KOTA7X

Trying to swap my door inserts as people do on here, in my 02 WS6. Everything was going great until just now, I found out, my epoxy didn't hold for ****. I cut all the tabs off of both panels. I bought loctite brand epoxy that specifically says "fuses plastics" thinking it would definitely hold to the tabs. Nope. Anyone have any advice? Maybe because I didn't sand the tabs with 220grit like the epoxy advises? I'm really frustrated. Have a date with this new girl tomorrow and currently the TA has no door panels

MeenZ28

iTrader: (5)

Cancel the date, spend time with the car.

J LT1 TA

iTrader: (6)

Yeah that's sucks you cut off the tabs. Your best bet is to cut as little off as possible just enough so that you can pull the insert off. If you lay the insert and push down were the tabs were are you able to see any plastic? Is anything poking through? If so get a plastic model car the outside excess plastic that you break the car away from take that plastic and a soldering iron and push the insert down and melt the model plastic onto the insert. I hope you can understand what I'm saying. I did this and it's the pretty much the best way. If you have no plastic whatsoever left on the panel. Maybe take the model plastic and build it up and then lay it down and melt it.

KOTA7X

That is probably THE BEST way. Not exactly the easiest or most practical lol. The tabs still push through the insert some. I only cut off the tops so that I could get it off.

xBrandonx

iTrader: (11)

Hot Glue worked half decent for me.

KOTA7X

How half decent are we talkin? lol.
I don't want them to look like **** or have to baby them so the door doesn't fall apart lol.
Plastic melting is sounding better and better...

J LT1 TA

iTrader: (6)

It's actually not hard, just be in a ventilated area. Imo nothing is going to hold as good. You pretty much doing what the factory did. The factory tabs look like they are melted over the insert. Post #85 will give you an idea of what you would have to do. Push it down as good as you can and the model plastic will melt/fuse with the old tabs. It's the best way to get it flush to the plastic and most secure. Just my .02 good luck


https://ls1tech.com/forums/appearanc...-my-car-5.html

xBrandonx

iTrader: (11)

I'll take a picture tonight. I didn't put it on yet because I gotta back the car out and it's still hibernating lol.

bad_408_vert

iTrader: (6)

tell new girl this is what race cars look like.

contraststriker

iTrader: (14)

"I saw your facebook pics and figured I better cut out some weight."


Well okay, don't open with that.

VIP1

In the round posts in the middle, you can use screws and washers since they are hollow. That is what I did.

As for the thin tabs around the edges, I only trimmed their sides just enough so that I can pull off the panel. That way, there was still enough height to them to stick through and give more room for the epoxy to bite. I used Loc-tite plastic epoxy on those tabs and some thin screws through them as well at an angle to give more surface area and add a mechanical bond to the chemical bond. Also, as the epoxy sets, you need to have the panel face down with weight on it to hold the insert in place as the epoxy cures. Also wait at least 24hrs before handling them.

xBrandonx

iTrader: (11)

KOTA7X

Plastic melting was definitely the way to go. Everything was much easier, and it looks great! Thanks for the advice!