Glassing in a battery box
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
From: Valdosta GA
Glassing in a battery box
I can't look at the vette right now, I'm about 8000 miles from home, but does anybody know if you can replace the battery box or do I have to re-glass the huge crack in it? Also any tips if I have to re-glass. Thanks in advance. :flag
Pro
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 667
Likes: 3
From: College Station TX
Re: Glassing in a battery box (greatgonzoglenn)
I don't know why you couldn't reglass any cracks. Done properly, it should be strong enough - although it'll never be as strong as original.
Depending on where the crack is ... Grind back the crack about an inch on either side of the crack and on both side ( inside and outside). Cut some fiberglass mat ( NOT CLOTH ) strips about 150% bigger than the grind back area. You'll need enough to build up the thicknoess. Mix up some resin - be careful not to mix it too hot. Apply a layer of mat, daub the resin into to the mat so that it is throughly saturated, apply another layer of mat, squeeze all air pockets out, daub more resin ... and repeat until your thicker than the original panel. Then sand back down to smooth and level on both sides.
Depending on where the crack is ... Grind back the crack about an inch on either side of the crack and on both side ( inside and outside). Cut some fiberglass mat ( NOT CLOTH ) strips about 150% bigger than the grind back area. You'll need enough to build up the thicknoess. Mix up some resin - be careful not to mix it too hot. Apply a layer of mat, daub the resin into to the mat so that it is throughly saturated, apply another layer of mat, squeeze all air pockets out, daub more resin ... and repeat until your thicker than the original panel. Then sand back down to smooth and level on both sides.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,175
Likes: 3,987
From: Connecticut, USA
Re: Glassing in a battery box (greatgonzoglenn)
I did this job last year in my 69. There was no bottom left in the box-nothing!
I bought a used box from Gary Gruhala and used resisn and mat to glass it back in. It was a bit messing grinding the glass so wear a mask,long sleeves,goggles,and gloves. I had the entire rear suspension out of the car and that helped a lot but you may be able to work around it. I also had to glass in the floorboard under the pedals. Take your time and work in warm conditions for it to set up properly and you should be ok.
Gary
I bought a used box from Gary Gruhala and used resisn and mat to glass it back in. It was a bit messing grinding the glass so wear a mask,long sleeves,goggles,and gloves. I had the entire rear suspension out of the car and that helped a lot but you may be able to work around it. I also had to glass in the floorboard under the pedals. Take your time and work in warm conditions for it to set up properly and you should be ok.
Gary
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 6,742
Likes: 1,384
Re: Glassing in a battery box
Just did mine last week. Had several holes in it. Scrubbed it clean, washed it out, let it dry, and then just reglassed. Mine still had about 90-95% of the bottom left so I just laid down some cloth and poured in the resin. Smoothed it out and let it dry.
Mine is a convertible so I could do a lot of work from the top but I suppose you could do something similar from behind the driver's seat...I actually worked from there some.
Mine is a convertible so I could do a lot of work from the top but I suppose you could do something similar from behind the driver's seat...I actually worked from there some.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 2
Re: Glassing in a battery box (carriljc)
I did mine several years ago, no problems at all. In fact, when I show my car I have it about 8" off the ground with mirrors underneath and nobody can tell the box has been repaired. And yes, I do drive it too, just not all the time.
What I did was grind it back, like everyone else said, and cleaned it really well. Most of the bottom of the box was gone so I covered a glat piece of wood in saran wrap (to keep the resin from sticking to it) and used a jack to hold it flat against the underside of the box from the outside. Then I glassed in inside. When it hardened I removed the wood and glassed the outside, then blended the repair and painted/undercoated. As good or better than new.
Jeff
What I did was grind it back, like everyone else said, and cleaned it really well. Most of the bottom of the box was gone so I covered a glat piece of wood in saran wrap (to keep the resin from sticking to it) and used a jack to hold it flat against the underside of the box from the outside. Then I glassed in inside. When it hardened I removed the wood and glassed the outside, then blended the repair and painted/undercoated. As good or better than new.
Jeff
