Bonding on flares
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Bonding on flares
Looking for pictures and suggestions on how to bond these flares.
I will use the upper bonding strip for the top but not sure where to go with the front and rear. Not one to re-invent the wheel so I thought someone out there would share their "wheel" with me
I did a full rear clip so this wasn't an issue.
Blain
I will use the upper bonding strip for the top but not sure where to go with the front and rear. Not one to re-invent the wheel so I thought someone out there would share their "wheel" with me
I did a full rear clip so this wasn't an issue.
Blain
Last edited by Blain; May 20, 2011 at 10:25 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Instructor
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 205
Likes: 2
From: Sneads Ferry NC
Whenever I have laid glass I didn't glue the parts together first. I just mixed the resin as recommended and used that to bond the two pieces together. Just make sure the pieces are clamped together real tight and the fiberglass is fully cured. It's ok to go a few inches over on each side with the fiberglass. Just sand where needed to get the smoothest look possible
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 7,562
Likes: 9
From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Here are some pics from the late RollingThunder's flair install. He used some of the old fender for bonding strips and then screwed/clamped the flairs inplace while the glue set, removing the screws afterwards.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
I think there is a difference between the flares that end at the base of the radius vs. the full panel like I'm doing. If I just glass them on the surface the whole body line gets lost.
Thanks for the pictures, worth 1000 words.
Blain
Thanks for the pictures, worth 1000 words.
Blain
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 807
Likes: 2
From: VIRGINIA BEACH VIRGINIA
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...storation.html
read this thread. it is only 94 pages long but stinger is doing everything on his body correctly and perfectly. the guy is amazing. pictures and all. it is over in the general section
read this thread. it is only 94 pages long but stinger is doing everything on his body correctly and perfectly. the guy is amazing. pictures and all. it is over in the general section
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
To install the Eckler's ZL-1 flares, I used FUSOR #127EZ plastic structural installation adhesive, slow set formula. [I also used it to attach the cold air box to the underside of the heavy duty hood] I used TEK screws to fasten them in place, lining up the body lines. Then I trimmed the excess from both the flares and the original wheel wells. No cracks or delamination so far. Pennsylvania's roads are legendary for being the worst in the nation. And my F-41 suspension rides like the proverbial stonepile. 
Last edited by 69 Chevy; May 21, 2011 at 08:58 AM.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
69 Chev, I'm doing the same ZL flares only I got them from Vanacors.
Did yours come with the extra material? I assumed since the flare lined up with the fender/hood surround bonding line that was where it should start.
Blain
Did yours come with the extra material? I assumed since the flare lined up with the fender/hood surround bonding line that was where it should start.
Blain
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 695
From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Hope these pics will help. Used rivets to hold in place, tapered the flare and body before attaching.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Mod75, thats what I was looking for!
Have any pictures of the front where the flare blends into the chin? The Vanacor flares require some finish work.
Dove into it today. Used bonding strip at the rear
Blain
Have any pictures of the front where the flare blends into the chin? The Vanacor flares require some finish work.
Dove into it today. Used bonding strip at the rear
Blain
Last edited by Blain; May 21, 2011 at 11:01 PM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 23
From: Prescott AZ
Looks like quit a project. Good luck and keep the pictures coming.http://images.ibsrv.net/ibsrv/res/sr...lies/lurk5.gif
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 3
From: Vero Beach FL
To install the Eckler's ZL-1 flares, I used FUSOR #127EZ plastic structural installation adhesive, slow set formula. [I also used it to attach the cold air box to the underside of the heavy duty hood] I used TEK screws to fasten them in place, lining up the body lines. Then I trimmed the excess from both the flares and the original wheel wells. No cracks or delamination so far. Pennsylvania's roads are legendary for being the worst in the nation. And my F-41 suspension rides like the proverbial stonepile.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 2,200
Likes: 3
From: Lehigh county Pennsylvania
Yes. But I did not cut away my OEM fender all the way to the bonding strip. I trimmed away lots of the, what I thought, was extra material. I taper-ground the area and overlapped. I did not want any butt joints where potential cracks could start. And yes, the front of the flare, where it joins to the spoiler chin did not match perfectly...it needed a bit of fabricating to get it to blend into the contour. Sorry no pics of that area.
Roco 71, you cannot imagine how many hours I spent block sanding those compound curves good enough for the black paint job. And it's only temporary. One of these days, months, years, it's going back to its original Monaco Orange color.
Roco 71, you cannot imagine how many hours I spent block sanding those compound curves good enough for the black paint job. And it's only temporary. One of these days, months, years, it's going back to its original Monaco Orange color.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Productive weekend. 2 cartridges of 3M Duramix. That puts the total used on the car so far at around 10.
Mod75; What did you do for a front spoiler? If I blend the ZL flares to the lower fender the poly spoiler won't work.
Blain
Mod75; What did you do for a front spoiler? If I blend the ZL flares to the lower fender the poly spoiler won't work.
Blain
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 10,643
Likes: 695
From: Danville Illinois
2025 Corvette of the Year Finalist - Modified
2024 C3 of the Year Winner - Modified
2021 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Blain, My flares from are from Eckers, about 30 years ago this was done.
How we are striping it for a new color.
The stock spoiler fit ok i think, i might of had to trim the ends.
Had to do very little work under the chins if i remember correctly.
Just put the spoiler and valence back on to drive the car, the spoiler does help with the air flow. Hope this helps
Sure wish my Eckler front bumper fit as good as yours, spending more time on the bumper than i did to strip the body.
How we are striping it for a new color.
The stock spoiler fit ok i think, i might of had to trim the ends.
Had to do very little work under the chins if i remember correctly.
Just put the spoiler and valence back on to drive the car, the spoiler does help with the air flow. Hope this helps
Sure wish my Eckler front bumper fit as good as yours, spending more time on the bumper than i did to strip the body.
Last edited by Mod75; May 23, 2011 at 10:31 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
I really had to fight the front bumper. Even questioned Vanacors about the fit. I "releaved" some of the grill area to get the part to flex far enough to mate with the front clip.
So looking at your front spoiler it appears flat across the top. My '74 curls up at the ends to meet the contour of the fender. Did you cut that part off?
Ahhh, progress!!
Blain
So looking at your front spoiler it appears flat across the top. My '74 curls up at the ends to meet the contour of the fender. Did you cut that part off?
Ahhh, progress!!
Blain
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 297
Likes: 1
From: El Dorado Hills California
Mod75 check out page 3. Better bumper pictures of my last project.
http://stingray.blainstumpf.com/Gall...llery=461031#1
Blain
http://stingray.blainstumpf.com/Gall...llery=461031#1
Blain