Fender material types
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Fender material types
Anyone have insight on the difference between Hand Layered and Press Molded fenders? Quite a price difference. Do you use the same adhesives/fillers? WHich one is stronger? I have an 81 in need of left front fender
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
The factory panels for your 'Vette were SMC (Sheet Molded Compound). The press-molded units are the closest equivalent. Both sides are smooth. The hand-laid panels will be rough on the inside. Hand-laid 'glass panels are gel-coated. Press-molded are not. Press-molded pieces are higher quality, so the cost is higher. There are adhesives which are compatible with both types. 
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
If you are adventurous, you can use a DA sander and grind the inside of the panel smooth to appear factory. If you opt to do this, you will have to deal with the dust and the fiber that will get into your skin and itch to no end.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,694
Likes: 833
From: WI
I just bought a replacement SMC front L fender for my 81 from Ecklers. They apparently have a long term licensing agreement with GM and use their original dies and SMC material. In essence it should be equivelant to OEM. I think the quality of the one I received is excellent, and smooth on both sides (to answer your question). Looks like OEM. I am about 1/2 way through the installation. Hope to have it on this week. Man, that SMC is tough stuff. I think as far as strength, the key is that SMC could be made thinner to have the strength of regular fiberglass ...going from what I read (I'm no expert).
The Ecklers SMC fender is kinda spendy, but to me it was worth it to get a part that should fit right and down the road not be an obvious repair to cause me to loose resale (if/when these cars pick up in value). They had a 10% off christmas special and that was great to bring this price down to $269 or something like that, plus I ordered a bunch of other items I need anyway. Maybe they will have a valentines day special ...or easter. Or, you can join their restoration club and get a discount on all your orders for like a year. The fee would pay for itself if you ordered the SMC fender. I bought Vette BondII adhesive material from Corvette Central. I know guys say Evercoat SMC adhesive is also good. Good luck!
Mark G
The Ecklers SMC fender is kinda spendy, but to me it was worth it to get a part that should fit right and down the road not be an obvious repair to cause me to loose resale (if/when these cars pick up in value). They had a 10% off christmas special and that was great to bring this price down to $269 or something like that, plus I ordered a bunch of other items I need anyway. Maybe they will have a valentines day special ...or easter. Or, you can join their restoration club and get a discount on all your orders for like a year. The fee would pay for itself if you ordered the SMC fender. I bought Vette BondII adhesive material from Corvette Central. I know guys say Evercoat SMC adhesive is also good. Good luck!
Mark G
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Hey Mark;
Thanks for the input. Thats about the same conclusion I came to reading everything on line I could find. Never having done any fiberglass work I was a little worried about it, but now I can't wait to jump on it. Working on getting the garage fixed up so I have room to work, next month probly get this project on the way.
Thanks for the input. Thats about the same conclusion I came to reading everything on line I could find. Never having done any fiberglass work I was a little worried about it, but now I can't wait to jump on it. Working on getting the garage fixed up so I have room to work, next month probly get this project on the way.
