This is mainly just out of curiosity and for my personal knowledge. I know since I have the need to ask that I should not try it, nor will I. But I see a lot of pictures lately with people having the bumpers molded to their fenders/quarters and even flares molded in as well. My question is how do people mold them in? Generally, body kits are fiberglass or some other material, and the stock car is metal, I know I have read that they both compress and expand at different rates and that it would crack eventually. So I understand that some people will buy some fiberglass fenders as well and mold to that, but what about the rear quarters? Do people make full quarters out of fiberglass or how does it work?
Some people i know just fiberglass it to the metal and use Bondo on it.
JBO Member since 2006.
and that method works without any problems? I was just doing some reading about fiberglass/metal and it made me think of that and then I'm just really curious as to how it should be done.
Big poppa's car is epic - thats all I can say. But his is like on a LARGE scale of what I'm talking about. Although it does look like he simply fiberglassed his widebody onto the original body.
so pretty much what everyone is saying that pretty much everyone with the molded look has molded the fiberglass to the metal of the car. Sounds resonable enough - makes more sense than replacing the whole quarter panel with a fiberglass counterpart.
Jrcz24 wrote:Some people i know just fiberglass it to the metal and use Bondo on it.
sounds terrible.
anyway to mold your bumpers or flares or whatever you should really use a panel bond first like fusor 147 or a 3m product. they make different ones for different types of material. i wouldnt suggest just slapping on some fiberglass and bondo onto the metal. it will crack and fall off since there isnt anything for the fiberglass to hold on to.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edited Tuesday, November 25, 2008 3:45 AM
reading these replies made my head hurt.
Pilz-E wrote:reading these replies made my head hurt.
+1
Like Mike said, the proper way to do it is to use a panel bond like 3M or Fusor.
that seems to make more sense than just slapping it on. I thought that sounded a little weird. Thanks guys!
Like stated above the best method is applying a panel bonding adhesive and then deal with glassing and using body filler. Personally I advise removing the paint from the area and then use the adhesive and place your fiberglass part against the metal and then use rivets or self taping screws to secure the fiberglass in place. Then I would take sand the area around the screws/ rivets and then place some fiberglass and rage gold body filler over top of the area and sand till my arms fall off your my head explodes.
Panel Bonding Adhesives:
Fusor 147B
3m 8115
* you would need the gun for these... and they cost more than the adhesive sadly.
Also Bondo Body Filler is the Devil... I would suggest using Rage Gold... you can get it at CarQuest or a real auto supply shop.
Now I have a wedgy and I am going to pick it... please come again!
I have learnt A LOT from doing work on my car.
Do NOT use bondo or any other brand name of filler to use as an adhesive...remember this is only to be used as a filler.
Use some urathane adhesive (it comes in a caulking tube (at least the one I got from an automotive paint supplier near me)). Sadly I didn't do this when I did my car...I used some screws and then glassed over them....I do not recommend that method at all (live and learn). Use a panel bond and then glass the rest of your work into place.
