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I just acquired a 61 and I see the center console ( holding radio and clock etc) has been recently repaired to accommodate the original Wonderbar radio. So at one time an after market setup was in the car (they drilled 2 large holes to accommodate the ****). The repair job on the center console was not good and you can see where the old holes were drilled in the fiberglass. My question is can I remove the console to repair it, or should I try to fix it without removing? In either case it would need fiberglass repair.
Thanks for your suggestions.
Ok I think I’ll try restoring it by leaving it in place. What can I use to repair the two depressions which have sunk a little into the console. I know I could fiberglass but how would some bondo work to fill in the sunken area?
Ok I think I’ll try restoring it by leaving it in place. What can I use to repair the two depressions which have sunk a little into the console. I know I could fiberglass but how would some bondo work to fill in the sunken area?
Man.....maybe I'm losing my sight, but for the life of me, I cannot find the depression in the picture.
None the less though, if it's just a depression and there's still "backing" behind them, I would mix up a bit of VPA (Vette Panel Adhesive) and try to fill it with that.
The VPA is super strong and once dry, it feels like it's hard as stone! With that in mind be sure to use sparingly. It's not like regular bondo that sands down easily.
I honestly don't see the problem in your picture either.....but believe its there. Its not uncommon for someone to cut to make other radios fit over the years.
I personally would not use bonding adhesive as a filler. Most typically need to be void of oxygen to cure, as it would be when its between 2 panels you are gluing together. You would have to spray polyvinyl alcohol over it to cure correctly.
If you are sure the underlying repair is solid I would use body filler.
If you don't thing the original repair is solid, grind and feather it out. Make a backer with tape and lay up 3 or so layer of chopped glass. I typically clamp a piece of plastic poster board on the top, to kind of press mold it. Then body work and paint it.
I haven’t used VPA . I’ll try it. For those who cannot see the depression, what’s there is a circle where the cutout was made, a fine line. One on each side. I think some sanding first and then some filler may do the trick. for painting I’ve used the black dye before and it does not come out shiny.black even with clearcoat. What paint would you recommend? My dash cluster is a very shiny black. Thanks.
1961 Corvette
