Paint/Body Corvette Materials, Techniques, and How To

Preping Old Fiberglass

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Old Oct 21, 2014 | 05:52 PM
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Default Preping Old Fiberglass

I just picked up a donor 69 vette and will be using the front clip. Since the car sat outside for years (32). I assume there should be some prep work to the fiberglass. I was wondering what that would be. Oh, original color is Cortez Silver
Thank you
Roger







Last edited by SB64; Oct 21, 2014 at 05:54 PM.
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Old Oct 21, 2014 | 06:28 PM
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The paint on the front clip still looks good...so it would be to strip it off and then take it from there. I use gelcoat on cars like this. Others have there own 'take' on it.

Darn near nice 'donor'. A shame to dismantle it.. from the photos...it looks good.

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Old Oct 21, 2014 | 08:17 PM
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Originally Posted by DUB
The paint on the front clip still looks good...so it would be to strip it off and then take it from there. I use gelcoat on cars like this. Others have there own 'take' on it.

Darn near nice 'donor'. A shame to dismantle it.. from the photos...it looks good.

DUB
Hi Dub, I was hoping you would respond. I have more pictures in my RVZIO69 restore post but was curious about the surface being so rough, I mean loss of paint, not shine . It is a shame that the guy kept the car out for 32 yrs. only 10' from his garage. Well documented, never touched all original but the frame is gone and I think the cage also. Will have it home Sat. and will investigate more just to make sure it needs to be a donor.
Thank you
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Old Oct 22, 2014 | 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by rvzio
Hi Dub, I was hoping you would respond. I have more pictures in my RVZIO69 restore post but was curious about the surface being so rough, I mean loss of paint, not shine . It is a shame that the guy kept the car out for 32 yrs. only 10' from his garage. Well documented, never touched all original but the frame is gone and I think the cage also. Will have it home Sat. and will investigate more just to make sure it needs to be a donor.
Thank you
If you can switch the photos to this post showing how bad it is would be great.

A lot will have to do with how good the body is when the paint is off...OBVIOUSLY.

DUB
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Old Oct 22, 2014 | 05:59 PM
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Default preping

I will have better pics over the week end but this is what I have so far. I am hoping that the picture of the master cylinder showing a crack in the front clip where the hood sits can be repaired. YES?
















Last edited by SB64; Oct 22, 2014 at 06:01 PM.
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Old Oct 23, 2014 | 02:05 AM
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Wow... nice "donor" car. Looks to be pretty original and complete. Good score.
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Old Oct 23, 2014 | 03:54 PM
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Originally Posted by 13611
Wow... nice "donor" car. Looks to be pretty original and complete. Good score.
Yes it is very original, it's ashame that the frame but more important the bird cage is shot. I will check more when I get it back to Va. on Sat. Thanks
R
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Old Oct 23, 2014 | 05:17 PM
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From what I can see...there does not look like large amount of exposed fiberglass.

AND...when removing the clip you might want to get some angle iron and clamp one on each side of that crack so when removing the clip...it does not turn into a catastrophic 'fuster cluck'.

IT DOES look like good score!!!!

DUB
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Old Oct 23, 2014 | 05:56 PM
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Originally Posted by DUB
From what I can see...there does not look like large amount of exposed fiberglass.

AND...when removing the clip you might want to get some angle iron and clamp one on each side of that crack so when removing the clip...it does not turn into a catastrophic 'fuster cluck'.

IT DOES look like good score!!!!

DUB
Oh that's a good suggestion DUB for the small crack that we don't want to make bigger. I have some 1/4 steel that I can clamp and bridge that gap to support it. Good idea.
Thanks
Roger
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Old Oct 23, 2014 | 06:04 PM
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Default Zinc Chromate

Hey DUB can I get zinc chromate primer anywhere to do the inside birdcage in either rattle cans or mix????
Thanks
Roger
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Old Oct 23, 2014 | 06:23 PM
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Originally Posted by rvzio
Hey DUB can I get zinc chromate primer anywhere to do the inside birdcage in either rattle cans or mix????
Thanks
Roger
THAT is the MILLION DOLLAR question.

They are 'heavy metals' and the EPA does not like them at all. Chromate is still being used but the new 6H ruling from the EPA shows that they do not like it being sued ...even though it is still sued in some products.

I know my paint system has a chromate-free primer. And some companies sells the stuff in a rattle can...but I can almost guarantee that it is not the same as what GM used ...color is off and I wonder if it does the same or not. I know that Long Island Corvette Supply sells the stuff in a rattle can. Call them and ask or go on-line and check it out.

DUB
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