LocostUSA.com

Learning how to build Lotus Seven replicas...together!
It is currently March 28, 2024, 4:40 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]




Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 
Author Message
PostPosted: June 21, 2018, 10:23 am 
Offline

Joined: February 23, 2017, 12:45 pm
Posts: 163
Location: Austin, TX
I was wondering if anyone could give me any tips or point to a tutorial on how to properly widen fiberglass panels? I purchased pre-made body work from Equinox in the UK for my car but my frame is a bit wider than standard. The rear piece and scuttle need to be widened by 2" and my nose has to be opened up a whole 6".

I already split the rear piece to fit and riveted together with some aluminum strip for now-

Attachment:
IMG_20180203_144114.jpg


You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: June 21, 2018, 10:55 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: April 22, 2010, 4:43 pm
Posts: 432
Location: Livermore, Calif.
Jack McCornack at Kinetic Vehicles has a couple of good write-ups about this subject:

http://www.kineticvehicles.com/superscuttle.html

http://www.kineticvehicles.com/flangemount.html

Cheers,
Roy

_________________
Build log http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16510


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: June 29, 2018, 8:06 pm 
Offline

Joined: October 19, 2009, 9:36 pm
Posts: 2199
Location: meadview arizona
to make a suitable filler piece for the middle of the back, first you must make a mold off to one side of the join, just a strip a bit wider than the gap by about 2" then centralize the newly made mold over the gap, then clamp/rivet it tight up to the surface of the panel and lay it up from underneath/inside, allow to cure and remove the mold, sand and finish to suit.

best done with epoxy not polyester resin if you can get it and chopped strand mat as woven mat will telegraph through to the surface.

good luck!

_________________
this story shall the good man teach his son,
and chrispin chrispian shall ne'er go by,
from this day to the end of the world.
but we in it shall be remembered.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: July 17, 2018, 12:59 pm 
Offline

Joined: June 13, 2014, 11:55 am
Posts: 88
As always my post is gazillion years late...
You have already cut the panel.
Long straight repairs on fiberglass crack rather easily.
You may want to cut a weave on both sides in order to have a "multiple s" line.
Then make the mold as suggested and patch with some spacers to keep distance and alignment.
When I did my Catfish Nose extension, I did as you did, I cut a neat straight line which I later found out was not the best way to do it regardless of neatness.
Best regards.
Chanoquin.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: July 19, 2018, 2:34 pm 
Offline

Joined: February 23, 2017, 12:45 pm
Posts: 163
Location: Austin, TX
Thanks for the replies. For some reason I didn't get any notifications and am just reading this now. Unfortunately I cut all my panels last week dead straight! Going to do my best now with the advice you all have given.


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
PostPosted: July 19, 2018, 4:38 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: July 17, 2008, 9:11 am
Posts: 6414
Location: West Chicago,IL
The practice that I use is to taper the both edges with a minimum of about a 6:1 ratio. 6 times as wide as the original glass is thick. If access is available from both sides, For small gap to fill, I will taper only 1/2 way thru the original panel, glass that, then grind 1/2 way thru from the other side and glass again. If extra thickness is acceptable on at least one side, overlap the original panel another 6 times the thickness. Remember, the resin is not where the strength comes from, it is the fiberglass. The resin is there to bond the repair to the original panel and the fibers to each other.

_________________
Chuck.

“Any suspension will work if you don’t let it.” - Colin Chapman

Visit my ongoing MGB Rustoration log: over HERE

Or my Wankel powered Locost log : over HERE

And don't forget my Cushman Truckster resto Locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=17766


Top
 Profile  
Reply with quote  
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours [ DST ]


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Jump to:  
POWERED_BY