These are the easiest cracks to fix as theyre not very deep. This will make it possible to fill the crack with epoxy resin. Do you need to do fiberglass repair on your corvette. One quick and easy way to repair gelcoat stress cracks yourself is by using magicezy hairline fix a purpose built diy repair solution for stress cracks in gelcoat and fiberglass. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat magicezy. If the underside looks solid, and the surface is steady, then a spider crack is just a spider crack. The fiberglass should be the fiberglass mat, not the fiberglass cloth. How to fix spider cracks in fiberglass it still runs. Without striping the whole car and painting it, i was wondering if there is anyone who knows touch up the spider cracks. The 1953 corvette, being the first, had the most unusual fiberglass. The damage is midship, spider cracks that extend out in a 2 to 3 inch diameter in the gel coat and in the cockpit, cracks in resin about 6. It can be difficult to diagnose spider cracks, especially when youre not aware of them. How to fix cracks in fiberglass gel coat using fiberglass. Being wellprepared and having the proper equipment will add to the ease in which the job is done.
This technique can be used on any fiberglass boats or kit cars. Mar 29, 2019 heres one way to fix and repair fiberglass stress cracks we use dynaglass body filler on this repair to make it easy and simpler do do it yourself. Surface gelcoat scratches can be buffed with polishing compound, and deeper scratches can be filled. Mar 06, 2018 repairing your corvettes minor fiberglass damage plastic surgery. Any of the products that are currently used to repair fiberreinforced plastics and fiberglass can be used for cosmetic repair. This project fixes a crack in the fiberglass bodywork of a 1977 chevrolet corvette. If the crack is too big in the tub surround, you may need to get a. The gel coat cracks are simply cracks in the cosmetic layer thats put over the top to keep the rv looking shiny. For this reason, fiberglass repairs rely upon the adhesive quality of their resin for their. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for spraying awlgrip paint.
Stress cracks, spider cracks, and hairline cracks in the decks of older boats are, of course, not rare. Crazing craze cracks are hairline fractures that do not go through the. Repairing hairline cracks and how to do repair gelcoat. Automotive paint works great on fiberglass, just think corvette. Try not to remove any of the fiberglass resin or cloth.
These body panels were built much like a fiberglass boat hull. The problem with that is corvette guys are not working with ordinary fiberglass. This time the focus turns to the hood, ttops and doors where some additional fiberglass repairs are made followed by the application of an epoxy primer intended to seal the fiberglass in preparation for the sanding primer. Magicezy hairline fix is a revolutionary precolored fiberglass and gelcoat repair product that fixes and colors fine stress cracks spider cracks, and hairline fractures fast. I have a 1976 corvette that looks amazing with one flaw, spider crack. The fiberglass mat is not uniform in its appearance. Repairing minor fiberglass damage on corvettes with particular attention. The stress cracks are spiderweb shaped mostly around the a pillar and where the top transitions to the trunk on the side of the car. Repairing fiberglass panels 1984 chevy corvette chevy. If its a hairline crack, use an electric or hand held rotary blade to widen the crack just a bit. Fix those simple cracks when you need to do another repair on the same colored hull.
I have a question about fiberglass repair on c1 corvette. Over time, the gelcoat can fade, oxidize and become pitted and dented. If the spider cracks are the result of delamination from the interior foam you would need to fix those areas first. While working on a 1966 corvette coupe, we found a few spiderweb cracks. These spider cracks happen because theres flexing in the fiberglass below the gelcoat and even though you can use body filler to make them dissapear, they will most likely come back.
Discover how to fix a crack in the fiberglass body of a corvette to restore the classic car and make it look like new. Can a corvette made of fiberglass be repainted without stripping the original paint, and if not, why not. The gelcoat seals the fiberglass and can be left alone or painted over. While working on a 1966 corvette coupe, we found a few spiderweb cracks while we were stripping away the paint under the hood. This was hand laid fiberglass using fiberglass cloth. They dont have any damage to them from an accident or anything. Stop every few layers to compact and debulk the patch as much as possible. Hairline cracks, stress cracks or spider cracks star cracks that occur in gelcoat surfaces on fiberglass boats or other water craft are often seen as a cosmetic issue. First, you must take a dremel tool or rotary grinder and. Dealing with fiberglass repair is no fun, but unfortunately a necessary part. Glassmandan corvette tutorials basic fiberglass repairs. Part 4 september 6, 2009 november 24, 2017 mainevette 2742 views body, body work, fiberglass, fiberglass repair, rear clip, repair in our last installment an area of poorly repaired fiberglass was identified in the area of the passenger side number four body mount. Spider cracks and fiberglass repair advice moderated.
The first step needs to be ensuring that your spider cracks are just that, and not a sign of a soggy core, or a broken support. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and. We had been looking for a reason to try out the jb weld plastic bonder we found at our local napa store, so the choice was. Id like to use the fiberglass good, but its got a long crack showing on the topside.
Can a corvette made of fiberglass be repainted without. These cracks do not affect the structural integrity of the fiberglass, but are an aesthetic issue. My door fiberglass is broke through pretty bad plus cracks are taken off every where. Well, i was taught that the only way to eliminate cracks in fiberglass is kind of a two pronged attack.
I recently received a quote from a classic car restorer, who told me he would simply block sand the car and repaint it. They work with smc fiberglass which comes out of pressure molds. In fact, someone did smooth it over with filler in the past, and the crack has continued to worsen under the paint. Glassmandan corvette tutorials corvette fiberglass body. The size, depth, and location of the spider crack will determine what type of auto glass repair will be necessary to restore your cars windshield. Any vette made after about 1973 has this pressurized fiberglass material and it will respond much better to that. In this tech article vette provides corvette fiberglass repair guide which demonstrates that giving your. The spider cracks will reappear though, but it does provide a 510 years of crack free fun. Heres an easy way to fix and color stress cracks in seconds and its so tough it comes with a 3 year durability guarantee. Learn how to remove gelcoat by following a few simple steps. The bumper looks to be in nice shape but had spider cracks in the paint so i was going to take it all the way to the urethane. Take for instance the 1967 corvette convertible we have here. Jul 26, 2004 i need some advice from some longtime boaters.
It sounds like only cracks in the gel from poorly drilled out holes for the rubrail. There are different generations of fiberglass used on the corvettes throughout the years. Do you treat kevlar the same as fiberglass using the same resins etc i havent seen anything about repairing kevlar. They do however have some hairline spider cracks that i dont want coming back. I assume the correct way is to grind out damaged area and build it back up with resin and mat. Anything goes in the world of fiberglass and plastic. How to repair spider cracks in fiberglass boatlife. I cant see it on the other side, so i dont think its all the way through.
Repairing cracks in corvette panels how to paint your. Nov 14, 2008 what is the right way to fix stress cracks in fiberglass i am planning a repaint soon and would like to know before i take it to the body shop how this need to be fixed. Using highbuild primer to repair fiberglass crazing. The car has fire damage and in some places has strands of glass bare and other spots are soft. Mcjacks corvettes shows you how easy it can be to do it yourself. How to repair spider cracks on your fiberglass boat.
Magicezy hairline fix is a onepart, pretinted available in 10 colors sealant that allows you to complete the repair in seconds without having to grind out the. For properly fixing a spider crack, you will want to open the cracks. Discussion in cosmetic started by john holden, feb 27. If you could see how much a corvette body well flex from just normal driving it would not believe it. Small cracks form in the outer surface of the fiberglass, spreading out from a central point like a spiderweb. What you need to know about repairing carbon fiber lord corp.
Also there is a hole in front where it looks like it hit or rubbed something for a long time. Jan, 2011 corvette fiberglass repair plastic surgery. Repairing your corvettes minor fiberglass damage hot rod. Hairline spider cracks must be opened wider and filled with an epoxy filler to be permanently repaired. Repairing a fibreglass crack doesnt have to be daunting. The number of boats that develop serious blister problems is extremely small. Continue stacking the repair plies until all the fabric. Hairline fix is the easiest, most durable way to repair scratches, scrapes, stress cracks, spider fractures, and crazing in fiberglass and gelcoat surfaces. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglass which ones the best. When you purchase your materials for the job most places will be noncommercial type stores. Repairing your corvettes minor fiberglass damage super chevy. You just cant paint over that because this flexibility will re crack. Aug 05, 2008 how to repair fiberglass hood crack pics added pics added below i recently bought a 78, it came with an aftermarket fiberglass hood, and the stock steel hood. How to fix and repair fiberglass stress cracks youtube.
Aside from the durable shiny luster gelcoat adds to any fiberglass boat, most owners know little more than wash and wax it frequently. I bought a bumper from the junk yard of a 84 camaro. The cracks are probably just in the gelcoat but i need to fix them. Corvette bodies are made entirely of fairly thin fiberglass, and the sensuous curves of our cars are what gives the bodywork some crosssection to maintain its rigidity. This project fixes a crack in the fiberglass body of a 1977 chevrolet corvette. If you have stress spider cracks in the fiberglass itself, whats the best way to fix that.
The crack begins on the top of the right rear fender and has propagated under the paint to the apex of the right rear wheel arch. The number of layers you can apply between debulking varies with the fabric weight and weave you are using, but typically you should debulk every 35 layers. Fill the crack with a fair amount of fiberglass epoxy resin, using a plastic applicator. The crack was on the top of the right rear fender in the actual fiberglass panel, so it had to be repaired and couldnt be smoothed over with filler. Start by wiping down the area with acetone and sanding the damaged gelcoat down to the fiberglass. There are many ways to repair cracks in fiberglasswhich ones the best.
These range from crazing also called spider webbing to cracking, usually from a slight impact. C 11203 this tech paper will discuss simple repair nonstructural and refinishing processes to produce highquality results on fiberglass corvette panels. The other repair for spider cracks involves a little more work. The cloth fiberglass has a uniform weave to it, much like a screen door.
Jun 09, 2017 in the automotive environment, this means cracks, breaks and splits in the body of your corvette. Windshield repair or windshield replacement windshield spider cracks can be tiny or large. In this update the rough body work continues in preparation for sending the car out to have the final body work and paint completed. How to repair a fibreglass crack for beginners youtube. The good news is that spider cracks can be far easier to handle once you know what to do. Follow along to see what is involved in minor fiberglass repair and gain tips on handling these and other collision repairs. But when i got down to what i am guessing is the yellow urethane, i can still see the spider cracks. A fiberglass repair may look perfect when leaving the shop but months later subtle lines give witness to the fiberglass. A squeegee or fiberglass roller works well for this. Gelcoat oxidation can sometimes be repaired, but if the damage is extensive the gelcoat must be removed. Prep and paint guide how to repair, prep, and paint your. If cracks are into fiberglass, what is the proper way to repair without panel replacement. The quality of the work will depend on the time and. Most of the time the stress cracks found on older corvettes are from old repairs or to much paint on the car, if you have deep cracks that are not at a bonding seem it,s probably had some kind of fiberglass repair work done.
The crack is in the actual fiberglass panel, so it must be repaired and cannot be smoothed over with filler. Fortunately, spider cracks are not difficult to repair. Magicezy hairline fix quickly and easily repairs gelcoat cracks on your boatwithout having to grind them out. Looking up close, there were two marks about 4 inches long each that look like the leggs of a dadylonglegs spider.
You may want to apply colored gelcoat enamel over the repaired area, so the repair wont be so noticeable. The added fiberglass will add structural strength to the surface of the repair. Glassmandan corvette tutorials corvette fiberglass. Corvette guys are not working with ordinary fiberglass. Mcjacks corvettes teaches you how to do fiberglass repair. They look somewhat like spider webs and are minor surface cracks in the exterior layer of the gel coat. Repairing hundreds of fiberglass cracks to get ready for. Any use of the corvette name at this site is used only as a point of reference to. Spider cracks are a form of fiberglass damage that occurs from minor flexing or impacts. Only fiberglass work ive ever done was to repair small areas on boats. Also is there any resins that cure completely clear. Fiberglass fenders, need advicehairline crack repair. When we returned the boat, the rental company claims that there were new spider cracks in the rear of the boat.
It also repairs cracks in ceramic tiles and scratches on household appliances. Corvette fiberglass repair easy bodywork facelift for. The time required for this job will obviously vary quite a bit depending on the number of cracks and how widespread they are, but should take no more than three hours per square foot of repair area. Add to that some of the more adventurous owners of many of these cars, you may have to repair fiberglass panels to get things back to normal. When working with fiberglass, tedious sanding can last for hours and even days.
Find all the details inside chevy high performance magazine. If you have a structural crack that means the entire piece of fiberglass has cracked through. Fiberglass cloth has the uniform weave, looking much like a screen door. Corvette fiberglass repair easy bodywork facelift for any. How to repair a hairline crack in a fiberglass tub diy. Deeper or structural cracks can often be similarly repaired, with the best chance of success involving grinding the. If you are looking to do some diy gelcoat repairs, this brief primer will help achieve adequate repair. A chop gun was used to blow fiberglass strands and resin into a mold. When the area is dry, smooth the surface with sandpaper.
Heres everything youll need to know to repair these cracks. How to repair fiberglass on a boat the family handyman. My friend pete shows us how to make a fiberglass paste to repair stress cracks in gel coat. Fiberglass cloth has the uniform weave, looking much like a. Some friends and i rented a seadoo jet boat over the weekend.
If these cracks are not repaired properly, they will develop into bigger cracks which may even break the bathtub apart. One of the projects that every restorer of an old corvette eventually has to tackle is a crack in the fiberglass. Any vette made after about 1973 has this pressurized fiberglass material and it will respond much better to that way of repair then what you have which is open lay up molded fiberglass. How to fix crazing in gelcoat, also known as spider cracks or stress cracks which plague countless boaters. Fiberglass panels spider cracks, stress cracks how to. Sometimes, theyre merely cosmetic, meaning they dont penetrate the gelcoat. Aug 27, 2012 i have lots of hair line cracks in the gelcoat.
Fiberglass panels spider cracks, stress cracks how to paint. The most challenging part of doing fiberglass body work yourself is being patient. What you need to know about repairing carbon fiber. They can occur in any form of fiberglass, including cars, boats and swimming pools. Repair if the spider crack is smaller than 12 inches long does not have a large whole in the glass.
The topic of gelcoat is often a mystifying subject for boat owners. The small crack in the fiberglass on the driverside fender could be. Would it be good enough to lay a couple layers of glass on. If your spider crack is just the gell coat you can dig the cracks out, create a v and repair with gelcoat. C5 corvette body repair how to fix 9704 corvette body.
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