sailpanal replacement ( do it yourself )
Teching In
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Florida
Where are the names and numbers vetteman?
I have been told to go pound sand by a HUGE Chevy dealer and a Pontiac dealer, despite having a claim # and pre-approval from Government Motors.
So do tell...where is this place?
And to the OP, thanks man, you have ***** of brass to do this and you have given many hope for this ridiculous problem which plagues our most cherished.
We make replacements now if anyone is in need of one...
https://ls1tech.com/forums/paint-bod...-sale-now.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/paint-bod...-sale-now.html
Just got word on the first installed CF piece...
"Just finished install today. turned out even better than I had hoped - I was concerned because mine is a 35th LE that used to have a red sail panel... this one looks much better. Fit was really good for aftermarket. Was worth the wait. Thanks.
Roger
PS Didnt take pics yet because its kinda dark and you cant see the fiber. You want any pictures of it installed?"
"Just finished install today. turned out even better than I had hoped - I was concerned because mine is a 35th LE that used to have a red sail panel... this one looks much better. Fit was really good for aftermarket. Was worth the wait. Thanks.
Roger
PS Didnt take pics yet because its kinda dark and you cant see the fiber. You want any pictures of it installed?"
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Teching In
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon Md
Sail panel I know this thread has some age to it but I have a question. I picked up a panel from a 95 firebird to replace the one on my 02 T/A ( mines probably the worse one I ever seen). My car is black and the panel I bought is white. For you guys that have done this job and painted it yourself, what advice do you have for me if I want to try and paint it myself? Is it too hard to do without a a paint booth. I got a quote from a body shop or 2 and they want to charge $300 to $400 -- not doin that !! Any advice you have will be greatly appreciated.
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: League City, TX
sail panel replacement I am about to begin ripping off my old sail panel. I have already painted the new one and it is ready to be put on. What kind of caulk adhesive is the best to use here?
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon Md
I just did mine a couple weeks ago. I used 3M 08690 fast cure auto glass urethane. I bought it an auto parts store that deals in 3M products. Easy to use with a regular caulk gun. I bought 2 tubes cause I didn't know how far one would go but 1 tube did the job - took the other one back. Advice, put a couple layers of blue painters tape on the quarters just below the sail panel just for paint protection. I did that and it was a good thing I did, ,, but have fun destroying the piece of crap that's on there.
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: League City, TX
Good suggestion with taping over the adjacent panels. I am taking pics before and throughout the process and I look forward to posting them as well. I am going to have a great time destroying that piece of crap that is on there now!!
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 423
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY
I just did mine a couple weeks ago. I used 3M 08690 fast cure auto glass urethane. I bought it an auto parts store that deals in 3M products. Easy to use with a regular caulk gun. I bought 2 tubes cause I didn't know how far one would go but 1 tube did the job - took the other one back. Advice, put a couple layers of blue painters tape on the quarters just below the sail panel just for paint protection. I did that and it was a good thing I did, ,, but have fun destroying the piece of crap that's on there.
Do you have any picture to share?? Before or after?
Please do keep us posted with your progress!
I've just ordered a new replacement sail panel from 6LE design today! They are running a special this month, so I took the plunge.
Although I probably wont install the new panel until fall.
Last edited by michaelhawk; Jul 16, 2015 at 10:14 AM.
I've got some from when I did mine last year.
What it looked like before:
The replacement panel back from paint:
My best friend and I removing the old panel:
We just used a hammer to start the hole on the side, and then crowbars to pry:
All finished:
What it looked like before:
The replacement panel back from paint:
My best friend and I removing the old panel:
We just used a hammer to start the hole on the side, and then crowbars to pry:
All finished:
Teching In
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
I just did mine This article gave me the courage to do the replacement to mine. The only place you can buy one of these replacement sail panels cost $600 + $150 shipping! Ouch! I went to my local pick and pull found one I cut off a 95 Camaro for $80.
I had a battery powered reciprocating saw and a couple extra battery packs that did the job. Take lots of blades, you'll want the longer ones.
Once I got the sail panel home, I spent a couple days with the angle grinder removing the steel and saving the fiber glass panel.
Tearing off the old sail panel was a daunting task made easier by one of those oscillating saws which easily cuts the fiber glass. I cut it out all around inside where the wide beads of glue are so then all I had to deal with was the glue itself. Removing the glue was made significantly easier by using a heat gun to soften it as I pushed through the glue with a 3" wide putty knife I sharpened.
Next off to the body shop to have the new sail panel painted and prepped. They are charging me $450 to prep and install the panel. When they explained the amount of work that still needed to go into the panel, it sounded fair. Paint isn't cheap, they had to fill a couple spots, sand the whole panel, prime the back side, paint the front, clear coat the front etc.
So all in all, I have about $575 into this project including grinder cutting wheels and everything. IT LOOKS GOOD! Hope i don't get bubbles.I shouldn't, the sail panel was sitting in the scrap yard for years and had no bubbles.
Ken
I had a battery powered reciprocating saw and a couple extra battery packs that did the job. Take lots of blades, you'll want the longer ones.
Once I got the sail panel home, I spent a couple days with the angle grinder removing the steel and saving the fiber glass panel.
Tearing off the old sail panel was a daunting task made easier by one of those oscillating saws which easily cuts the fiber glass. I cut it out all around inside where the wide beads of glue are so then all I had to deal with was the glue itself. Removing the glue was made significantly easier by using a heat gun to soften it as I pushed through the glue with a 3" wide putty knife I sharpened.
Next off to the body shop to have the new sail panel painted and prepped. They are charging me $450 to prep and install the panel. When they explained the amount of work that still needed to go into the panel, it sounded fair. Paint isn't cheap, they had to fill a couple spots, sand the whole panel, prime the back side, paint the front, clear coat the front etc.
So all in all, I have about $575 into this project including grinder cutting wheels and everything. IT LOOKS GOOD! Hope i don't get bubbles.I shouldn't, the sail panel was sitting in the scrap yard for years and had no bubbles.
Ken
TECH Regular
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 423
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY
Next off to the body shop to have the new sail panel painted and prepped. They are charging me $450 to prep and install the panel. When they explained the amount of work that still needed to go into the panel, it sounded fair. Paint isn't cheap, they had to fill a couple spots, sand the whole panel, prime the back side, paint the front, clear coat the front etc.
That sounds right! I just had my panel replaced also (read/see it in the sticky).
I supplied the panel ($600 w/free shipping). The body shop cost me $525 for everything else (removing the old, prep, paint, clear the new, and install of the new panel).