Gel coat on SMC

[Dan G.]

Thanks to the guys that reponded to PM vs SMC, all helpful info. The body man that is go to do the work has done alot of C2 restorations and does great quaity work but prefers to do a gel coat process. Being in Seattle I haven't had much luck locating a used roadster rear clip so I may have to use reprodution PM panels. Is there any problem with my 1973 being original SMC on the front clip and fiberglass PM reprodution panels on the rear to gel coat the whole car? And who has the best reproduction PM replacemnt panels using bonding strips?

[Chuck S.]

Re: Gel coat on SMC

If you can't use polyester adhesive to bond SMC panels, I would not attempt to use polyester gelcoat on SMC...you're asking for trouble. Maybe others with more information on PVA gelcoat can add something here. If you replace the damaged panels with either used or reproduction parts, gelcoat would only be necessary for the polyester fiberglass IMO.

If you need an entire rear clip, I wouldn't give up on finding a used clip too fast; you can find them in the other parts of the country, but the freight will be commensurately higher, but worth it. Used original parts that can be refinished are ALWAYS preferable to using repro parts in my opinion.