Bodywork question.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,795
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From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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hood
IMHO, if its very big at all, I would get a good used hood. C4 hoods are pretty cheap. The corner would be easy to re-damage just by opening and closing the hood. You didnt mention how much broke off?
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,290
Likes: 6
From: St Marys GA
Completely non-helpful and un-related, but this reminds me of the time I drove the pass. tip of the hood through my garage ceiling while lowering my car off of jackstands 
Whoops! Nothing a little rubber mallet and hand-caressing couldn't fix. 
Whoops! Nothing a little rubber mallet and hand-caressing couldn't fix.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 6,050
Likes: 147
From: Phoenix AZ
2021 C4 of the Year - Modified Finalist
repair
I would super glue a piece of aluminum under the hood damaged area coated with mold release agent, and add a buildup of fiberglass cloth and resin till I got a substantial amount of reinforced material attached, then use a gasket scraper and a hammer, and tap the aluminum piece away from the hood.
use a rubber sanding block cut in half for flexibility, and recontour the area. add resin coats as necessary to sanded areas.
use topcoat sanding resin for a final surface. Prime and paint.
use a rubber sanding block cut in half for flexibility, and recontour the area. add resin coats as necessary to sanded areas.
use topcoat sanding resin for a final surface. Prime and paint.
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,795
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From: So. Cal.
2025 C7 of the Year Finalist- Unmodified
2024 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C7 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
repair
Coupe guy. The question was "How would a shop fix this" . I guarentee no shop woud do this type of hillbilly repair you are talking about.
Fiberglass cloth and resin?
Fiberglass cloth and resin?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2006
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From: Ft Myers Florida
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Intermediate
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 38
Likes: 1
From: Yuba City CA
I had this problem on my '87 which I just painted. I asked the local college auto body instructor what to do and this is what I did. You can fix this with a little fiberglass and some time. Find the actual break in the fiberglass then use a small grinding tool to V out the crack to about 1 inch and a half wide then support the break back to the correct position. Cut thin strips of fiberglass and start laying them in. I was able to make the repair without any filler.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 6,715
Likes: 2
From: Santa Teresa New Mexico
and except for the aluminium thats the way that I'd do it.
The right materials can be found for that type of repair.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 317
Likes: 1
Yeah, I was under the impression that the epoxy make a stronger bond then the SMC panel themselves, with proper prep and application. The whole panel is just glued together fibers coated in epoxy anyway, and we know GM used the cheapest material they could buy when they made it originally. The attachment epoxy bonds stronger then the original filler epoxy. Any should be a good learning task, at least it is easy to get to front and behind.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 288
Likes: 1
Evercoat makes a good SMC fiberglass resin. It can be found at http://www.eastwoodco.com
I've used some Eckler's stuff before, but found the Evercoat resin to be superior for me.
I've used some Eckler's stuff before, but found the Evercoat resin to be superior for me.