I'm in the process bonding in a rear lower quarter panel on my 61. Everything was cleaned to the bonding seams, and I used small sheet metal screws with fender washers to get the panel to lay in position before final bonding. I can get an even gap on all bonding seams, but when I temporarily bolt the rear bumper on, there is an uneven gap between the body and bumper when compared with the other side. Is it "correct" to use shims on the bumpers to make a symmetric appearance? The bumpers do not appear to be bent. Any other thoughts? Thanks, Ron 61 project
-
-
Re: Fiberglass repair
Ron, I don't know if the proper word is "correct" or not, but I certainly would shim the rear bumper for visual side to side symmetry. Best if shims can be hidden from obvious view. IMO good thinking to put the bumpers on for alignment verification before glueing panels (been there didn't do that, second time: been there did that). Regards, -
Re: Fiberglass repair
Ron, I don't know if the proper word is "correct" or not, but I certainly would shim the rear bumper for visual side to side symmetry. Best if shims can be hidden from obvious view. IMO good thinking to put the bumpers on for alignment verification before glueing panels (been there didn't do that, second time: been there did that). Regards,Comment
-
Re: Fiberglass repair
Ron, do not use screws to hold the panel on while the bond adhesive is drying, use clamps and masking tape. The screw holes will shrink out once the car is in the sun. In regards to the bumper,it needs to fit the fiberglass correctly or you will crack out the glass when you bolt it up. The shims would go behind the fiberglass spacing the bracket from the frame to the glass.Comment
-
Re: Fiberglass repair
Ron, do not use screws to hold the panel on while the bond adhesive is drying, use clamps and masking tape. The screw holes will shrink out once the car is in the sun. In regards to the bumper,it needs to fit the fiberglass correctly or you will crack out the glass when you bolt it up. The shims would go behind the fiberglass spacing the bracket from the frame to the glass.Comment
-
Re: Fiberglass repair
Stewart, What purpose would shims placed behind the fiberglass spacing the bracket from the frame to the glass serve? If there is an area where the bumper needs to be further from the quarter panel, it would seem to me the "shim" would have to lie between the bumper and the fiberglass, not on the back side of the fiberglass. Thanks for the tip about not using screws. RonComment
-
Re: Fiberglass repair
Stewart, What purpose would shims placed behind the fiberglass spacing the bracket from the frame to the glass serve? If there is an area where the bumper needs to be further from the quarter panel, it would seem to me the "shim" would have to lie between the bumper and the fiberglass, not on the back side of the fiberglass. Thanks for the tip about not using screws. RonComment
-
Re: Fiberglass repair
Ron, sorry I was thinking rear body panel instead of 14 panel. It sounds like you are talking about the outer bumper bolt hole where it bolts to the 14.It this is where the gap is and you have exhausted all other tricks to move the bumper in, I have reinforced the the backside of the new 14 with fiberglass mat at the bolt hole and after the new 14 is bonded in place, you can very carefully pull the 14 out to meet the bumper with the bumper bolt. Much more than an 18 inch and you would be pushing you luck. You didn't say how much of a gap there was. StewartComment
-
Re: Fiberglass repair
Ron, sorry I was thinking rear body panel instead of 14 panel. It sounds like you are talking about the outer bumper bolt hole where it bolts to the 14.It this is where the gap is and you have exhausted all other tricks to move the bumper in, I have reinforced the the backside of the new 14 with fiberglass mat at the bolt hole and after the new 14 is bonded in place, you can very carefully pull the 14 out to meet the bumper with the bumper bolt. Much more than an 18 inch and you would be pushing you luck. You didn't say how much of a gap there was. StewartComment
Comment