I just had my car painted. I removed everything and will be reassembling it myself, and it is still going to be $8500. The car itself was painted a few weeks ago but a few panels are yet to be finished. I was told today that two of them can't be restored. I assume I'm getting a small discount but haven't talked to him about it yet. I'm told it's because the metal is too thin. The front lower valance and the cowl vent cover between the winshield and the hood are the two panels. The valance is understandable as it is almost tin foil. The cowl is slightly warped just like the majority of them out there

I'm interested in what everyone thinks of this and if there are any options out there for a stock or near stock look.

 

May I suggest posting a want to buy ad in the marketplace section reference the parts you're looking for. I would think someone out there will have both which are not warped or damaged and can be picked up or shipped. This way they can be painted to match your car and installed while its apart.

 

Thanks. I don't think anyone is going to have either of these in the condition I'm looking for but it's worth a shot. They'd have to be pulled off of a car that has less than 10-20k miles to be in the condition I'm looking for I would think.

I'm interesting in knowing if they really are repairable or if anyone that has had their car painted had either of these panels straightened/filled with good results.

 

you can buy the lower valance. or at least i found one new a few years back -forget where.

this might be helpful to find a used one. https://www.car-part.com/

i would search for similar parts the call the junkyard that has it, as they may still have the car

 

There are 3 different chin spoilers used that first year. The very early one is metal, one single piece to include the two lower panels on each end, that attach to the front fender with a couple bolts each side. The next version is still metal, but its only the spoiler itself which no longer has the two end panels, those became separate pieces. The last version is still the separate spoiler but they made it out of plastic instead of metal. It doesn't get bent and dinged up like the metal ones. The plastic one will interchange with the 2nd metal version.

You first need to determine which version you have. Both the lower valance (chin spoiler) and upper cowl piece should not be too hard to find. I've saw both fairly recently. The spoiler, depending on which version you need may be the harder one to find in good condition.

 

This is good info! I have the 2nd metal version it seems. I would definitely like the plastic one.

 

Your first picture shows an SA, while your paint shop picture shows an SE. They have different front valance parts. Are you sure about what you're looking for? He SE front bumper (*and lower valance) is all eurethane plastic, while the SA is metal, as outlined above.

 

on the car it sure looks like my 1 piece metal SA....but I have not seen the two piece.

 

Its an SA with GSL-SE wheels on it. See the rear detent between the tail lights. The plastic one will warp so its a tradeoff, the metal one gets deformed easier but the plastic will warp some. I have the plastic on my 80 SA and over time it has warped some.The cowl you can gently bend back into shape. BTW, JDM bodies from this era are all very thin steel. He's probably not used to working on fragile JDM body work. Must be afraid he will damage it when he block sands etc.

 

Where abouts in NJ are you? I have one of those hood to windshield pieces from an SA. I'll be using an s2 or s3 one I have. It's been painted once before, but I don't think it's all that damaged metal wise. I'm around the rockaway (rt 80 and 15) mall.

I also have a fix for the lower valence, but without a fiberglass mold, it's a one shot solution. The one I pulled off my sa front was pretty badly worn, but you're welcome to take a look. Are you just looking for the metal side pieces or the whole plastic chin piece?

 

Yes it is a '79 that was produced in very late '78. I swapped in full SE suspension. Those 3 pics are all of the same car.

 

Just make your own front valence , I flattened mine out , and used a large blue palstic sheet about 1/4th of an inch thick i got off some medical equipment some one junked , its the same plastic they use for playground walls , probably sell it at home depot or lowes. Anyways, I used the flattened part to make a outline then made 2 L shaped Brackets for last two bolts . My dad cut the part out with a band saw and For the delicate edges I used a ossilating cutting tool , So the plastic wouldn't look so sharp around the edges i used a large wood file to make a bezzle around it and then hit it with sand paper around the edge nd painted it with 1$ flat black paint. I mounted the front three bolts and used a heat gun to bend the part to mount on the new L brackets I made that bolt right into the oem spot , the new plastic valence will bolt right into the L bracket. I have had it on since I bought my car and it looks sharp ( ignore the odd glare ,