Plastic Bodywork
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Teching In
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 34
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From: Rapid City, SD
Plastic Bodywork I ran my Z28 through a ditch. Now I'm working to restore the front bumper cover as it plowed through the ground. Any advice working on plastic body panels would be greatly apreciated.
I ordered a book to help me out a little. However, I would like to know the details involved in repairing a tear in the panel. I have a small tear about 1.5 to 2.0 inches long that will need fixed. From what I've heard there is a special expoy to fix it with. How do I go about the process of glueing it back together?
Thanks for the help!
I ordered a book to help me out a little. However, I would like to know the details involved in repairing a tear in the panel. I have a small tear about 1.5 to 2.0 inches long that will need fixed. From what I've heard there is a special expoy to fix it with. How do I go about the process of glueing it back together?
Thanks for the help!
I believe the material is going to be a polyurethane.
To fix a tear you will need a strong backing material
(woven fiberglass might be good) bonded strong to
the backside. Maybe try that polyurethane windshield
adhesive they sell in the caulk-gun tube at auto glass
places (they use it at the glass place I went to once,
and everything's for sale even if it ain't on the counter).
Impregnate the 'glas with that and one of those Bondo
squeegees, get the workpiece a nice thin even layer,
and squeege the mat down nice. Maybe two layers at
diagonals and going at least 2" either side of the tear.
Fill/finish I dunno about but there're all kind of dudes
running around in "fix your bumper in the parking lot"
trucks nowadays, and they have to be getting their
supplies somewhere.
To fix a tear you will need a strong backing material
(woven fiberglass might be good) bonded strong to
the backside. Maybe try that polyurethane windshield
adhesive they sell in the caulk-gun tube at auto glass
places (they use it at the glass place I went to once,
and everything's for sale even if it ain't on the counter).
Impregnate the 'glas with that and one of those Bondo
squeegees, get the workpiece a nice thin even layer,
and squeege the mat down nice. Maybe two layers at
diagonals and going at least 2" either side of the tear.
Fill/finish I dunno about but there're all kind of dudes
running around in "fix your bumper in the parking lot"
trucks nowadays, and they have to be getting their
supplies somewhere.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 618
Likes: 0
From: Pensacola, FL
Do some searching on Camaro sites...
Whistler is master of plastic welding and has made many custom mods to his parts. Brent Franker may also be of some help.
The part just needs to be 'welded'. Plastic welders are getting common, and are not very expensive.
Good luck
Dave
Whistler is master of plastic welding and has made many custom mods to his parts. Brent Franker may also be of some help.
The part just needs to be 'welded'. Plastic welders are getting common, and are not very expensive.
Good luck
Dave
Last edited by ratio411; Nov 17, 2003 at 09:11 AM.
All you need is a fiberglass repair kit. Even though the bumper is polyurethane, the fiberglass will stick to the area and make it even stronger. My bumper cracked once after hitting a concrete pillar a long time ago. My friend repaired it with fiberglass on the inside, filled in the crack on the front with body filler, and repainted the bumper for me.
