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I have this book. It recommends using Eckler's gel coat...I know fiberglass bathtubs and boats have gel coats and Corvettes don't etc etc but whatcha y'all think?
It depends on whether you have FRP (Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic) or SMC (Sheet Molded Compound) panels. Up until 1970, all Corvette panels were FRP. The conversion to SMC began in a limited fashion in 1971 but by 1973, all were SMC.
”Gel coats” were, and are, used as mold release agents. During FRP manufacturing, they were polyester based but the SMC process was epoxy based and the mold release agent was incorporated into the actual panel during manufacture.
If you have an FRP panel, you can use a polyester based primer-surfacer (like Morton Eliminator) but if you have an SMC panel, you need to use primer designed for SMC. Look at the West Systems website for details.
I used the Ecklers Gel Coat when I painted my 78 in 91. I removed all of the old paint using their stripper then shot the Gel Coat to "seal" the suface from the fiberglass fibers from showing through after painting. I did sand the gel coat befor the final primer/paint.
Gel coat?
