Mike H.

1970 Corvette with factory panels. Have a few cracks and will also need to fill and shift the fender bolt hole a bit as well. Any product recommendations and techniques
will be appreciated.

Thanks, Mike

SB64

Mike I might want to clean up that area a little more to see what's left. Looks to be some bondo or something around there. Don't want to make a repair over a product that's been there awhile. Once that's done you can see whats really left. I have a feeling you might be using both products for the repair. Just an observation!

RVZIO

Mike H.

I will be definitely stripping all the paint away and grinding down to a fresh base for the repairs. I was just wondering what to plug the hole with and were glass and resin would be the most appropriate.
Thanks, Mike

csherman

Agree with DUB - strip that back - remove all the paint and body filler - get down to glass - you might find more surprises...... !

70Yellowbird

Mike,
I had less damage than yours in that same area. I ground out the glass on the backside and used cloth and resin in layers to build it back up. Then ground from the finish side and added more cloth and resin, before trimming to the correct profile. I now have the VPA to go on top. I would just glass over the bolt hole and re-drill it (based on what your photo shows). If you adjust the location of the hole, would the bolt still fit into the bumper?
Also, unless you have already looked, it would be a good idea to make sure your headlamp reinforcement is not separated from the body anywhere (mine was, on almost the entire right side).

Good luck,
Joe

DUB

I gotta wait til I see it when it has been cleaned up and ready for the repair to begin.

You can use mat and resin ..and there are also other methods to fixing this that would not require mat and resin that can also make this area darn near bullet proof.

I am more concerned about the seam separating and showing a crisp clean line...and not so much on what it takes to fill in the hole.

DUB

20round

mike, any progress on your repair? any pictures?...thanks troy

Mike H.

20 Round,
Ugh, your going to make me post my first foray into the fiberglass world. Well of course once I got the paint off and old repair bondo out, it was worst than anticipated. Missing pieces, cracked along the side marker light and missing 70% of the bonding strip end. I live close to Corvette Image so I bought a bonding strip for the end piece (best $ spent for my expertise). I have used only mat and the west system starting with a couple layers from the back and one from the front. I"m file shaping it now. Any input or help is alway welcome.

Thanks, Mike

SB64

I am not familiar with that system but I am familiar with first time stuff. My first attempt at spraying a car. My test panel and first time triggering a paint gun on a car part. Oh well, Live and learn!

RVZIO

DUB

Your repair seems to look good but without seeing it before you put the bonding strip in and how it was prepped or how you bonded the new bonding strip to the body it is hard to provide any more than that.

DUB

Mike H.

Hey Dub,
Its a 1970...I actually clamped the bonding strip (covered with wax paper) in place and used it as a form. Worked pretty well. I've been grinding and sanding the panels down to new fiberglass for prep and blow all the panels clean. I think it was you that advised me not to use any kind of solvent on the new glass. I will do the same before I use VPA and clamps to replace the bonding strip end. Sound OK?

Thanks, Mike

DUB

Yes...your pan of attack on getting it repaired does sound good to me.

DUB