69 question
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
69 question
i just purchased my first vette to restore. The guy before me stripped it all the way down to the bare fiberglass. What should I put on it so I don't keep getting fibers in my skin? Also, I'm pretty mechanically inclined so what would be the best material out there to help in the restoration. I already have the AIM and the corvette restoration guide, chassis service manual. Anything else I should get? Thanks.
Billy
Billy
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 208
Likes: 0
From: Hamden CT
St. Jude Donor '12
I have body work experience but by no means am I an expert. I would say if you've got a lot of 'fibers' showing, the person who sanded it down went to far. They went through the original gel coat. I would think its best to get a fresh layer of gel coat back on that body.
Ecklers and other dealers sell Gel coat, but it can be a pain to apply (and sand). I would recommend a pro re-apply the gel coat.
I've also heard of people 'burying' the fibers in multiple layers of high-build primer. I would NOT go that route.
Hopefully some other 'experts' will chime in.
Ecklers and other dealers sell Gel coat, but it can be a pain to apply (and sand). I would recommend a pro re-apply the gel coat.
I've also heard of people 'burying' the fibers in multiple layers of high-build primer. I would NOT go that route.
Hopefully some other 'experts' will chime in.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,110
Likes: 4,172
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Billy,
I really don't think there was any 'gel coat' used on a 1969 body.
I believe it's just resin and fiberglass mat. I'd be very cautious of applying 'gel coat'. One of the problems with spraying 'gel coat' on a whole body is that it's such a thick layer that you end up having to re-shape the entire body... a tremendous amount of work.
Are you seeing loose fiberglass strands? If not I would investigate what should be the first coat of primer that you should apply that will be compatible with the rest of the paint products you'll use.
Working on a Corvette body that has no primer on it is ALWAYS a very itchy situation.
Your search for restoration 'material'... are you looking for 'how to' information, or information about what your 69 was like originally.
Regards,
Alan
I really don't think there was any 'gel coat' used on a 1969 body.
I believe it's just resin and fiberglass mat. I'd be very cautious of applying 'gel coat'. One of the problems with spraying 'gel coat' on a whole body is that it's such a thick layer that you end up having to re-shape the entire body... a tremendous amount of work.
Are you seeing loose fiberglass strands? If not I would investigate what should be the first coat of primer that you should apply that will be compatible with the rest of the paint products you'll use.
Working on a Corvette body that has no primer on it is ALWAYS a very itchy situation.
Your search for restoration 'material'... are you looking for 'how to' information, or information about what your 69 was like originally.
Regards,
Alan
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Hi Billy,
I really don't think there was any 'gel coat' used on a 1969 body.
I believe it's just resin and fiberglass mat. I'd be very cautious of applying 'gel coat'. One of the problems with spraying 'gel coat' on a whole body is that it's such a thick layer that you end up having to re-shape the entire body... a tremendous amount of work.
Are you seeing loose fiberglass strands? If not I would investigate what should be the first coat of primer that you should apply that will be compatible with the rest of the paint products you'll use.
Working on a Corvette body that has no primer on it is ALWAYS a very itchy situation.
Your search for restoration 'material'... are you looking for 'how to' information, or information about what your 69 was like originally.
Regards,
Alan
I really don't think there was any 'gel coat' used on a 1969 body.
I believe it's just resin and fiberglass mat. I'd be very cautious of applying 'gel coat'. One of the problems with spraying 'gel coat' on a whole body is that it's such a thick layer that you end up having to re-shape the entire body... a tremendous amount of work.
Are you seeing loose fiberglass strands? If not I would investigate what should be the first coat of primer that you should apply that will be compatible with the rest of the paint products you'll use.
Working on a Corvette body that has no primer on it is ALWAYS a very itchy situation.
Your search for restoration 'material'... are you looking for 'how to' information, or information about what your 69 was like originally.
Regards,
Alan
Not really seeing the fiberglass strands, but I can feel it to the touch. Really I was just wanting to know if it would hurt just to spray a little bit of primer to cover it for now. As far as information, I'm looking more for the how-to. Thank you.
Billy
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
from reading your first comment I get the gut feeling that you should let a pro do the body and paint. I think its great that someone is taking an interest in bringing a classic car back to life. if you are doing a body off resto be prepared to shell out 20+ k.
if you use a shop do your research on finding a competaint shop
good luck
if you use a shop do your research on finding a competaint shop
good luck
Billy
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,110
Likes: 4,172
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi Billy,
You can spray something on the fiberglass, but I believe it's wise to choose something that will be compatible with the paint you choose when you get to that point.
You don't want to use something that will cause problems during or after the car is painted.
Working on fiberglass bodies is itchy, dusty,dirty, work. I don't think there's anyway to get around that reality.
Do you have CHEVROLET CORVETTE, RESTORATION GUIDE by Lindsay Porter, Published by Motorbooks International? It has some sequence and 'how to' information.
Regards,
Alan
You can spray something on the fiberglass, but I believe it's wise to choose something that will be compatible with the paint you choose when you get to that point.
You don't want to use something that will cause problems during or after the car is painted.
Working on fiberglass bodies is itchy, dusty,dirty, work. I don't think there's anyway to get around that reality.
Do you have CHEVROLET CORVETTE, RESTORATION GUIDE by Lindsay Porter, Published by Motorbooks International? It has some sequence and 'how to' information.
Regards,
Alan
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Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Hi Billy,
You can spray something on the fiberglass, but I believe it's wise to choose something that will be compatible with the paint you choose when you get to that point.
You don't want to use something that will cause problems during or after the car is painted.
Working on fiberglass bodies is itchy, dusty,dirty, work. I don't think there's anyway to get around that reality.
Do you have CHEVROLET CORVETTE, RESTORATION GUIDE by Lindsay Porter, Published by Motorbooks International? It has some sequence and 'how to' information.
Regards,
Alan
You can spray something on the fiberglass, but I believe it's wise to choose something that will be compatible with the paint you choose when you get to that point.
You don't want to use something that will cause problems during or after the car is painted.
Working on fiberglass bodies is itchy, dusty,dirty, work. I don't think there's anyway to get around that reality.
Do you have CHEVROLET CORVETTE, RESTORATION GUIDE by Lindsay Porter, Published by Motorbooks International? It has some sequence and 'how to' information.
Regards,
Alan
Billy
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 190
From: Scottsdale Arizona
When you leave bare fiberglass exposed for a long time the Ultra Violet light breaks down the resin and exposes the fiberglass strands. I like to mix up some resin and hardner and brush it on the spot and when it is dry block with 240 grit wet so the dry fiberglass does not get in your skin. I then use epoxy primer and then 2 part high build primer and start blocking
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
When you leave bare fiberglass exposed for a long time the Ultra Violet light breaks down the resin and exposes the fiberglass strands. I like to mix up some resin and hardner and brush it on the spot and when it is dry block with 240 grit wet so the dry fiberglass does not get in your skin. I then use epoxy primer and then 2 part high build primer and start blocking
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 8,117
Likes: 104
From: charlotte north carolina
wash the car with dawn dish soap, wash again and again-it has to be absolutely free of any oil. then let it dry for two days and spray a wet coat of epoxy. if you feel 'hairs' on the surface afterward, just quickly sand with some 400 grit paper. that will seal the glass and make an impervious layer that will protect the glass from all the stuff you're going to spill on it during the rebuild.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
wash the car with dawn dish soap, wash again and again-it has to be absolutely free of any oil. then let it dry for two days and spray a wet coat of epoxy. if you feel 'hairs' on the surface afterward, just quickly sand with some 400 grit paper. that will seal the glass and make an impervious layer that will protect the glass from all the stuff you're going to spill on it during the rebuild.