Sail panel fix this way??
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
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.
#3
TECH Enthusiast
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
#4
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,361
Likes: 0
Received 1,793 Likes
on
1,277 Posts
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.
Trending Topics
#9
LS1Tech Administrator
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Schiller Park, IL Member: #317
Posts: 32,361
Likes: 0
Received 1,793 Likes
on
1,277 Posts
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.
#10
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
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.
#11
TECH Regular
iTrader: (18)
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.
#12
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (3)
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.
#19
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.
#20
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