GLS front end conversions

[blekkja]

How tricky is this, really?

The one guy who I know had it done said it was a pain in the arse. Or rather the Panelbeater said it was a pain in the arse - it would have been more a pain in his back pocket. Granted that his car was a series 7 wagon, and had pretty series front end damage due to an accident.

My thoughts are it would be easier to just find a good shell and swap everything over.

As I need to think about giving my car a tidy up soon it would make sense to do a conversion at the same time (if it was feasible). I've had it for a fair few years now so I couldn't say that I didn't have a sentimental attachment to it, and the cheap rego is nice too. As I think almost everyone agrees the square lights just don't have anything on the twin rounds.

[avenga]

I am in the same boat as you. I have been wanting to do a GLS conversion for a while but as you know my '75 is a constant string of conversions (If you don't know my '75 it is the Avenger you can see up in the header)

I have been putting it off because my mechanic said it will be a pain in the but also. I have all the grille, lights and buckets already. I have been waiting for a GLS body to grab the front cut off to make it easier. That is why I went to see your GLS that had been crashed but the front was too damaged to use. I have been looking for the last few years for a cheap GLS to cut up, I am excited about this group buy one up north. That could be the ticket.

I am the same as you, I have done too much work to my '75 to swap bodies so I will need to do the conversion. I have the dashboard etc to go in also.

[avengertiger]

from experience i can say its a big job,i understand were people are coming from with the quad rounds,but i prefer the rectangular headlights funny isnt how people differ,i have a 2 door back in ireland which i started to restore before i got the tiger and the headlamp mounting panels were shagged.i was lucky enough to get two nos panels and began taking out the old ones,they are spotwelded to the inner wing and also the front panel and the slam panel were you bonnet locks.
getting the old ones out without doing any damage is pretty straight forward,time consuming(this is were it starts to cost) drilling out each spotweld from memory there could be around 15 or 20 per side.
with the old ones off you need to set up the quad lamp ones to match time will need to be taken here as it will determine were the front gaurd will sit when welded in and also were the headlights will screw into.lots of trail fitting needed.
from posts i have seen on the uk forum there is also a slight difference on the inner wing between the two light set ups cant say what this is for as i have never looked properly its a rectangular section which is welded to the inner wing.
in my opinion it would be a shame to cut and weld a good car that has no rust issues as it will be difficult to make it look factory even with due care,it also wont be factory.
when i moved here i expected to be able to find and see a lot more avengers than there is them haveing been built here and there really isnt that many about well at least here in nelson there isnt.so i think it would be a shame to go cutting up good ones to make them into something they arent,save your pennies and do another avenger with the four round headlamps set up down the line and have one of each

[avenga]

Hey Dave, This Avenger Alpine is in your area. Looks mint now they put up photos.

Go buy it so I can go for a drive in it next month when I am down in the south island

http://www.trademe.co.nz/a.aspx?id=408626725



As for the "Not factory" My '75 was fiddled with long before I got it so I am just going totally custom and building it in to my dream Avenger. I know haters gonna hate but I am building my Avenger for myself. I have my factory original car in my Charger so I want my Avenger to be custom built for me.

I must say that I would never wreak a salvageable for my GLS conversion, that is why every Alpine I have looked at has been either a rust bucket like the one at Horopito or crashed like Blekkja's old GLS. I would rather just custom build new sheetmetal than wreak a restorable Avenger.

[blekkja]

That GLS up north seems like it would be too good to cut up, though. If only it was a bit closer I could actually go look at it...

[oldschool]

Yeah, too good to cut up Richard...
And very tricky to fit an Alpine front to a Super, better to swap the engine/gearbox and interior over, especially since it's already painted a colour you like!
It's actually easier to swap the bits than you think...talk to Mal?
Remove the radiator, exhaust and gear lever, undo the strut tops, brake hoses, steering universal, fuel line, engine, gearbox cross members and cables and everything just drops out the bottom as a complete unit.
You don't even need to remove the wheels!!
That's how they were assembled of course...the body was lowered on to the front suspension/steering/engine/gearbox assembly.
If you want to be fussy, you can swap the diff over too, but the 3.89 would be fine with the 5 speed.

[avenga]

Plus my carpets and interior will take time. I think it would just be easier to fabricate a new front end. Plus I like my '75, I have put a lot of time and money in to it and I don't want to reshell it.

[1300super]

I must say Ive seen alot more Twin headlamp Avengers than Rectangle headlamp ones. I did like the twin headlamp look but my rectangle ones have grown on me & now I prefer them. I've got to agree with Dave, Its a shame to cut up an original rectangle headlamp one as theres not many around to start with.

[avenga]

I am building a scratch built quad headlight conversion. I am hoping to make it as a kit so if any of you are interested in doing the conversion let me know. You will still need the grille etc.

[Nikolai]

I would be interested. Love twin headlamps!

Would it be possible just to mod the rectangle light grille?

[avenga]

They are very different grilles so I would say no.

[avenga]

Hey guys. I got my GLS front end conversion done. Looks good with the fibreglass kit.

Can't wait to get the rest finished and painted.

[Purpurla]

So are you going to put up some details on how this was done? I've got the grill and headlights and stuff but I want to know how its done before I even think of going there. Looks good btw!

[avenga]

Thanks. Yes, I will put up some info on how it was done shortly. The car is still down getting work done on it so I will be popping down over the next couple of days to take some photos and get some info on the process involved but what I understand is it is not a simple job and requires a lot of cutting, welding and fabricating.

Bygone Autos did a great job on my conversion so yeah if you can afford it just drop it off to them and they can do it for you.

[blekkja]

you repainting the whole thing, or just the bolt ons/etc? same colour?

i want to say that it doesn't quite look stock, but maybe that's just because i know it isn't.