Stess Cracks
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 201
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From: Holbrook NY
Stress Cracks
I did a body off restoration on my 68 vette and finished it in 95. Well, most of it anyway. Within a short period of time, I started to see some stress cracks around the hood and on the sides of the hood. Nothing too bad, but it does show on black paint. I drive the car, just had it at Carlisle, 650 mile round trip so it is not a trailer queen. I have been debating about fixing them but I got a 2nd opinion telling me that as long as I drive the car, they were only going to come back again. :mad Any suggestions?
[Modified by Darrell's 68, 7:27 PM 9/5/2002]
[Modified by Darrell's 68, 7:27 PM 9/5/2002]
Race Director
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 11,360
Likes: 382
From: Plano TX
Re: Stress Cracks (Darrell's 68)
It's not a bad idea to fix them so far as putting a patch on the bottom, grinding a V and filling the groove with 'glass. I don't think it's worth it to completely repaint the car though. If you drive a C3 you will get cracks. That's just the way they are. Mine was painted 4 years ago and has one next to the hood hinge, and one in front of the headlight door.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 9,206
Likes: 17
From: Sewell NJ
Re: Stress Cracks (Darrell's 68)
I've been trying to get rid of the stress cracks in the corner of my 74's hood for years. Repainted it 3 times and they still show up eventually. I think I'm going to just get a new hood when I get the money. :yesnod:
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 171
Likes: 1
From: Rolla MO
Re: Stress Cracks (vettfixr)
A dumb question/comment from a novice at paint/body work - I know "flex" additives are
available to mix with paint - does any such exist that would make sense to shoot a
whole car with? If so, perhaps such an additive would allow the paint to flex with
the 'glass so that cracking wouldn't occur so easily?
available to mix with paint - does any such exist that would make sense to shoot a
whole car with? If so, perhaps such an additive would allow the paint to flex with
the 'glass so that cracking wouldn't occur so easily?
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,339
Likes: 0
From: Hampton Georgia
Re: Stress Cracks (rollavette71)
A dumb question/comment from a novice at paint/body work - I know "flex" additives are
available to mix with paint - does any such exist that would make sense to shoot a
whole car with? If so, perhaps such an additive would allow the paint to flex with
the 'glass so that cracking wouldn't occur so easily?
available to mix with paint - does any such exist that would make sense to shoot a
whole car with? If so, perhaps such an additive would allow the paint to flex with
the 'glass so that cracking wouldn't occur so easily?
Stress cracks are usually in the fiberglass and can be fixed structurally from the back side ,only to prevent further damage .To fix it cosmetically and structurally it has to be done from the top side .The corners of the hood opening and edges of the hood are common places for the stress cracks .Usually they have to be stop drilled ,V'd out and filled /patched .flex additive wont help .todays urethane paint flexes enough that you probably could do without it . :seeya
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 803
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From: South San Francisco CA
Re: Stress Cracks (Darrell's 68)
Stress cracks are part of owning a Corvette. They come and they go. I've fixed a few on my car and some came back and some didn't. I think the best way to fix them is to stop drill at each end but don't cut a V channel. It seems to work better if you take a rasp and actually mung the whole area as bad as you can imagine. Make all sorts of criss cross cuts through the crack and make them pretty deep. Then...go ahead a fiberglass. The ones I did this way never came back. I went at least an inch on either side of the crack. It was horrible to do this, but after fiberglassing and sanding...it looked as good as new and once painted....it stayed fixed. We may get cracks in the body...but we NEVER GET RUST....and that's a good thing!!
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 797
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From: EUNICE, La
Re: Stress Cracks (fontking1a)
Darrell, the next time you have the chance to look at a 69 or later vette you will notice that they have an extra support brace on each side near the opening of the hood on the front inner fender portion of the front end. 68 was a learning year and the engineering boys soon learned the the front structure neede a little more support! But stress cracks are a part of owning and driving a corvette! Thad
Racer
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 255
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From: bklyn ny
Re: Stress Cracks (fontking1a)
We may get cracks in the body...but we NEVER GET RUST....and that's a good thing!!