Fiberglass how to

[ToddK]

I thought I'd share a quick way to make your own fiberglass panels. I needed a new fender, but I did not have a mold. There was a parts car out back, but not one with flares on the fenders. I took a plastic contractors bag and glued it to the fender of the parts car with some spray adhesive. I spread on a layer of resin, a layer of woven mat, and a layer of fiberglass strand, allowing each layer a day to cure. The new fender pulled away from the car very easy, even easier than ones I have pulled from waxed molds. The bag stayed with the fiberglass, not the car. The car actually cleaned up with no signs of what had happened. The bag mostly peeled off of the back of the fiberglass, but who cares, your not going to see that anyway.

I now had a stock fender shape that had rough fiberglass on both sides. A little triming to fit, and it was ready to rivet and bond to the race car. I built a form with some cardboard around where the flare would go, and filled with expandable foam. Once that cured, I trimmed with a knife and sand paper to get the shape right. Two more layers of fiberglass over the foam flare, and I was ready to sand and fill. I used a grinder to remove the underside of the flare.

I did this for a MGB race car I have and not on an 02, but it will work on any car. This is alot easier and cheaper tham making a mold first and then making a part from the mold.

[Ian]

Thanks for the tips. I've been thinking of simple fiberglass projects (speaker pods, replacement panels for the cardboard under the dash, etc) and your suggestions will come in handy!

Ian

'76 M2

[TMK-001]

Thanks for the tips. I've been thinking of simple fiberglass projects (speaker pods, replacement panels for the cardboard under the dash, etc) and your suggestions will come in handy!

Ian

'76 M2

I like your thinking Ian... let us knwo how you go with the under dash bits and the speaker pods.

[H_Krix]

On that note, this week I'll be starting the first of my vacuum-forming experiments. I'm planning on doing speaker pods, and underdash panels as well.

Of course, i have to build the vacuum-former first, but I do have the week off of work. I'll probably do the above for making the dummy plugs before I start vacuum-ing.

[winstontj]

On that note, this week I'll be starting the first of my vacuum-forming experiments. I'm planning on doing speaker pods, and underdash panels as well.

Of course, i have to build the vacuum-former first, but I do have the week off of work. I'll probably do the above for making the dummy plugs before I start vacuum-ing.

H_Krix... where'd you get your vacuum pump? Do you have one? I got one mine from a dentist's supply distributor and it works great! Ever done any vacuum bagging before? Where are you planning on buying the stuff?