FIBERGLASS CRACK BY THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR/SHEET ?

We're gonna need a picture on that one, Armond, just so we'll know what you're dealing with.

 

Thanks

 

The Speedstah Guy from Grafton

 

You will need to sand down to raw fiberglass and graft in a bit to over lap then sand it all down and touch it up with some paint not very difficult to do. just need some time and patience. You will be able to get some fiberglass and resin from a local plastic shop, or marine supply. You could also get material from local auto parts but I have found that a plastic shop or marine is generally less money.

 

Cheers

Simon

Thank u so much. Also is this common in these kit cars.

You will need to sand down to raw fiberglass and graft in a bit to over lap then sand it all down and touch it up with some paint not very difficult to do. just need some time and patience. You will be able to get some fiberglass and resin from a local plastic shop, or marine supply. You could also get material from local auto parts but I have found that a plastic shop or marine is generally less money.

 

Cheers

Simon

Never saw crack there before.  There is a fiberglass reinforced product called Gorilla Hair.  Take a rotary grinder and clean out the cracked bondo looking stuff and paint then fill in with the Gorilla hair.  

 

Thank u this is also a Cmc. So this product is like a glue for fiber glass. So grind little and paint red then out this glue. How come I got cracks in both doors like that.

No not really glue - a heavy body fiberglass reinforced (HAIRS) gel resin filler.  Clean out cracked stuff, sand off paint, apply, smooth out before it dries, sand, prime and repaint red.  Also called tiger hair or kitty hair.  If both then I'd take off door panels and clean seam inside and reinforce there with fiberglass cloth and resin (several layers).  Is there rubber gasket around door opening -- if so is it maybe too big/tight?

You are so nice thanks for taking time to write all this. I just purchased this pretty car. Just the doors are cracked little thinking maybe from slamming them hard or rubber not thick enough for cushion. Ur fiberglass car has any cracks?

This is not very typical. Caused by previous owner or passengers slamming the doors. Also could be caused from poor layup methods.

 

Easy fix however. Sand, spread on the short stand kitty hair or that gorilla hair (you want it short to medium length, not Long Strand or Long Kitty Hair since it is too coarse. Then sand, skim, seal, paint, colorsand, buff.

 

-Daniel

Armond;  here is a good supplier of fiberglass fibers, 2 part epoxy and anything you need to do this repair, close to you:

 

• West Marine Marina Del Rey
• Store# 00011
• 4750 Admiralty Way
• Marina Del Rey, CA
• 90292
• 310-823-5357

Thank u guys I didn't know how nice everybody is in this place. Thanks

Thats a CMC. For ya. They used filler material for adhesive on the doors, rear hatch and the hood. The doors take the most beating . I  ground out the filler a glassed the inside and out at the door seams. 

Thank u.  What u think I can sell this for I just purchased it real clean car. Disc brakes 2.0 motor. ECt.  I paid 15k u think I can get 20. Only cause ebay they all go for that much and more

Not if they see this post!

 

We used to call Bill - "Dos Speedie" since he got bit by 2 CMCs at same time.  A red and a black one.  You can get what someone will pay for it - now is top $ season.

Black CMC ftw!!

Now that I have that out of my system. The way I have seen the market shape out is as follows:
Generally, fiberfab and cmcs fetch less than vintage, jps, beck, and intermechinica. "Cmc wide body" cars fetch less than a standard or super wide body cars. If a car is super customized it limits the number of buyers, as custom touches are subjective. If a car is well sorted, it will fetch more. Bigger motors fetch more.

All of that said, 20k may not be unrealistic if you are patient and can find the right buyer. I would guess 15-17k would be a simpler sale.

I'm confused, are you looking to sell it already?

Ted

Not yet I want to enjoy it then maybe in 2 years sell for 20

You got my car before

Armond- If you haven't already done the repairs, (before starting the fill work)drilling a small hole at each end of the cracks will spread the stress load out and keep the crack from travelling any further. I have done a little fiberglass work over the years and was told this a long time ago. Yoda out.

Unfortunately those are not stress cracks. The polyester adhesive they used does not have reinforcement in the binder properties. You'll need to grind that adhesive out with a die grinder and glass it internal and externally to get the integrity needed. If you're not a DIY person  Find a shop that does corvette repairs or boat repairs.

I swear the stuff CMC used looks like straight Bondo filler. On my to-do-list I've got slitting my doors on the lower 1/2 to push panel in 1/4" for better alignment at the back with the body. Fiberglass is messy but this is easy area to fix without messing outside painted area.  Just remove inner door panel and spread drop cloth.  The gorilla hair I mentioned will do the job but you could as fiberglass cloth/mat from inside.  I'd remove the latch panel too.  You could do both in a day.  You do need a die grinder (guess a drill would work too).  If you have air compressor and Harbor Freight near by - they have a $9.99 sir grinder ( Item#53177) that would work great (I prefer the metal grinders over the stone ones since they don't get all cloughed up).

 

 

 

Thank u so much. I hope it won't be hard for me. Do I mix the gorilla hair with something or just itself.

Armond, you mix the filler(which has glass fibers in it) with the hardener/catalyst in the little tube in the right proportion, then spread it where you need it. As it hardens, it gets to a point where the excess shaves off easily. Wait until fully hardened then do final sanding/surfacing. Prime/fill/prime paint, have a beer!

Yes sir thanks.

i bought a GLASS FILLER CALLED BONDO GLASS FILLER TODAY AND THE DOOR JAM IM TRYING TO FIX IS KINDA OF HARD FOR ME . I FIRST SANDED DOWN THE CRACK THEN I PUT THE GREEN LOOKING BONDO FILLER THEN WAITED 20 MINS THEN SANDED DOWN THEN I SQUEEZED THE DOOR EDGES TO SEE IF IT WOULD MOVE AND IT DID . DO I NEED TO CUT OUT THE CRACK AND MAYBE DO REAL FIBER GLASS WORK. 

Armond,

 

Do a Google search "Auto fiberglass repairs" A half dozen informational tutorials will pop up...or... the web site  "About.comCorvettes /Jeffrey Zurshmeide"

 

Detailed instructions/answers to any possible questions you might have are just a few keystrokes away!

Remove as much of the old adhesive CMC used as possible. If you bind the new glass repair to the old stuff it will eventually crack again. Use 60 grit to rough the surface. Use acetone to clean the surface prior to starting the application of the new glass. Bond glass is not a favorable product. Is bondo filler with fiberglass strands for reinforcement . May be good for panel repairs. Not good for structural work. Best repair is using fiberglass mat or cloth to perform this type of repair . You'll cut strips of the cloth and place them in the repair area. It is recommended to brush a thin layer of resin over the area first. This will aid in holding the glass cloth in place. You will apply the cloth in layer and brush resin in . You do not want apply too much resin. You just want to saturate each layer of cloth. Heavy thickness of resin will crack without the reinforcing of the glass cloth. Once you built up the area you can finish it off with the bondo filler you purchased . You of need to glass the inside of the door seams as well. Especially  near the door hinges. You follow the same process. Use strips of glass to bridge the seam. Apply a thin coat of resin on the seam area before laying the cloth. 3 layers of 10oz E glass cloth is sufficient for the strength  needed.  Glass mat found in the auto part store works well also. I used Express composites inc. For my supplies . Great people to work with.

Thank u thank u

Plus you have to thoroughly mix the catalyst in the recommended proportions for it to set up properly.  Too little and it takes long time to harden - if ever.  To much and it sets up before you can use it.  Only mix golf ball size.  Outside temperature affect setup time too - cold makes it slower.  Yeah - you want as much of the old stuff gone - so you bond to the original fiberglass parts.

Thank u again.

Does anyone know why my front left is lowered then the right. I took to a shop they said I have to put another whole front end that the torsion leaf stacks are bad they were assuming. Can somebody help.

Armond,

 

You might as well resign yourself to the fact that most 'mechanics' in most 'shops' aren't diagnostic fixers...They're component replacers!!!

That why I initially suggested a corvette repair or fiberglass boat repair shop. Though with patience and some extra effort it can be a DIY job by doing one side at a time .

Don't want to get anyone in trouble ,but, it looks to me like, someone has been slamming,or at least did slam the door to hard, and or, the weather stripping is not doing its job!!!  Weather stripping does ,if installed correctly, buffers the door from slamming to hard!!!    Stu.

Any impact is going to create fatigue . If the bonding adhesive does not have the reinforcement needed it will fail over time. It's obvious that newer speedy manufacturers notice the problem to fix.

Thank u guys so much.

I've gotten in the habit of using West System that you get from marine places. Like the commercial for Red's Hot Sauce, "I use that s#it on everything". It's amazing stuff. I use it on carbon fiber, glass, wood, you name it. You can mix in different types of filler too. A little expensive but it goes a long way. Just my 2 cents.