jroc1989

Hi all,

So we're working on repairing some poorly repaired wreck damage to the back of our 64 coupe and am hoping the great folks here can help answer a few questions:

1. What is the best method for cleaning the surfaces to be bonded?
2. What is the best adhesive for bonding the panels and inner panel supports?
3. Where is the best place to purchase the adhesive?

Here's where we are, making best use of a donor clip from a 'vert. Yeah, we know the seams are not factory, but again, we're making best use of the donor we had:





Thanks!

Scott Marzahl

Your body supply shop should be able to order you some Evercoat Corvette panel bonding adhesive. You'll need to make or buy bonding strips for the backside for strength. Personally I would dish (3" wide) the outer seams afterwards and glass them in with West Systems epoxy and fiberglass mat. Prep bonding areas with 40 grit.

c2performance

Corvette image. Makes a great bonding material. Make bonding strips and no need for cloth or mat.

jrm5657

Axson APF-7 is by far the best panel adhesive I have every used. It is nice and stiff and stays where you need it, sands easy. Probably the closest polyester adhesive to what the factory used, nice dark gray color. It is expensive, but it makes the job soooo much easier.

You should be able to purchase the horizontal bonding strip that goes across the top of the rear taillight panel and the corner vertical pieces. Ernie across the river at Wilcox might have them in stock. You will have to fabricate the horizontal to connect the lower fender, obviously not a factory joint there.

Roger Walling

I find the easiest , fastest and best way to clean fiberglass for repair is with a sandblaster.

If I have a crack that is accessible from both sides, I sandblast with coarse sand until the crack turns into a long narrow hole where the crack was. This reduces the thickness on both sides and feathers the glass and allows the matting to be applied to both sides at the same time. Make the back a little thicker and wider than the front for strength so you can you sand down the front surface smooth.

If you put the last layer of mat over the paint, when you block sand it, when the paint reappears, you are level with the surface.
Sand a little more and then finish with filler.

The rough surface grabs the mat unbelievably.

0Willcox Corvette

Jrock..

I'm out of town and the one you'd need to talk to about this. I'll be back home the 19th if you want to come by with your pictures we'll discuss how to repair it.

Ernie

jroc1989

All,

Thank you for the replies and the great information!

Ernie, we'll be in touch...

jroc1989

Hey Ernie,
We called and were told that Willcox doesn't sell any products for bonding body panels?? Can't remember the name of the person that answered the phone though.