Body work question...bondo or not?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Oak Park IL
Body work question...bondo or not?
I had a body guy over yesterday and we wanted to use bondo on my car to repair some of the stress cracks and to use as a filler in some places so my question is this comon practice or is their a better way to repair or prep the body for paint.
Current condition of the car looks to me like someone may have used airplane stripper on her because they may have left some behind since there are some bubbles in the two front top quarters also the paint does not look smooth almost like I can see the fibers from the fiberglass so I suspect that they have stripped off the coating that was originally on the car.
I've read many threads on how to strip and paint the car from razorblade to sanding but given my cars current condition I just wanted to see if anyone else may have encountered a situation like mine and what they did to remedy it.
Thanks for your input.
Current condition of the car looks to me like someone may have used airplane stripper on her because they may have left some behind since there are some bubbles in the two front top quarters also the paint does not look smooth almost like I can see the fibers from the fiberglass so I suspect that they have stripped off the coating that was originally on the car.
I've read many threads on how to strip and paint the car from razorblade to sanding but given my cars current condition I just wanted to see if anyone else may have encountered a situation like mine and what they did to remedy it.
Thanks for your input.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,192
Likes: 27
From: Boca Raton Florida
Bondo does make some products you can use on our cars, but what he wants to use is probably not what is needed for fixing the cracks. There is a bodywork forum in here, look there, there are some VERY experienced guys in here to help you out. It sounds like someone really screwed the pooch on your car. But like just about everything else, it can be fixed. It will require stripping to bare SMC or glass, whishever your car is, thuroghly cleaning, filling and repair of any cracks, then sealing and hi build primer to get it flat.
Sounds easy Huh?
Here is the link to paint and body
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=138
Sounds easy Huh?
Here is the link to paint and body
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=138
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 245
Likes: 1
From: Jackson MN
Obviously, the less filler you can use, the better. The biggest thing that will determine what products you should even use is what type of fiberglass your 'Vette is made of. SMC is very particular. I highly recommend Evercoat's line of products...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Oak Park IL
Ha Ha easy!
Bondo does make some products you can use on our cars, but what he wants to use is probably not what is needed for fixing the cracks. There is a bodywork forum in here, look there, there are some VERY experienced guys in here to help you out. It sounds like someone really screwed the pooch on your car. But like just about everything else, it can be fixed. It will require stripping to bare SMC or glass, whishever your car is, thuroghly cleaning, filling and repair of any cracks, then sealing and hi build primer to get it flat.
Sounds easy Huh?
Here is the link to paint and body
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=138
Sounds easy Huh?
Here is the link to paint and body
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=138
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,392
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
You don't fix stress cracks with Bond-O (polyester filler). That repair will last about 6 weeks... Polyester fillers have their application for smoothing panel waviness and filling minor defects, but not stress crack repair.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 326
Likes: 0
From: Rochester New York
yup, what he said
And I used 'Rage' for repairing some small spots, but evercoat (poly putty) for smoothing. Gotta let it all sit for 47 years too to make sure everything's dry and cured and happy lol.
Former Vendor
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 683
Likes: 1
From: Mounds View Minnesota
Use vette specific filler, there is the long strand version and the short strand version ( long glass fiber / short glass fiber )
Use the right product for the year
Use long strand filler for deep filling, short strand for shallow fill.
Use glass mat for filling holes
Keith
Use the right product for the year
Use long strand filler for deep filling, short strand for shallow fill.
Use glass mat for filling holes
Keith
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Oak Park IL
Here are some pictures of some of the problem areas
Here are some pictures of some of the problem areas that I know are incorrect and need to be repaired:
on both sides of the front top qtr panels someone has sealed them improperly as you cen see below. Not sure why this was done since the birdcage is in great shape.
Passenger side
Drivers side
on both sides of the front top qtr panels someone has sealed them improperly as you cen see below. Not sure why this was done since the birdcage is in great shape.
Passenger side
Drivers side
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 14,380
Likes: 6,392
From: At my Bar drinking and wrenching in Lafayette Colorado
...and your body guy is suggesting that those areas be repaired with Bond-O??? Holy cow - I really think you need to find somebody different to work on your car!
Those areas need to be completely ground out and correctly repaired with 'glass matt and long-strand filler prior to being final-finished with Evercoat Vette Panel filler. Those are structural repairs that need to be done - not just a fill-in Bond-O job.
Those areas need to be completely ground out and correctly repaired with 'glass matt and long-strand filler prior to being final-finished with Evercoat Vette Panel filler. Those are structural repairs that need to be done - not just a fill-in Bond-O job.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 310
Likes: 0
From: Oak Park IL
Hi Lars
...and your body guy is suggesting that those areas be repaired with Bond-O??? Holy cow - I really think you need to find somebody different to work on your car!
Those areas need to be completely ground out and correctly repaired with 'glass matt and long-strand filler prior to being final-finished with Evercoat Vette Panel filler. Those are structural repairs that need to be done - not just a fill-in Bond-O job.
Those areas need to be completely ground out and correctly repaired with 'glass matt and long-strand filler prior to being final-finished with Evercoat Vette Panel filler. Those are structural repairs that need to be done - not just a fill-in Bond-O job.
