During the sanding process the guys broke off the tab under the nose were the grill attaches. We have the piece, how hard and what process is best for re attaching? Fiber glass part back on or use fiber glass glue to re attach. Problem, the painter is slow and has 3 of his guys working on the car, payment is based on stages of completion. Car has been stripped down to bare fiber glass and gel coated and now I find this part broken off.

 

I have dealt with this issue many, many times. AND depending on the level of perfection that the customer is expecting. Will dictate the type of process needed for the repair. IT also is depending on which one is the problem. The lower ones are a real pain...the uppers , not so much....but still a pain.

The problem occurs that if you are using the correct clips that go onto this tab. Then the thickness is going to have to be somewhat maintained so the clip will go on the tab once it is re-bonded.

What I have done in the past...only becasue I have the adhesives here on hand at all times....is to carefully prep the area for laminating. When i get the clip portion that broke off prepped, and the area on the body prepped where it is to be bonded. I apply a small amount of Vette Panel Adhesive from Fiberglass/Evercoat. and hold the part in place until the adhesive sets-up. In teh sumemr and how much ahrdener you use...you will not ahve to hold it to long...but you want to have a very steady hand while doing so. I let it cure for an hour or so. Then I go back in and prep any adhesive that will conflict with my laminating....without knocking the pice off again. SO care must be taken due to the Vette Panel Adhesive is being used to allow a layer of fiberglass and resin to be applied and allowed to cure. then when that layer has cured. Prep the area again and apply more fiberglass and resin until you achieve a good thickness at the "break" area of the tab.


Sometimes I run into an issue that the tab is destroyed. The I usually find a piece of press molded glass from my used stack and cut a piece out and laminate it in place....and then drill a new hole for the clip. Like I earlier stated...it all depends on the LEVEL of repair the customer wants. Does he/she want it to just work...or are they wanting it not to be noticed by a judge and has to be flawless in everyway.

BEST OF LUCK, this area is really a PAIN. SO hopefully the shop you chose will take the time and care to get it right...and not try to rush it and have to start all over again.

IF you do not care about how it may look from the backside...if it is a top tab that broke off. You may be able to find a piece of fiberglass that has the 90 degree bend molded in it and have if bonded on the body and let the tab hang down. That is the super fast easy way...but you would want to make sure the portion of fiberglass that is being bonded to the backside of your front grille area is wider than the clip portion and goes back from the edge a ways...to provide good strength for the tab. The trick will be finding the correctly angled piece of molded fiberglass that will work for your area of repair.

"DUB"

 

Another thing you may have to do is install the grille so you get the proper angle of the dangle of the broken tab and apply a small amount of glue on the back side to as to hold it in place, and then go with what Dub said.

 

GREAT point of added information.

"DUB"