have made regarding the 3949856 sheild, I doubt it was fitted to any Camaro, let alone a BB-A/C Camaro at all.
The only ones I have been shown by the on-line "Camaro community" were off Novas and other similar models, but never Camaros.

How many BB A/C Camaros were built and are still owned in OE condition, with not one owner prodiving an OE image of one on the car or at least a pic of all the 9 mounting holes on support and subframe from where it had been installed?
Seems awfully strange to me.

[NoYenko]

JVB, I & many others have been looking for one of these original shields. That is a very rare part. Would you be interested in selling it or loaning it out to be reproduced?   It doesn't look too bad from the picture. George

[KurtS]

I personally doubt it was used much in TA racing - cooling wasn't a huge issue for most cars, it would be in the way, and it wouldn't hold up.

I think this is the 2nd or 3rd one I've ever seen. I wonder if they were used in production the whole year or not.

[x66 714]

Kurt
Mine is an 08E of 1969 & it had it. I've aquired a repacement for it as it was gone but all the bolts were there. I'm unable to read the date on that posted page, C60,B4. They would've been after that date...right?....Joe

[NoYenko]

I am taking my car apart to restore and was going to send core support out for powder coat. I thought I had 3 extra holes in the bottom of support and about to weld them up. Checked the manual and found they are supposed to be there. Now feel I need to find the shield. My car was made 1st week in Nov.1968 and appears to have had it. Hope we can find someone to reproduce it.

[jacmac]

My 04C had one If someone would reproduce it, I would probably buy one.In 1976 went to the chevy dealer to get one ,they had know idea what I was talkng about!!

[big iron]

Joe,
That was a redesign which means there had to be an earlier design. I guess they could have changed the mounting of the shield.
Bob

Kurt
Mine is an 08E of 1969 & it had it. I've aquired a repacement for it as it was gone but all the bolts were there. I'm unable to read the date on that posted page, C60,B4. They would've been after that date...right?....Joe

[x66 714]

There is a guy who has made a few of these & I got one of his first ones. I will call him tomorrow & see if he's ready to start releasing them. After that I will see how he want those needing them to contact him.....Joe

[x66 714]

Those of you wishing to purchase a new reproduction can contact Ed at edmelberg@zoominternet.net. Leave your phone number & he will call you back. They are very nice. He has about 36 left. Regretably with the low demand & the expense of making these the cost is a little up there...Joe

[NoYenko]

Joe
Was your repro made out of plastic or metal,and do you think it looks like the originals?

[x66 714]

It looks like pictures I've seen of an original. It's vacuum formed abs plastic as were the originals. The two guys behind this sure did their home work. I only had pieces of the original that I used to compare the thickness. My original question here a while back was "did it really exist."
I'm glad to have one as I never expected to find one & it's not an item that most of the repop houses would do because of low production cars. Get with Ed & let him tell you the story of how this all took place. Let us all know what YOU think. I'm happy with it......Joe

[NoYenko]

I received the re-pro 396 air shield from Ed Melberg, it is a really nice piece. I cant fit it to the car but I attached it to the core support and took some pictures.
x66 714 Thanks for your help.

[NoYenko]

Another picture