How to Repair a Crack in a Corvette's Fiberglass Body
- Find Out How Bad The Crack Really Is. We sanded away the paint and bondo to find out how big the crack really is. ...
- Look At The Backside. Here's the old bondo job that didn't really fix the crack. ...
- Repair the Backside. Here's what the layup looks like from the underside of the fender. ...
- Fix the Top Side of the Crack. ...
- Sand the Body Filler. ...
- Prime and Paint. ...
Can a Corvette fiberglass body be repaired?
A fiberglass repair may look perfect when leaving the shop but months later subtle lines give witness to the fiberglass repairs when looking closely at the paint. For that reason, it is essential that you find a shop that has plenty of experience repairing the earlier Corvette fiberglass bodies.
How do you fix a crack in a fiberglass car body?
To fix the crack, we first ground away material around the crack from the topside with the D-A sander, and we used a body grinder to get rid of the Bondo from underneath, being careful not to do more damage to the fiberglass of the body. They then applied fiberglass cloth with resin to support both sides of the crack.
What does a corvette collision sound like?
A sound that a Corvette owner never wants to hear is a siren wailing from behind. Another is the sickening sound of crunching fiberglass. And the latter is likely to be even more painful than the former. Follow along to see what is involved in minor fiberglass repair and gain tips on handling these and other collision repairs.
How is body filler applied to a fiberglass car?
Several coats of body filler were applied and, following each coat, the surfaces were block sanded to feather the body filler into the surrounding fiberglass.
How do you fix a crack in a Corvette?
To fix the crack, we first ground away material around the crack from the topside with the D-A sander, and we used a body grinder to get rid of the Bondo from underneath, being careful not to do more damage to the fiberglass of the body. They then applied fiberglass cloth with resin to support both sides of the crack.
How do you repair fiberglass damage?
1:307:00How to Repair Fiberglass - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThis is called the scarf. This piece of fiberglass is 1/4 inch thick. So we will grind a taper threeMoreThis is called the scarf. This piece of fiberglass is 1/4 inch thick. So we will grind a taper three inches out from the hole. Be sure to wear breathing. And eye protection when grinding fiberglass.
Can you fix fiberglass body panels?
There are several factors that go into making a good fiberglass repair. The key is locking the new material to the old. While cleanliness is paramount, that is only half of the equation. Even with the surface clean and prepped, a mechanical bond is needed to secure the actual repair.
Can you repair chipped fiberglass?
FIBERGLASS CHIP REPAIR MADE EASY: One-part epoxy repair filler to fix fiberglass boat damage; It's a complete fiberglass repair kit for boats in one tube. EASY GELCOAT REPAIR KIT: Just clean, apply, level and wipe away smears; Fixes chipped fiberglass and deep cracks in seconds.
Can you repair fiberglass with Bondo?
Bondo Body Filler cures fast, shapes in minutes and is formulated to be a non-shrinking and permanently durable material. In addition to its uses on vehicle exteriors and other metal surfaces it is also a suitable repair option for wood, fiberglass and concrete.
Can JB Weld be used on fiberglass?
The results of the JB Weld Plastic Bonder fiberglass repair were excellent. Not only was the process quick and easy, but the panels look like they did from factory. The bond is strong; we would use this stuff on just about any plastic or fiberglass component that needed to be repaired.
How do you fix fiberglass body parts?
0:3520:13Fibreglass Repairs - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWasn't too bad this damage I've seen much worse on fiberglass parts but you'll be able to useMoreWasn't too bad this damage I've seen much worse on fiberglass parts but you'll be able to use exactly the same message no matter what kind of repair. I would imagine. If you sort of gluing.
How do you bond fiberglass to fiberglass?
What is the best adhesive to bond fiberglass?Cyanoacrylate – also known as instant adhesives, super glue, crazy glue, ca glue, etc. ... Two component epoxies – Permabond two part epoxies cure at room temperature and provide strong bonds to fiberglass.More items...
Does epoxy stick to fiberglass?
One reason that an epoxy product such as WEST SYSTEM® Epoxy is so useful for fibreglass boat repairs is that it's an incredibly effective adhesive. It creates a resilient bond to fibreglass, cured polyester laminates, wood and metals – even when you only use a thin film.
How do you fill a hole in fiberglass?
When you are trying to repair a small hole in fiberglass, the best type of product to use is a premium epoxy. This will insure a proper repair and will not allow for shrinking of the material and create a water tight seal. We recommend the Hawk Epoxy Kit. It contains the epoxy resin, catalyst and filler for the job.
How do you use a fiberglass repair kit?
0:592:37Fiberglass Repair Kit - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipUse the brush to saturate the repair. Area place a piece of fiberglass on the repair area. AndMoreUse the brush to saturate the repair. Area place a piece of fiberglass on the repair area. And saturate the fiberglass with the resin. Continue to layer on the fiberglass. And the resin.
How do you fiberglass over old fiberglass?
3:3810:31How to Fiberglass over Plywood and repair damaged fiberglass - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you know out of plywood baking tackle boxes things like that or even you can actually build aMoreAnd you know out of plywood baking tackle boxes things like that or even you can actually build a wooden boat and fiberglass there's a lot of different projects that can be done with fiberglass.
How do you fiberglass over old fiberglass?
3:3810:31How to Fiberglass over Plywood and repair damaged fiberglass - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you know out of plywood baking tackle boxes things like that or even you can actually build aMoreAnd you know out of plywood baking tackle boxes things like that or even you can actually build a wooden boat and fiberglass there's a lot of different projects that can be done with fiberglass.
What is fiberglass filler?
Fiberglass filler comes in a can and is mixed with a cream hardener. It mixes a lot like regular body filler, but it is thicker and a little harder to mix. The filler actually has fiberglass mixed in it. It comes short hair and long hair. This is the length of the fiberglass that is mixed in the filler.
How do you fill a hole in fiberglass?
When you are trying to repair a small hole in fiberglass, the best type of product to use is a premium epoxy. This will insure a proper repair and will not allow for shrinking of the material and create a water tight seal. We recommend the Hawk Epoxy Kit. It contains the epoxy resin, catalyst and filler for the job.
Can epoxy be used on fiberglass?
Epoxy is ideal for wetting out fibreglass You need to work hard to get an even, consistent coating – normally using a foam roller, brush or metal paddle roller. With epoxy, it's like using warm butter – the epoxy does the work for you.
How long does it take to clean a T-top?
To help the process along a stiff bristle brush was used to scrub the surface of the t-tops about 30 minutes after applying the paint stripper. After scrubbing the surface, and allowing the stripper to sit for another 30 minutes, a putty knife was used to gently scrape the surface clean.
Does fiberglass repair affect hood fit?
Although this repair does give the hood skin a bit of extra thickness it doesn’t unacceptably affect the fit of the hood frame. Here’s the top side of the hood ready to receive some additional fiberglass matt and resin. You can also see that the fiberglass repair piece does a good job recreating the lip of the hood.
How to lay in fiberglass?
Laying in fiberglass is done in layers. Lay down the first layer, allow it to cure, and cut it down to where you're ready for the next application. Jack cleans up the damage by sanding the broken pieces for good fiberglass adhesion, then, laying in the resin and fiberglass.
Who invented glass fibers?
The concept of glass fibers dates back a couple of centuries to an inventor named Hermann Hannesfahr, who was awarded a patent for his efforts in 1880. Decades later in the 1930s, Owens Corning figured out how to mass produce glass fibers.
Why do you have to use body filler on a fiberglass fender?
Because fiberglass and its resin tends to wind up with cavities and glass fibers protruding from the resin, you will ultimately have to apply body filler to bury the cavities and glass fibers. Vette. Our C2 front fender has been crunched badly and is in need of repair.
How many grits does fiberglass need to be to stick?
The damaged fiberglass is first scuffed with a 16-grit disc to give the resin and fiberglass something to stick to. See all 25 photos. There are no unimportant pieces and they must fit together perfectly.
How many grit paper to use for Evercoat?
The Evercoat finish resin is allowed time to cure before working these surfaces with 16-grit paper to fine-tune the surface. You may also use 30-grit paper for this phase.
Where is McJack's Corvette?
McJack's Corvettes in the heart of Orange County gets its share of hard luck stories from customers who've experienced the misfortune of crunched fiberglass. Before you is a really nice 1964 Corvette convertible daily driver subjected to all of the hazards of pavement duty in Los Angeles.
Is a C3 Corvette a unit body?
What makes it tricky is the C2 and C3 Corvette's unit body construction, but not in the usual way we think of unit bodies. Corvette is a unit body on frame, not like a steel body/platform like we normally see in automobile manufacturing. Because Corvette is a fiberglass unit body you can't just replace a damaged fender or fascia.
What to wear when working with fiberglass?
When working with these materials it is important to wear a respirator, gloves, and safety glasses. It is advised that you wear a paint suit to cover all skin that could be exposed to fiberglass particulate.
What is the difference between fiberglass and resin?
When you glass in the patches, think of it as making a sandwich. The resin is your bread, and the fiberglass is your meat and cheese and fixins. You start with a paintbrush and apply a layer of resin to the area which will be receiving the patches.
