Researching a '63 SWC that has some unique attributes.

[Paul Y.]

Re: Researching a '63 SWC that has some unique attributes.

I stripped my 63 and I did not notice any difference in the panel between the fiberglass. Mine was a June 7th car and maybe it was an early/late kind of change. I can not recall anything that looked like it was added rather than the original molded glass. Nice interesting post. Paul

[Joseph S.]

Re: Researching a '63 SWC that has some unique attributes.

Paul, Did you remove the halo panel from the inside of the car? That is where you would notice that the depression is not divided. The divider is added to the outside of the panel with filler material.

[Ray S.]

Re: Researching a '63 SWC that has some unique attributes.

I know this an old thread, but I'm still doing some research. Wondering if there's anyone out there that knows how that divider was added on the line. I'm trying to replicate it as best I can. Thanks!

[Ray S.]

Re: Researching a '63 SWC that has some unique attributes.

20231120_093442.jpg

Okay, going to try one last time to see if anyone knows how this detail was applied on the assembly line? From everything I was able to learn, it was not part of the molds, as it would have caused "die lock". In absence of anything else, I am going to make a mold from these parts, and bond the divider in place, followed by finish work. Doing it this way b/c there's no way I'm cutting that original roof skin.

[Bob J.]

Re: Researching a '63 SWC that has some unique attributes.

This is what Joe Scafidi is trying to explain to you.
The divider was ADDED after the roof panel was molded with a filler, not Bondo and not bond material used by the factory to glue panels.
IMG_2226.jpgIt's nothing special. The pics show an old racer being restored with the divider removed.
Bob Jorjorian

[Ray S.]

Re: Researching a '63 SWC that has some unique attributes.

Thanks Bob. Appears to be a resin mixture, similar to how I've seen panel imperfections repaired during assembly. They must have used some sort of form and pressed the material in, as I can't imagine too much time was spent on it. Not that anyone may ever see it again, but I'm trying to do it as close to correct as possible...

[James G.]

Re: Researching a '63 SWC that has some unique attributes.

I agree it looks like a mixture of resin and chopped up roven mat, which is what I use for smaller fiberglass repairs as well.

[Ray S.]

Re: Researching a '63 SWC that has some unique attributes.

UPDATE: I was able to develop a method to replicate these, without altering the original roof. IMO, it is probably very similar to the way the factory did it, as it sets up quickly and requires minimal finish work. It is done with resin and 'glass, not filler. 20240210_082611.jpg20240210_082538.jpg

[Paul Y.]

Re: Researching a '63 SWC that has some unique attributes.

Joe, I did that back in the early 80's and the first fiber glass work I did was reinstall the split that had been modified. My fiber glass lesson came from a shop instructor friend who had done lots of fiberglass work after rolling his 63 roadster while he was in college. I had the roof panel that I cut the split out and also the halo off but did not pay enough attention to any of the details that were exposed at that time.