Bodywork - Where to start?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Rowlett Texas
Bodywork - Where to start?
Ok, I've read all of the tech papers and stuff from Lars and pretty much convinced myself that I'm going to do my own body work!
Where do I begin?!
It's obviously had some sort of front-end damage that someone attempted to repair. The driver side front fender is the worst. It's got what looks like someone had shot BB's into the top of it and left small pits into the glass. I can feel a couple of dips or flat spots around the fender too.
As for the rest of the car, it seems in pretty good condition except the primer that's on it, seems really rough. It's like someone shot it with some texture in it! There's even some small globs by the rear window that looks like 'popcorn'.
You can go here to see some pictures that I've taken -->
http://70vette14964.blogspot.com
You can click on the pictures to get larger ones in a separate window.
Thanks in advance!
Where do I begin?!
It's obviously had some sort of front-end damage that someone attempted to repair. The driver side front fender is the worst. It's got what looks like someone had shot BB's into the top of it and left small pits into the glass. I can feel a couple of dips or flat spots around the fender too.
As for the rest of the car, it seems in pretty good condition except the primer that's on it, seems really rough. It's like someone shot it with some texture in it! There's even some small globs by the rear window that looks like 'popcorn'.
You can go here to see some pictures that I've taken -->
http://70vette14964.blogspot.com
You can click on the pictures to get larger ones in a separate window.
Thanks in advance!
Last edited by Coldburn; Oct 13, 2005 at 05:22 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8,339
Likes: 24
From: I can walk to MA
... doesn't look too bad. Most of the roughness could be cured
by sanding ... dimples,etc with a high build primer.
That's pretty close to where my body is right now. I started
sanding away some of the primer from the prev owner.
Trust me, you will find ugly stuff under there, but you gotta look.
Look for "Vette Panel Adhesive" to fill the holes. It has the proper coefficient of thermal expansion to match the fiberglass.
http://nhvette.homeunix.com/ftp/_pic...l_adhesive.jpg
Cracks, etc should be repaired with 'glass.
by sanding ... dimples,etc with a high build primer.
That's pretty close to where my body is right now. I started
sanding away some of the primer from the prev owner.
Trust me, you will find ugly stuff under there, but you gotta look.
Look for "Vette Panel Adhesive" to fill the holes. It has the proper coefficient of thermal expansion to match the fiberglass.
http://nhvette.homeunix.com/ftp/_pic...l_adhesive.jpg
Cracks, etc should be repaired with 'glass.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,235
Likes: 0
From: Mesa AZ
you might want to strip it. if the primer looks bad you can only imagine what king of body work bubba might have underneath it. i did all of the body work and painted my car only having to strip it less than a year later because it had 6 paint jobs on that were flaking off.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 667
Likes: 3
From: College Station TX
I was in almost the exact same spot 3 years ago ... not happy with the previous owners bodywork ... it is now 3 yrs later and I just got my secound build of surfacing primer on the car ... LOTS and LOTS of scratchy, itchy days and nights.
My advice ... Be sure you can handle the truth !!!!
My advice ... Be sure you can handle the truth !!!!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,481
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Originally Posted by NHvette
... doesn't look too bad. Most of the roughness could be cured by sanding ...
You've got your work cut out for you, but she's not in all that bad a shape. I've seen worse.. Good Luck.
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 101
Likes: 0
From: Rowlett Texas
I took a palm sander with 120 grit to a small area, just to see how thick the primer is, and it's very thin. So I dont think i'm going to strip it.
Lars suggested getting a wood file that was like 16" x 2-1/2".. That seems kinda wide to me? Also, would anyone recomend using an air version?
Lars suggested getting a wood file that was like 16" x 2-1/2".. That seems kinda wide to me? Also, would anyone recomend using an air version?