I'm looking at getting some fiberglass rear quarter panels for my 2nd gen. Wondering the best method for affixing them and blending them in.

Any help is appreciated.

 

I was thinking about cutting the steel 1/4s off, flanging the body, then doing an epoxy/rivet job to attach the new 1/4s before blending it with marglass or something similar.

 

Not even a year, much less. I don't reallly understand what you are doing, you can affix fiberglass panels to metal with adhesive but if you are trying to blend the edges together, don't bother, you will lose this battle, trust me. The two materials expand and shrink at different rates, it will never work.

But good luck,
Patrick

 

Umm, not sure how to make it any more clear. I want to replace my metal quarter panels with fiberglass. Dunno how to explain it any better for you. I see people attacher fiberglass scoops to metal hoods all the time and use bondo or marglass to make it look like it's all one piece.

I guess if it's not possible I'll scratch my head in confusion, but forget the idea nonetheless.

 

Yes, you CAN do it. but HELL NO it's not a good idea.

Simple as that.

 

ok, then my next question is why can you use products like marglass (fiberglass body filler) over metal without problems?

 

There are some poly / epoxy that will bond literally anything to anything . But the metal side will act different as the weather and shiat changes, and the bond could get weaker / paint could get f'd up.

 

These are what I am talking about: http://i20.ebayimg.com/03/i/01/9d/86/be_1_b.JPG

 

Plastic body filler(BONDO) and fiberglass are completely different products. The main issue with fiberglass is it is used in conjunction with polyester resin and methyl ethyl keytone perioxide(MEKP) whereas bondo is used with cream harder. It is true that bondo is a form of plastic and fiberglass is a form of plastic(GRP: Glass Reinforced Plastic), the chemical properties of each are way different. Bondo cures quickly and becomes very stable very fast. Generally, I'd say about 95% of bondo shrinkage occurs while it cures and the last 5% occurs over a period of maybe a week. Fiberglass resin never fully cures, never. As temperatures increase, the resin cures a little more and you see the panel distort. This is why some fiberglass hood manufacturers say put the hood on the car and drive it for a week, the heat helps cure it out completely. Marglass is simply glass reinforced body, it is generally catylized with cream hardner and shares the same properties as plastic filler, it simply has fiberglass hairs for strength.

Now, you can without a doubt, bond a fiberglass panel to a metal panel permanantly, it will hold forever if you like, but if you try and smooth the edges out with plastic filler, it simply wont last. The materials expand and shrink at different rates, and the body filler will be stressed, you will see seams under the paint and eventually cracks.

Btw, I don't know anything about 2nd gen cars, but do the quarters bolt on or are they a structural part of the body, I don't think replacing them with fiberglass components would be a good idea.

Patrick

 

This car is about 2800lbs with me in it. The cage and subframes are what's giving it structural support. It already has a glass front clip, glass doors, and a glass trunk. Windows are all lexan. It has a 10 point cage though.

The car is by no means a daily driver and is stored indoors in the winter. I don't know if I will even do this, just wanted to find out the feasability. So far everyone on here says now. I didn't expect that. Especially not with all these fiberglass body kits and panels out there on the market.