What to do about quarter panel damage - Page 2 - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

rhipsher · 08-12-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by GOLDCYLON

DAMN ITs fixable but DAMN Bro

Hahaha! Yeah it doesnt take much with a fiberglass car does it. In some ways they are more forgiving than sheet metal. You could toss a baseball under handed at our cars and it would just bounce off and not even leave a mark. But would leave a dent in sheet metal body panels. But when they crumble they splinter everywhere.

phrogs · 08-13-2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blue Flame Restorations

Once the material is stressed to the point of cracking the surface on the front side, the inner strands are compromised. The outer surface needs tress relieved and then the backside does need the structural
integrity restored. Otherwise, the repair will eventually bleed through.

Yep and you will not know until you sand down the area and map out the damage and see whats going on.

There may also be some Bonding glue comprimised.

This is a minor boo boo.

VetteMed · 08-13-2011

Thanks guys... I know someone locally who may be able to give me a hand, he is much more experienced with body/paint than I am... paying a pro at this time is not an option (just dropped almost $2K on injectors for my Duramax!). I will take along all of your info when I stop by his place.

VetteMed · 08-13-2011

I took out the wheelhouse and some of the trim this morning, and snapped some more pics. It appears that the strip that was bonded to the quarter panel, which is used for mounting/attaching the bumper cover, has pulled off of the inside of the quarter panel. The crack does not penetrate all the way through to the inside surface of the quarter panel.

This is the mounting strip that popped off of the inside of the quarter:

This is the area where the strip was bonded:

VetteMed · 08-13-2011

VetteMed · 09-03-2011

Update - I removed the trim and bumper cover, and patched the panel from the inside, using Lord Fusor T21 (specifically intended for SMC fiberglass), with standard fiberglass cloth. Apparently using normal fiberglass resin is a no-no, as the mold-release compound in SMC will prevent proper adhesion. T21 is a 2-part epoxy product.

After reinforcing the back side, I bonded the bracket back on to the inner surface of the panel, and used the T21 as filler for the crack, which I had sanded down to remove all loose paint and fiber. I still have more sanding to do, and probably one more application of T21 to get the previously cracked area filled in.

A friend of mine is going to respray the rear bumper cover, trim, quarter panel, and while he's at it, also the headlight buckets which are badly yellowed, and the CHMSL which is chalked.

VetteMed · 10-26-2011

Update on this project:

Rear bumper cover reinstalled

RAAMmat installed in wheelwells to reduce resonance and tire noise

Finished product... Though I have some white LT5 emblems that I'm thinking of installing...

It's not a show-quality job, there's some color difference between the new panels and the 21 year old original paint, but this wasn't intended to be a restoration, just a repair, so I'm content with it until the time comes where I can afford a full disassembly, repaint, weatherstrip, etc.

rhipsher · 10-26-2011

Good job!

QB93Z · 10-26-2011

That was a very good repair. Thanks for the update. It is nice to know that there are options available for mishaps.

Jim

HAWAIIZR-1 · 10-28-2011

Very nice job and great information on how to repair. Thanks for sharing.

08-13-2011	#13
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,821	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage Thanks guys... I know someone locally who may be able to give me a hand, he is much more experienced with body/paint than I am... paying a pro at this time is not an option (just dropped almost $2K on injectors for my Duramax!). I will take along all of your info when I stop by his place. __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)

08-13-2011	#14
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,821	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage I took out the wheelhouse and some of the trim this morning, and snapped some more pics. It appears that the strip that was bonded to the quarter panel, which is used for mounting/attaching the bumper cover, has pulled off of the inside of the quarter panel. The crack does not penetrate all the way through to the inside surface of the quarter panel. This is the mounting strip that popped off of the inside of the quarter: This is the area where the strip was bonded: __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)

08-13-2011	#15
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,821	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)

09-03-2011	#16
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,821	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage Update - I removed the trim and bumper cover, and patched the panel from the inside, using Lord Fusor T21 (specifically intended for SMC fiberglass), with standard fiberglass cloth. Apparently using normal fiberglass resin is a no-no, as the mold-release compound in SMC will prevent proper adhesion. T21 is a 2-part epoxy product. After reinforcing the back side, I bonded the bracket back on to the inner surface of the panel, and used the T21 as filler for the crack, which I had sanded down to remove all loose paint and fiber. I still have more sanding to do, and probably one more application of T21 to get the previously cracked area filled in. A friend of mine is going to respray the rear bumper cover, trim, quarter panel, and while he's at it, also the headlight buckets which are badly yellowed, and the CHMSL which is chalked. __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold) Last edited by VetteMed; 09-03-2011 at 09:23 PM.

10-26-2011	#17
VetteMed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 1,821	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage Update on this project: Rear bumper cover reinstalled RAAMmat installed in wheelwells to reduce resonance and tire noise Finished product... Though I have some white LT5 emblems that I'm thinking of installing... It's not a show-quality job, there's some color difference between the new panels and the 21 year old original paint, but this wasn't intended to be a restoration, just a repair, so I'm content with it until the time comes where I can afford a full disassembly, repaint, weatherstrip, etc. __________________ 2004 Z06/Z16 LeMans Commemorative Edition 1991 ZR-1 #302 White/Gray (sold) 1991 ZR-1 #1147 Red/Saddle (sold)

10-26-2011	#18
rhipsher Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,319	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage Good job!

10-26-2011	#19
QB93Z Join Date: May 2007 Location: Westminster, Maryland Posts: 3,685	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage That was a very good repair. Thanks for the update. It is nice to know that there are options available for mishaps. Jim __________________ If it isn't fun, you aren't doing it right! 1990 Black ZR-1 - sold 1993 Quasar Blue ZR-1 1994 Competition Yellow ZR-1 1995 Dark Purple ZR-1 Maryland State Coordinator WAZOO Member

10-28-2011	#20
HAWAIIZR-1 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Japan Posts: 3,568	Re: What to do about quarter panel damage Very nice job and great information on how to repair. Thanks for sharing. __________________ Craig "ZR-1 NO KA 'OI" "ZR-1 ICHIBAN" 1995 #228 Black/Black with Dunn Heads ZR-1 owner since September 2003 ZR-1 Net Registry Founding Member #0074 NCM Lifetime Member #2048