Help...Is this fixable??
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 12,706
Likes: 329
From: Scottsdale Arizona
Not fixable, I'd trash the car.
The surreal camera angles make it a little tough to assess, but everything can be fixed. Not sure that you even need access from the rear, but if you do, remove the door panel and raise the window all the way.
The real issue will be repairing the fiberglass. It'll take a little effort but isn't that big of a deal.
The surreal camera angles make it a little tough to assess, but everything can be fixed. Not sure that you even need access from the rear, but if you do, remove the door panel and raise the window all the way.
The real issue will be repairing the fiberglass. It'll take a little effort but isn't that big of a deal.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Will the glass be strong enough if fixed from the outside only? I was under the impression that it would crack again sooner or later if I couldn't build it up outside of the radius of the repair on the bottom.
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Race Director
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 14,112
Likes: 28
From: Florida
Cut the broken area out.
Make a couple of glass pieces similar to bonding strips a bit longer than the hole.
Use a sheet metal screw thru the strip in the center to hold it while you slip it in from the outside and bond it. Second piece beside the first piece, same way.
when cures grind and finish glassing from the outside.
You can use well nuts or even glass in some metal on the inside strips before installing them.
Make a couple of glass pieces similar to bonding strips a bit longer than the hole.
Use a sheet metal screw thru the strip in the center to hold it while you slip it in from the outside and bond it. Second piece beside the first piece, same way.
when cures grind and finish glassing from the outside.
You can use well nuts or even glass in some metal on the inside strips before installing them.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,272
Likes: 17
Cut the broken area out.
Make a couple of glass pieces similar to bonding strips a bit longer than the hole.
Use a sheet metal screw thru the strip in the center to hold it while you slip it in from the outside and bond it. Second piece beside the first piece, same way.
when cures grind and finish glassing from the outside.
You can use well nuts or even glass in some metal on the inside strips before installing them.
Make a couple of glass pieces similar to bonding strips a bit longer than the hole.
Use a sheet metal screw thru the strip in the center to hold it while you slip it in from the outside and bond it. Second piece beside the first piece, same way.
when cures grind and finish glassing from the outside.
You can use well nuts or even glass in some metal on the inside strips before installing them.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Cut the broken area out.
Make a couple of glass pieces similar to bonding strips a bit longer than the hole.
Use a sheet metal screw thru the strip in the center to hold it while you slip it in from the outside and bond it. Second piece beside the first piece, same way.
when cures grind and finish glassing from the outside.
You can use well nuts or even glass in some metal on the inside strips before installing them.
Make a couple of glass pieces similar to bonding strips a bit longer than the hole.
Use a sheet metal screw thru the strip in the center to hold it while you slip it in from the outside and bond it. Second piece beside the first piece, same way.
when cures grind and finish glassing from the outside.
You can use well nuts or even glass in some metal on the inside strips before installing them.
I like your idea. I will be going this route, I can add the well nuts while at it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
Did this exact repair on my '71. You may be able to salvage what you have, in my case the metal bracket was trashed and the mirror wouldn't hold so we used a part from a donor door.
The piece was cut from the donor and bonded onto the door with bonding adhesive. The edges were ground at an angle to maximize the contact area. It was also bonded to the metal bar behind the skin to make it strong. All in all a fairly easy repair. A skim coat of filler and it was ready for primer.
The piece was cut from the donor and bonded onto the door with bonding adhesive. The edges were ground at an angle to maximize the contact area. It was also bonded to the metal bar behind the skin to make it strong. All in all a fairly easy repair. A skim coat of filler and it was ready for primer.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
Did this exact repair on my '71. You may be able to salvage what you have, in my case the metal bracket was trashed and the mirror wouldn't hold so we used a part from a donor door.
The piece was cut from the donor and bonded onto the door with bonding adhesive. The edges were ground at an angle to maximize the contact area. It was also bonded to the metal bar behind the skin to make it strong. All in all a fairly easy repair. A skim coat of filler and it was ready for primer.
The piece was cut from the donor and bonded onto the door with bonding adhesive. The edges were ground at an angle to maximize the contact area. It was also bonded to the metal bar behind the skin to make it strong. All in all a fairly easy repair. A skim coat of filler and it was ready for primer.
I think I am going to put a backer in behind it to keep it from being weak.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,361
Likes: 383
From: Plano TX
If you're reusing your old piece you should have some kind of backing. Since we had a donor piece we cut it larger and tapered the edges so we didn't need backing. Be sure to bond it to the metal behind the skin also, that's what gives the skin its strength and prevents the mirror from vibrating.