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Fiberglass

Panhandle BobPanhandle Bob'57 VS Supporting Member
When I bought my Speedster there was some damage as the previous owner had made significant contact with a boulder splitting the glass in two places as shown in the photo below. One split goes from the bottom of the body clear up and through to the bumper bracket. That is a pretty clean break and I am able to match the two sides. The other split goes from the bottom of the body up to the bottom of the horn vent and blinker.

This damage is more ragged. The edges do not line up and at the top it is splintered but not through and through.

I relieved the glass going up to the splintered part with a hacksaw so that now the edges meet evenly or with a very small (1/16" to 1/8") maximum gap in a couple of places.

What I want to do is stabilize the situation until I decide on paint and get a permanent fix. That means driving the car for the spring and summer before I commit to repair and paint.

So, knowing nothing about fiberglass and not finding what I need in the Knowledge section I am turning to the fraternity / sorority for some help. Right Now I just put duct tape on both sides for at least some stability.

The damage is pretty much invisible once the bumper is back on, but I am seeing some spiderwebbing above the horn vent and so I need to stabilize the glass.

Thanks in advance. Realize that I need this in simple language as I have no experience with glass.

Bob

Bob

   

       

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Panhandle BobPanhandle Bob'57 VS Supporting Member
When I bought my Speedster there was some damage as the previous owner had made significant contact with a boulder splitting the glass in two places as shown in the photo below. One split goes from the bottom of the body clear up and through to the bumper bracket. That is a pretty clean break and I am able to match the two sides. The other split goes from the bottom of the body up to the bottom of the horn vent and blinker.

This damage is more ragged. The edges do not line up and at the top it is splintered but not through and through.

I relieved the glass going up to the splintered part with a hacksaw so that now the edges meet evenly or with a very small (1/16" to 1/8") maximum gap in a couple of places.

What I want to do is stabilize the situation until I decide on paint and get a permanent fix. That means driving the car for the spring and summer before I commit to repair and paint.

So, knowing nothing about fiberglass and not finding what I need in the Knowledge section I am turning to the fraternity / sorority for some help. Right Now I just put duct tape on both sides for at least some stability.

The damage is pretty much invisible once the bumper is back on, but I am seeing some spiderwebbing above the horn vent and so I need to stabilize the glass.

Thanks in advance. Realize that I need this in simple language as I have no experience with glass.

Bob

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Nolan-TennesseeNolan-Tennessee
I may be wrong but I would first drop the bumper, clean(grind) the back side of the crack, lay maybe 2 layers of fiberglass over the back of the crack. When hardened, I'd deepen the crack by grooving it with a file then filling it in with Bondo embedded with firberglass, NOT regular Bondo. Sand it smooth after the Bondo hardens along with those scrapes, spray a coat or two of sandable primer. Then find someone that can color blend it. Or if not inclined to DIY, check a local shop that repairs Corvettes and such. Maybe even a boatyard that caters to fiberglass boats.

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Panhandle BobPanhandle Bob'57 VS Supporting Member
Started the repairs today. Will put up some pictures when I get it done. I'm finding that, as advertised, Fiberglass is pretty easy to work with. Drying hard in 15 to 20 minutes in 55 degree air. Hardest part has been cleaning up the surfaces and getting the edges of the damage to match up.

I am glassing on the backside and then will use the bondo with fiberglass on the front.

Kinda fun once you accept the fact that you have to screw up the paint job in the process.

Bob
Panhandle BobPanhandle Bob'57 VS Supporting Member
OK, so you're saying the bondo with fiberglass in it isn't as good a product.

I chopped up a bunch of fibers, mixed them with the resin concoction and filled one hole that I had used the fiberglass fabric (3 layers) across the backside of and it is rough but appears solid and dry.

I filed down the edges of the cracks already, so if you looked at a cross section it forms a continuous V, with the bottom of the V the new fiberglass. On to the outside surface tomorrow.

Thanks,

Bob
chines1chines1
The suggestions here are correct, fill it from the front, strengthen it from the back. The biggest key is to not use too much resin, especially if you are using a polyester resin. Resin is brittle and too much will make a weak repair that will shrink, crack, etc... Too little is just as bad and will leave dry glass which has no strength either. Pick up a fiberglass roller for a few bucks and roll out the extra resin to ensure a strong repair.
Panhandle BobPanhandle Bob'57 VS Supporting Member
Pictures in the next couple of messages show the original damage and the progress to finished (for now.

Discovered the left side bumper bracket is bent and so the alignment relative to the horn vents is off.

At the end of the season before I take it in for paint.

Found this to be a fun project. I hate primer, but I can live with it until I make my mind up about color.

Thanks for all the help and support, now we'll see if the repair holds up.

Bob

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Nolan-TennesseeNolan-Tennessee
Looks good, Bob. The misalignment is hardly noticeable but if you're like me, it seems like a zit on prom night. If you decide to do anything you might think about using a round file (also known as a round bastard) and slot the holes in the bracket so you can adjust it. Unless you have the ability to heat re-bend and anneal the bracket You could do that while the repair job is being painted.

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Panhandle BobPanhandle Bob'57 VS Supporting Member
I am trying to get there. I think that I can carve out time, but I hesitate to make the trip other than in a caravan,and I don't see any body from my neck of the woods, (central Illinois) or any body I can hook up with coming across from the west.

I'll keep looking. I really would like to be there, if for no other reasons than to learn from seeing other cars and meting others like yourself.

I believe the car would make it pretty easily, but I'm no wrench and if it breaks I might not have the expertise to get it fixed on the spot. Of course if it implodes, what is the difference?

Bob
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