I am installing a wheel to wheel half front.
I have installed a few in the past with mixed results.

First of all I am wondering what is the best glue to use? I have used vette panel adhesive and found it quite week. I have found that Marine text is super strong, but very expensive. I use to use fiberglass to fiberglass glue made by Everlast years ago. I went looking for it and the guy at the shop looked at me like I had 3 eyes

Another area is, is it best to bevel\ angle the 2 parts for strength?

One final question is aligning the hood. Anyone have any tips as I always have seen problems with alignment?

Thanks,

3b

 

I have lost count on how many of those half front ends I have had to repair by using the full top hood surround. Those half front end repair sections...in my opinion ...are crap. The amount of time it takes to make it as right as possible, you could have installed a full surround and not worry about future stress cracks at your bonding area where it is sectioned to the original hood surround.

I wouldn't want to be you right now. Good luck and I really how everything goes well for you. But only TIME will tell.
"DUB"

 

Yeah, I know

I used to do these years back when I was kid.

The shops are trying to sell me these 2 part syringe epoxies. I have no clue but does hi tech equate to the high price lol

Anyone have any ideas of a good fibergalls to fiberglass epoxy else i will go with Marine text. Hey I used it on a few engine blocks with success lol


3b

 

Installing a complete surround is the only way to do the job right. And will take less time and work than what you are doing.

I never could understand why anyone would consider doing a splice across the nose.

 

I would have thought that you would use fiberglass matte and resin. I have zero hands on experience but wrecked my car last August and have done alot of reading since then. If it were me I would try to find some sort of bonding strip for the back side of the joint and use the two part epoxy resin to bond the two peices together. On the top surface I think you should grind a valley on the two adjoining edges. I would lay 3 layers for fiberglass matte and resin down in the valley. Sand the joint down with 60 to 80 grit paper. I would then use the Evercoat vette panel adhesive to fill the dip and sand and shape the filler the best you can. (The evercoat vette panel adhesive says it is not for structural repairs)

I would not attempt this without talking with someone who has experience with this type of repair. I came up with this process by watching the eckler's fiberglass video's and reading the step by step manual to fiberglass repairs that they sell.

 

In theory it sounds great. But in reality, there are many variables that will cause for a problem in time. Read my earlier post. I do this for a living and you could not pay me enough money to do a half front end. I would price it so high so I could install a full top hood surround. For the amount of time you are going to spend on it, you will end up with a crack in time. Don't ask ME how I know that, it is just the way it is, because I repair half front end jobs on a yearly basis. By installing a full panel, LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED. I know that is not what you want to read, but if you get someone on the forum to tell you otherwise, I would really wonder if they are out to help you save money or are out for your best interests. I am out for your best interests and am not worried about your wallet. Splice it, you will do it twice, and then when you repair that, you would have spent enough time and money to do it right the first time anyway.
"DUB"

 

[QUOTE=grandmastercorvette;1570948008]In theory it sounds great. But in reality, there are many variables that will cause for a problem in time. Read my earlier post. I do this for a living and you could not pay me enough money to do a half front end. I would price it so high so I could install a full top hood surround. For the amount of time you are going to spend on it, you will end up with a crack in time. Don't ask ME how I know that, it is just the way it is, because I repair half front end jobs on a yearly basis. By installing a full panel, LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED. I know that is not what you want to read, but if you get someone on the forum to tell you otherwise, I would really wonder if they are out to help you save money or are out for your best interests. I am out for your best interests and am not worried about your wallet. Splice it, you will do it twice, and then when you repair that, you would have spent enough time and money to do it right the first time anyway.
"DUB"[/QUOT

I agree. I recently wrecked my front end and could have spliced it. I chose to buy a used front end only to strip it and find that it had been spliced. I got brackets and misc parts and then ordered an ACI one piece. Wanted the jig assembled but could'nt justify the expense for a driver.
I was just suggesting that for the strongest bond this might be a posibility. The thought of this repair would make me run in the other direction.

 

the 3m epoxy stuff works great. Also put your hood on FIRST. Then install the front cap

 

What's the name of the 3m stuff?

 

If you use an epoxy, I don't care who's epoxy it is...they are sensitive to solvents. So this means that you need to grind down the area being joined and fill it in with "something". Due to the properties of many epoxies out on the market, They are designed to be used under a panel for bonding. and with you having a bonding seam and strip that has top be filled in with "somewthing, you can run into a cracking effect over time due to shrinkage and the epoxy expanding and shrinking due to temperature changes. And the "something" you use to fill in the seam with will expand and contract at a different rate than the epoxy. I can not help you anymore on this. what you are trying to do is SOMETHING I WON'T DO!!! All of the effort you have spent in searching for the "magical" mixture that can fix this PROBLEM, you could have already had a full top hood surround on and painited. You are fighting an uphill battle and grabbing for straws. I tried to help...but you are on your own now and I really wish you the best.
I really do wish you the best.
"DUB"