Cracked Body!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 389
Likes: 3
From: Austin TX
Cracked Body!!
Washed the vette today, and while at it I had remembered reading about jacking pucks, so I decided to take a look, and sure enough some jackass had jacked it up and cracked the body, must have been before I bought the car..
Anyways have any of you experienced this problem and how do I go about fixing it, its about a 4 inch crack, is something that is going to get worse? The end of the crack is barely on the curve going up the side of the car...
Let me know
Anyways have any of you experienced this problem and how do I go about fixing it, its about a 4 inch crack, is something that is going to get worse? The end of the crack is barely on the curve going up the side of the car...
Let me know
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: SoCal Twin Turbo, Any Questions?
St. Jude Donor '06-'07
haha my undersdide is crached scrathd and dented, you will only notice it when the car is up in hte air or if someone is laying on thr ground. dont worry about it, it wont go anywhere on you and it wont even slow you down
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
If its not bad you could just fill it with body filler and cover up with a set of rocker rails from A&A Corvette or Elite Engineering. Once those are fitted no more problem.
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From: Newberry FL
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St. Jude Donor '07
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 716
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From: Bay Area CA
I dont even understand why anyone would ever jack the car up from the body, pucks or no pucks. That sounds ridiculous. 
I always jack it up from one of the sturdy members underneath the car.
I know that crack would drive me crazy. You could do what the other guys suggested, your only other option would be to buy a new panel, which would be about $600 + paint. Good luck.
I always jack it up from one of the sturdy members underneath the car.
I know that crack would drive me crazy. You could do what the other guys suggested, your only other option would be to buy a new panel, which would be about $600 + paint. Good luck.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 5,266
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From: Syracuse NY
Cruise-In II Veteran
If the crack is in a location that would be considered "non-cosmetic", you can stop it from propagating (spreading) by drilling a hole at the end of the crack. This will eliminate the present stress concentration and prevent spreading.
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Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
I've flown a few jets with stress cracks stop drilled
Replacing the rocker panel is a serious job and will cost serious $$$$$
Heel & Toe
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Lawrenceville Georgia
I noticed the same recently on my newly purchased vette... curious about how to go repairing it myself, or if anyone in the Atlanta area is good with filling in such cracks. I'm not worried about it cosmetically because of the location, but I do worry about spreading/chipping and I'm certainly not comfortable drilling.
Any recommendations?
Any recommendations?
The previous owner took a chunk off mine, and I hate just to look at it.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,167
Likes: 4,172
From: Kannapolis NC
I dont even understand why anyone would ever jack the car up from the body, pucks or no pucks. That sounds ridiculous.
I always jack it up from one of the sturdy members underneath the car.
I know that crack would drive me crazy. You could do what the other guys suggested, your only other option would be to buy a new panel, which would be about $600 + paint. Good luck.
I always jack it up from one of the sturdy members underneath the car.
I know that crack would drive me crazy. You could do what the other guys suggested, your only other option would be to buy a new panel, which would be about $600 + paint. Good luck.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,167
Likes: 4,172
From: Kannapolis NC
It can be repaired, it's the same material as the body. If it's something that you feel needs to be done, go to a body shop that deals in Vette repairs and get an estimate. The paint can be contained to the out of sight area and won't be noticeable. Some use epoxy and paint over since it is not visible. Don't fret, it is repairable, much easier than a visible panel.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 280
Likes: 0
believe it or not, the dealer cracked the corners of the cut out openings 2x on mine so I got to know the service mgr & body shop mgr very well !!
They fixed it and now I probably have the best looking rocker panels on any C5 ...... even if you don't see them!!
Seriously, a very repairable piece and when complete, the paint will be better than the factory ever put there.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,191
Likes: 10
From: New Smyrna Beach Florida
I once repaired a cracked fiberglass panel by routing out the crack and filling with fibergalss cloth and resin, worked pretty good. Damn shame the car was jacked without pucks. I personally would not jack the car at the puck locations at home. These locations are designed for a 4 point lift. I use the designated jacking locations on the cross members using home made jacking pads made from 2x6. This is a much better method for jacking if done correctly. Good Luck. 
