Is this crack repairable?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,280
Likes: 0
From: colorado springs CO
Re: Is this crack repairable? (Blues77)
you dont have to replace the whole front end...
you do have to replace the front urethane bumper...
and you could make a cut on the upper surround panel and keep the "top" of the fender..
then use a bonding strip and bonce the lower part of the fender to it..
ecklers sells partial fenders...
check em out.
but depending on who does it and if they do it right, this bonding seem might come through the paint....
you do have to replace the front urethane bumper...
and you could make a cut on the upper surround panel and keep the "top" of the fender..
then use a bonding strip and bonce the lower part of the fender to it..
ecklers sells partial fenders...
check em out.
but depending on who does it and if they do it right, this bonding seem might come through the paint....
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 831
Likes: 0
From: Reston VA
Re: Is this crack repairable? (Blues77)
Any fiberglass can be repaired. The question is how much will it cost to make the repair either in shop labor or your own. I had several major cracks in my front end. I opted to repair, rather than replace. In hind sight which is always 20/20 I would have replaced the entire front clip. I would have saved myself lots of money and had a better base to work with. Do the best you can to estimate time to repair then wiegh that against cost to replace. My guess would be you will choose to replace rather than repair. You can check out my web for more details. :seeya
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 6,665
Likes: 2
From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: Is this crack repairable? (Blues77)
Ouch!
The fender has a seam allong the 'ridge' at the top. You would cut it there and replace only the side of the fender. Big messy scarey job. But take your time and you can do it...
The fender has a seam allong the 'ridge' at the top. You would cut it there and replace only the side of the fender. Big messy scarey job. But take your time and you can do it...
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 1,469
Likes: 6
From: 68 427 4.11s Roadster
Re: Is this crack repairable? (Blues77)
I think the whole front ends are pretty high. Maybe you can change the fender.
I would fix the crack. Grind back a few areas like you were going to tack weld metal. Align the fender and glass the tack areas. Then grind back the reamaining length and glass the whole thing.
A whole front end has a few things to do on it also. This isn't an easy out.
The crack fix has as the largest labor of blending the compound curve so you don't feel it or see it.
I would fix the crack. Grind back a few areas like you were going to tack weld metal. Align the fender and glass the tack areas. Then grind back the reamaining length and glass the whole thing.
A whole front end has a few things to do on it also. This isn't an easy out.
The crack fix has as the largest labor of blending the compound curve so you don't feel it or see it.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
From: Palatine
Re: Is this crack repairable? (Blues77)
so you guys think just replace the right fender? If I just tried to layer it up and not replace anything would it eventually crack again? I guess im lookin for a easy cheap way out (Bubbafied).
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 813
Likes: 2
From: da up
Re: Is this crack repairable? (Blues77)
If you need a piece of a rt fender ,Would a 74 work?? Maybe we can work something out. I have a fender with the back damaged from removing from the car, the upper is busted up. check the picture on my site.
rod
rod
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
Re: Is this crack repairable? (Blues77)
Your second photo shows enough to tell me that I would repair rather than replace. It looks like the break started at the bonding seam on the right front fender. It also looks like most of the fiberglass is still there. I would always repair a panel that still looks this good. A panel that has been stripped and then rebuilt with new glass and resin should be almost as strong as a new panel. Unless you are planning on entering an NCRS type of meet, NOBODY will ever know that the panel was repaired. Strip the panel, clean it, and then take your time building up the the fiberglass on both sides. Sand it carefully and don't worry if you have to add more fiberglass from over sanding. Bondo type products are for VERY MINOR surface imperfections, not for filling holes, dips, or gouges.
Gary
Gary
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 21,457
Likes: 463
From: Massillon,Ohio USA
2020 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Cruise-In VI Veteran
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12
Re: Is this crack repairable? (Blues77)
Blues77, the front bumper is just "bolted" on through a set of retainers and nuts. Most of the time or maybe all the time, if your going to replace your bumper, simply "cut it off". You'll spend a lot of time trying to get every nut undone for the bumper when you could just cut it about 1/8" away from the fiberglass, then "grind off" the small bolts tacked on to this retainer, and then push them through.