Sail panel fix this way??
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: manchester nh
Sail panel fix this way?? Okay everyone says theirs no way to fix the sail panel except to replace it.
Well I talked to two body shops that are practically the best around here and they both told me to drill out all the bubbles then 120 grit the sail panel and let it dry in the sun for two days but keep on cleaning it with degreaser and gasoline until it stops coming out. Then get fiberglass resign to seal them. Then plastic fill them then bondo?
Anyone ever try this?
Inputs needed since this way is way cheaper then buying a new sail panel.
Well I talked to two body shops that are practically the best around here and they both told me to drill out all the bubbles then 120 grit the sail panel and let it dry in the sun for two days but keep on cleaning it with degreaser and gasoline until it stops coming out. Then get fiberglass resign to seal them. Then plastic fill them then bondo?
Anyone ever try this?
Inputs needed since this way is way cheaper then buying a new sail panel.
TECH Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 686
Likes: 76
From: Thibodaux LA
might work for a bit. the problem is the adhesive gm used to put the panel on. it seeped through the panel in spots and causes the bubbling. id think it will start bubbling in other places later on. give it a shot. might be a good temp diy
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,623
Likes: 2,541
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
You would have to drill out every bit of panel that is in contact with the glue holding it to the car. At that point, there would be no bond left between what remained of the panel and the metal frame of the roof.
Nothing you do on the surface will change the fact that glue has penetrated the panel material and will continue to seep (drawn out by heat/sun/UV) through to the surface as long as that panel is still on the car. But the better the patch job, the longer it will last. Nothing short of panel replacement will be permanent though.
The root of this issue is the lack of a proper barrier (sealant) between the underside of the panel and the glue. There is no way to fix this from the top side, since by the time you see the results (bubbles) the panel has already long ago been compromised from underneath.
Nothing you do on the surface will change the fact that glue has penetrated the panel material and will continue to seep (drawn out by heat/sun/UV) through to the surface as long as that panel is still on the car. But the better the patch job, the longer it will last. Nothing short of panel replacement will be permanent though.
The root of this issue is the lack of a proper barrier (sealant) between the underside of the panel and the glue. There is no way to fix this from the top side, since by the time you see the results (bubbles) the panel has already long ago been compromised from underneath.
Good luck drilling out a million little bubbles 
Not gonna work.
Regardless of the panel being sealed on the underside or not, GM used the wrong glue for the application. They shouldn't have used a glue that destroys the fiberglass to begin.
Not gonna work.
Regardless of the panel being sealed on the underside or not, GM used the wrong glue for the application. They shouldn't have used a glue that destroys the fiberglass to begin.
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Brett Foote Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 34,623
Likes: 2,541
From: Schiller Park, ILL Member: #317
But I do agree, it would have been nice if a glue was used that wouldn't do this sort of damage in the first place. Then it really wouldn't matter how the panel was prepped/not prepped. FWIW, the TSB calls for an epoxy primer to be used on the underside even with the repair-approved glues that are recommended by GM for panel replacement.
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: manchester nh
I only drilled out like 10 1/4 in holes since I don't have many and so far it stopped seeping through the panel. and I haven't even put the resin down yet. I am going to give it another week without touching it and see if it seeps through. But this weekend I am going to car a few junk yards and see if there is any sail panels left on cars since I am still hesitant about this method.
I believe GM used the same glue on all '93-'02 cars, but the only ones that seem to ever have an issue are the '99-'02 (plus some 05/98 and later '98s). The only difference seems to be the lack of underside panel prep on the later models. I think the original glue is/was fine so long as the panel was sealed from underneath.
But I do agree, it would have been nice if a glue was used that wouldn't do this sort of damage in the first place. Then it really wouldn't matter how the panel was prepped/not prepped. FWIW, the TSB calls for an epoxy primer to be used on the underside even with the repair-approved glues that are recommended by GM for panel replacement.
But I do agree, it would have been nice if a glue was used that wouldn't do this sort of damage in the first place. Then it really wouldn't matter how the panel was prepped/not prepped. FWIW, the TSB calls for an epoxy primer to be used on the underside even with the repair-approved glues that are recommended by GM for panel replacement.
I believe GM used the same glue on all '93-'02 cars, but the only ones that seem to ever have an issue are the '99-'02 (plus some 05/98 and later '98s). The only difference seems to be the lack of underside panel prep on the later models. I think the original glue is/was fine so long as the panel was sealed from underneath.
But I do agree, it would have been nice if a glue was used that wouldn't do this sort of damage in the first place. Then it really wouldn't matter how the panel was prepped/not prepped. FWIW, the TSB calls for an epoxy primer to be used on the underside even with the repair-approved glues that are recommended by GM for panel replacement.
But I do agree, it would have been nice if a glue was used that wouldn't do this sort of damage in the first place. Then it really wouldn't matter how the panel was prepped/not prepped. FWIW, the TSB calls for an epoxy primer to be used on the underside even with the repair-approved glues that are recommended by GM for panel replacement.
for those looking for a replacement panel, I have 93-97 OEM refinished sail panels. check below.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/parts-cla...ail-panel.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/parts-cla...ail-panel.html
We're not stopping now since we paid for the molds and are doing them through RK Sport...
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
Man I tell ya the 98+ Firebirds get nailed,first the roof panel, if not that the dash pads that look like they've been hit by a magnitude 7 earthquake, and lets not forget the door panels.
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 423
Likes: 0
for those looking for a replacement panel, I have 93-97 OEM refinished sail panels. check below.
https://ls1tech.com/forums/parts-cla...ail-panel.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/parts-cla...ail-panel.html
