had had the body shop at my local chevy dealer repair 2 holes in the hood of my 66 that had been made when hood pins were added back in the day. each time they fix it within days the spot becomes noticable. it continues to get worse over time. i just got it back last week for the 3rd time and within a week it is back. they blamed it on some sort of contamination and "cut and ground it all out this time" they said they rematted it and built it up from new. it gets more noticable when the temperature rises then less as it cools off. the car is nasau blue, i am inclined to think it is the materials they are using but am no body man. before you can say"the local chevy shop!" i am in VT and this shop does alot of custom and classic cars. they get the patina and color dead on. i mean really dead on, as after working in bays with florecent lights for over 35 years i can detect a difference in color and finish right off. i think this time i need advise before i talk with the owner and my lawyer, any advise would be aprciated.
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Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
Hi:
Have you considered a new hood/used hood that needs no repairs or putting a new skin on it? What I have found with glass repairs, is you need to give them time to really dry/shrink and time is usually the best thing. With a production type shop, one week to do a repair that consists of cutting, grinding, glassing, finishing, priming, and painting, has the tendency to trap solvents and really doesn't have time for the repair to age. I've found that putting glass work out in the sun to bake and time really helps keep things stable. Even though, you can still get print through.
Another option is to apply a layer of marine type vinylester gelcoat to the surface. This can help as a barrier.NCRS New England Chapter Chairman 2022, 2024
N E Regional Chairman 2024
1967 Corvette Convertible Under Restoration
1996 Corvette Coupe NCRS Chapter Top Flight 99.5, NCRS National Top Flight 100.0 -
Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
Forget the lawyer route and buy a decent hood without issues instead.
Repairing holes like luggage racks and hood pins are the HARDEST repairs to make
Usually the results are just what you described.Good luck,BobComment
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Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
The key to a successful repair of that type is to feather out the area. They need to grind out a larger area than the hole so that it gradually feathers out. If the hole is reappearing, then they can't be effectively feathering out the area. Yes, you are making the repair area a lot larger but it is the only way to keep it from showing up later. Body filler will shrink more than fiberglass, so the repair needs to be made with fiberglass mat. If they use body filler it should just be a skim coat to smooth out the fiberglass repair. Done properly, the repair should be permanently invisible. I have made similar repairs and you can look all you like and you will never find the repair. I personally would not replace the hood.Comment
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Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
If you your body shop is using some of the new paints and materials they should have been able to repair the holes correctly. But if you are using Laquer, in time the repair will always come back.
Just my 2 cents worth.
BillBill Lacy
1967 427/435 National Top Flight Bloomington Gold
1998 Indy PacecarComment
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Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
i only want to replace the hood as a last resort. it is a BB hood that fits perfect to the car and is perfect in all other ways. it is not the holes that sow but what ever they used to finish it with. should i have them strip it and gel coat it?Comment
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Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
Replace the hood or get used to complaining. JMHO.Comment
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Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
Bill,
I think you would need to post some hi res pics, and provide a detailed description of the procedures and materials used to complete the repair. Also, how much experience does the guy have with fiberglass and vintage vettes? Perhaps you could get a refund and take it to someone with a proven track record of working on vintage vettes.
My 65 was in at least 3 accidents including some pretty significant front end damage. The poorly completed repairs were obvious in the finish. I stripped down to bare fiberglass and ground out all previous body work to start fresh. 5+ years later the repairs are not visible even under fluorescent lights and with lacquer paint. You do not need to replace the hood; you just need to find a bodyman that has a proven track record of working on vintage vettes.
Gelcoat can be used but it is not necessary. They just need to strip the paint back to bare fiberglass and remove all previous body work. Complete the fiberglass repair properly and seal with a product like DPLF from PPG. After that it is just like painting any other car.
DonComment
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Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
i will get more info on what they have done so far. i agree with what you posted.Comment
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Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
Hi Bill,
I filled the holes in the the rear deck of my 71 from a luggage rack.
The fellow who painted my car showed me how to feather and fill the 6 holes with glass and resin. He was adamant that there be NO filler and the thickness of the patches be the same as the deck. It was the very first thing he had me do so it could sit for many months before even being primed.
The car has lacquer on it and I can't see the holes after 4 years. (Knock on wood!)
Is your body shop painting too quickly?
Regards,
Alan
71 Coupe, 350/270, 4 speed
Mason Dixon Chapter
Chapter Top Flight October 2011Comment
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Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
I filled a hole in my '55 trunk lid that previous owner had put '59 emblem in. I feathered both inside and outside of the hole and used mat on inside and outside of the lid to form a sandwich of glass to fill the hole. Then I sanded the glass patch down until it followed the compound curves of the lid. Only after I got it as close as I could did I use an Evercoat glazing putty to skim coat the pin holes. I then sealed, primed and painted the trunk. You cannot see the repair after a year. The hole in my hood ( from a 454 w/ tunnel ram manifold..) repair was done the same way: 20 years ago.Comment
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Re: at my wits end with body shop, need help.
Bill,
Somewhat similar issue with my 67 coupe rear deck area.8 yrs ago Wife dropped garage door on it (DON'T ASK)Had that spot fixed twice now,shop used glass w/mesh & VERY LITTLE feathering material to smooth out.Let it sit in sun to bake 2 weeks.Painted it.Laquer w/c/coat finish.Perfect match! Now it takes 2 yrs to show,but every 2+ years the paint begins to lift there!!----Really perplexing??????
If anyone has any thoughts,I'd be very grateful.
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