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Wed Jun 03, 2009 10:50 am

Hi All,

I just bought a fiberglass buggy. The lower front of the hood was cut. This portion of the hood is very poorly formed with bondo. I've never done any fiberglass work but this is unacceptable. Should I just cut the bondo out and try to reform. I haven't had a chance to research and check the style of the buggy so Im not sure of the make.

Please let me know your opinions.

Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:05 am

Is it bondo all the way through? If not you can sand it off or glass over it.

Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:15 am

Basically grind off the offensive bonds and start over with fresh and reshape it to your liking.....

If bondo is all the way through, I would remove ALL of it and try to build areas with resin and cloth and then smooth it out and start over....

I my self (and many others) have found a problem with "bondo" shrinking under the paint over time.... I try to do any build up with glass and cloth and keep ANY fillers to absolute minimum...

Dale

Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:18 am

Yes,

Basically the lower third of the hood is bondo. I can see where they completly cut out the old fiberglass. Ill provide pics once I get home. I don't plan on using bondo to repair, thats for sure. Im just worried that I will not be able to correctly shape the hood with cloth.

Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:50 am

hotdogpimp wrote: Yes,

Basically the lower third of the hood is bondo. I can see where they completly cut out the old fiberglass. Ill provide pics once I get home. I don't plan on using bondo to repair, thats for sure. Im just worried that I will not be able to correctly shape the hood with cloth.

Get large block of styro foam and lay hood on its top (upside down) on a solid work surface and stick styro block to underside of hood (with double sided tape or some other magic "stuff").... Use any tools necessary to carve desired shape into styro block, the will be the "base" for new section... Once block is shape you want cover it with saran wrap or aluminum foil or something similar for a "release agent" (remember this is under side - nobody will ever see it). Apply resin/ cloth build up till you have desired thickness and shape and then grind/sand and generally "finish" new section.... Remove styro block.... Its a lot of work but well worth it in the end....

Dale

Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:16 pm

Dale M. wrote: hotdogpimp wrote: Yes,

Basically the lower third of the hood is bondo. I can see where they completly cut out the old fiberglass. Ill provide pics once I get home. I don't plan on using bondo to repair, thats for sure. Im just worried that I will not be able to correctly shape the hood with cloth.

Get large block of styro foam and lay hood on its top (upside down) on a solid work surface and stick styro block to underside of hood (with double sided tape or some other magic "stuff").... Use any tools necessary to carve desired shape into styro block, the will be the "base" for new section... Once block is shape you want cover it with saran wrap or aluminum foil or something similar for a "release agent" (remember this is under side - nobody will ever see it). Apply resin/ cloth build up till you have desired thickness and shape and then grind/sand and generally "finish" new section.... Remove styro block.... Its a lot of work but well worth it in the end....

Dale

Dale -

I've read of some folks using Polyisocyanate sheet insulation as 'foam-stock' for making molds/patterns - www.lowes.com for see Rmax brand
1/2" x 8' x 4' Polyisocyanurate Insulated Sheathing

Item #: 15328 - @ $12.00 per 1/2"x4'x8' sheet

has anyone had experience using this with polyester fiberglass resin? I read a recommendation about using this board for fiberglass patterns, but writer did not say if he was using poly or epoxy resin.

I've used blue foam insulation in the past to make patterns for f-glass parts & used polyester resin, but I paint a couple coats of cheap latex housepaint on the foam before fiberglassing the part, instead of using plastic wrap or aluminum foil... this way, I don't have to worry about the foil or film slipping on the foam part -

bnc

Wed Jun 03, 2009 12:41 pm

What about covering the offending section with plastic wrap and then laying a layer of fiberglass over the offending part. The you can cut it off, pop out the old section, peal away and plastic wrap, reinforce the back of the remaining glass, then bond it back on?

This will get you pretty close. You can then add new glass and filler to get the shape perfect.

Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:16 pm

masking tape works to use as a back to what you are feeling in. It keeps it clean on the back side.

Wed Jun 03, 2009 11:31 pm

Here goes. Thoughts.

Thu Jun 04, 2009 12:10 am

I hate working with fiberglass and repairs never seem to last, bondo shrinks after a while and can ruin a good paintjob.

I don't know where you're from but have you considered a new one? Meyers Manx sell them...

http://www.meyersmanx.com/mmstore/store-manxhood.shtml

but anyone that sells Manx type bodies (Berrien etc.) will sell you a new hood, often with a new dashboard attatched.

Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:00 am

Wow :shock: that's one radical repair job :?

looks like they used sheetmetal as the former and either glassed over it or just used the filler alone.

there's no doubt you can save it, just redo everything using glass matting but it'll be an awful lot of work.

Maxdavid may have a real good point, a few calls wouldn't hurt and it could save you a lot of time and itching.

Thu Jun 04, 2009 5:21 am

Quote: I don't know where you're from but have you considered a new one? Meyers Manx sell them...

http://www.meyersmanx.com/mmstore/store-manxhood.shtml

but anyone that sells Manx type bodies (Berrien etc.) will sell you a new hood, often with a new dashboard attatched.

X2 to the infinity!! :shock:

Thu Jun 04, 2009 6:24 am

I've done some pretty radical repairs before and I would even attempt that one.

Not sure where you are from but there are several manufacturers who will sell you a new hood.

Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:52 am

Now I feel Challenged! :-) I have no Clue. Ill play with it but more than likely im going new Hood/Body

Thu Jun 04, 2009 1:29 pm

dirtbugger wrote: Maxdavid may have a real good point, a few calls wouldn't hurt and it could save you a lot of time and itching.

A lot of time and itching. I hate working with fiberglass.........

But after seeing those pics, I don't feel nearly as bad about the quality of My repairs. :lol:

Sun Jun 07, 2009 1:48 pm

Started cutting the hood up. I had some clay sitting around so I did an artist reconstruction of the hood. Hopefully it fits. I figured this would at least prepare me for working with fiberglass. I used right stuff to make the mold. I just have to lay the fiberglass in the mold now.

Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:57 am

Im not sure this is going to work :-)

Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:27 pm

That's an interesting solution to your problem. I assume from here you are going to glass the inside of the tin foil and then graft it to the hood? Hopefully that works, if not, here is another suggestion.

Floral foam blocks. The green stuff. Sands so easily and it's pretty cheap too. I bought a 6 pack for ~$4. Stack it up sand it to shape and put 2 layers of 1.5 oz mat on it. Pull it off, and take a putty knife and scrape out the floral foam, give it a sand to get rid of the extra foam stuck to it, and lay down some additional layers inside. I am building a custom dash for my Sterling in a slightly similar fashion. The top will get a few layers of chopmat, then the foam will be dug out, and additional layers will be added to the underside.