Fiberglass repairs
Discussion
I have a little problem with the body of the car and some area require some attention.
For example, the 2 bolts that hold the window frame at the bottom of the driver door were not properly tighten and as the doors are dropping a tad, they left a very nice nasty mark on the body but not a hole yet. Also the screw that holds the other part of the window frame (single rail) positionned on the top of the lock mechanisme apparently broke the fiberglass at some point and someone had the marvellous idea to put a big massive washer... so this screw is also leaving a mark the body.
Now I was wondering if anybody ever attempted to use a fiberglass repair kit like this one and if they succeeded.
What are the difficult things to take in account?
As for the washer that makes the screw go too far, I was thinking of putting it inside the door and super-glue it in place... maybe a bit of fiberglass repair on top as well or I heard about a filler?! please enlight me, will try and post pictures of the damage tonight
aXe
For example, the 2 bolts that hold the window frame at the bottom of the driver door were not properly tighten and as the doors are dropping a tad, they left a very nice nasty mark on the body but not a hole yet. Also the screw that holds the other part of the window frame (single rail) positionned on the top of the lock mechanisme apparently broke the fiberglass at some point and someone had the marvellous idea to put a big massive washer... so this screw is also leaving a mark the body.
Now I was wondering if anybody ever attempted to use a fiberglass repair kit like this one and if they succeeded.
What are the difficult things to take in account?
As for the washer that makes the screw go too far, I was thinking of putting it inside the door and super-glue it in place... maybe a bit of fiberglass repair on top as well or I heard about a filler?! please enlight me, will try and post pictures of the damage tonight
aXe
Hiya,
I have used a similar kit from Halfords and like you I need to have a go again. I only did repairs with the stuff in places you can't see. I am sure you need a bit of practice as it is quite difficult to work with initially. I used it on the hood underneath the trim, the hood had snapped off around the hinge bolt. It ended up very strong but it did look ugly, however I was recovering with trim so it only had to be a good shape.
I found the stuff sticky and messy and I seem to remember it going off rather quickly.
I too have big scrape marks around where the door sits, because the doors drop. It is a good place to have a go I guess because it is hard to notice. I will have to try sometime.
I'm sure there are far more experienced people on here to answer better.
Ian
I have used a similar kit from Halfords and like you I need to have a go again. I only did repairs with the stuff in places you can't see. I am sure you need a bit of practice as it is quite difficult to work with initially. I used it on the hood underneath the trim, the hood had snapped off around the hinge bolt. It ended up very strong but it did look ugly, however I was recovering with trim so it only had to be a good shape.
I found the stuff sticky and messy and I seem to remember it going off rather quickly.
I too have big scrape marks around where the door sits, because the doors drop. It is a good place to have a go I guess because it is hard to notice. I will have to try sometime.
I'm sure there are far more experienced people on here to answer better.
Ian
So you have redone the part around the bolt and then bolted the thing back and it didn't break since?
Man this is strong stuff, I need to have a go at that
Guess you need to let it dry completely then sand gently then paint it.
The worse thing I have to do is covered by the door so it should not be too hard. Will get a kit and have a go...
Thanks for the input, if anybody else has a previous experience, please do share
aXe
Man this is strong stuff, I need to have a go at that
Guess you need to let it dry completely then sand gently then paint it.
The worse thing I have to do is covered by the door so it should not be too hard. Will get a kit and have a go...
Thanks for the input, if anybody else has a previous experience, please do share
aXe
Yeah thats what I did and it certainly is strong. I was thinking similiar that it wouldn't be strong enough. So I used an iron pin as well and covered the fibreglass around that, I am sure after setting this was unneccesary.
I did a little test bit, just a wafer thin bit of fibreglass and then tried to snap it. It is a lot stronger than you would imagine.
Any other experiences then or tips from more experienced members?
I did a little test bit, just a wafer thin bit of fibreglass and then tried to snap it. It is a lot stronger than you would imagine.
Any other experiences then or tips from more experienced members?
Been snooping all over the big fat web and found a few interesting tutorials to "make things" with fiberglass. However nothing showing how to repair little holes in the body. Heard a lot of a component called BONDO which acts as a filler and I was wondering if that could be the answer to some of my problems.
In any case, here are the links
www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t416484.html
www.waco-tx-eaa.org/projects/workshops/Fiberglass%20repair.htm
www.hotrodders.com/forum/fiberglass-tutorial-52028.html
www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/armor/fiberglass.html (part I)
www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/armor/bondo.html (part II)
The camper van one is pretty interesting and can be used by some people
aXe
>> Edited by axe on Friday 2nd June 11:39
In any case, here are the links
www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t416484.html
www.waco-tx-eaa.org/projects/workshops/Fiberglass%20repair.htm
www.hotrodders.com/forum/fiberglass-tutorial-52028.html
www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/armor/fiberglass.html (part I)
www.paper-wings.org/tutorials/armor/bondo.html (part II)
The camper van one is pretty interesting and can be used by some people
aXe
>> Edited by axe on Friday 2nd June 11:39
I've used fibreglass quite a few times but not on a Tiv. I'd recommend wearing Latex gloves as it is messy and can be difficult to get off when dry.
It does depend on how much hardner you put in the resin as to how quick it goes off, but you need enough so that it does dry hard. It all comes with practice.
You can buy little rollers that can be used to dissipate the air bubbles that can get trapped in the resin, this will also make it stronger.
In brief:-
1, Cut several pieces of glass fibre matt to the correct size
2, Mix up resin and hardner.
3, Apply with a brush to the surface to be bonded.
4, Stick fibreglass matt to surface, brush over with more resin and keep working in, until it is fully covered and soaked in. This is where you can use the roller to keep flat and remove air bubbles.
5, Apply other sheets of matt as required.
Sorry if I have been stating the obvious, better to have more information than not enough!
It does depend on how much hardner you put in the resin as to how quick it goes off, but you need enough so that it does dry hard. It all comes with practice.
You can buy little rollers that can be used to dissipate the air bubbles that can get trapped in the resin, this will also make it stronger.
In brief:-
1, Cut several pieces of glass fibre matt to the correct size
2, Mix up resin and hardner.
3, Apply with a brush to the surface to be bonded.
4, Stick fibreglass matt to surface, brush over with more resin and keep working in, until it is fully covered and soaked in. This is where you can use the roller to keep flat and remove air bubbles.
5, Apply other sheets of matt as required.
Sorry if I have been stating the obvious, better to have more information than not enough!
I definitely say have a go. I had a try with this stuff a couple of months ago and was surprised how easy it was to work with. The Chim's bonnet hinges are basically a pair of bonded-in bolts, so you can imagine that they take a fair bit of weight and vibration and, therefore not surprisingly, one of mine started to work loose, chewed up the fibreglass around it, and left the bonnet flapping a bit from the front. I had a go resetting the bolt with one of those fibre-glass kits and it has worked really well. I think the trick is to make damn sure everything possible is prepared before you mix the resin. Have a clear plan in your head. The stuff goes off quickly, so once you've mixed it you want to start using it ... no fannying around wondering if there might be a better way to do it. Anyway, having tried using the stuff, I can now see a world of possibilities for making all kinds of whacky shapes. First project will probably be a housing for some instruments ... all the moulding bodges to be hidden under some foam and leather.
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