Fiberglass A-Pillar Seam Repair

[lsfourwheeler]

So, in my desparate attempt to get the doors to fit I had to trim this edge of the fiberglass A-pillar. This edge had a slight bulge to it that the top of the door would hit. But now I have this super ugly seam and I'm really not sure the best way to repair it. It looks like I'm for sure going to have to remove the doors to do some fiberglass work here but I'm not sure how to mold the mat into the right shape with a seam like this.

Anyone have some tips?



129830

[Ajzride]

I don't have a coupe, and that is a really close up shot, so I'm not 100% sure what I'm looking at. But at first glance I would tape up anything you don't want to get fiberglass on it with packing tape, and then use some "peanut butter" to fill in the seam. Resin with foam beads or some other filler mixed in to give it body.

[AZPete]

I've built an 818 coupe and solved the A-pillar problems, but I also don't see exactly what you are trying to do. Can you post a pic from a little further away?
Also, Mechie3 posted a comprehensive thread recently that shows many techniques for molding and finishing fiberglass that was very handy for me when I fixed the A-pillar gaps.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?35544-Fiberglass-Tips-Tricks-Methods-and-Materials

[lsfourwheeler]

Ah, ok maybe my picture wasn't very clear. I'm away from the car for a few weeks so I can't take another picture, but I'm trying to fix that open gap that's in the center of the picture. This picture is looking up into the bottom of the A-pillar (dash on the right, door panel on the left).

Because it's the A-pillar, I don't have access from behind to do a removable mold like wax or something. But the gap is too big to do just filler. Should I fill it with foam or something and use that as a surface to lay the fiberglass cloth on?


Here's a sketched up picture with the gap circled.129879

[sgarrett]

I didn't have to cut mine down in that area, but I have a sizable gap anyway. Not as big as yours, but too big just for filler. I was planning on making a mix with resin and torn apart fiber glass mat. I have had better luck with that holding things together in the past than I have with filler. Then you came back with a fiber glass resin filler to smooth it out (not just bondo).

[Presto51]

Ah, ok maybe my picture wasn't very clear. I'm away from the car for a few weeks so I can't take another picture, but I'm trying to fix that open gap that's in the center of the picture. This picture is looking up into the bottom of the A-pillar (dash on the right, door panel on the left).

Because it's the A-pillar, I don't have access from behind to do a removable mold like wax or something. But the gap is too big to do just filler. Should I fill it with foam or something and use that as a surface to lay the fiberglass cloth on?


Here's a sketched up picture with the gap circled.129879

From best to pretty good I would:

Think about using 3m 8115 Panel Bonding Adhesive. Of course you would have to invest into the gun that mixes the two parts correctly, and fill in the cavity. If that's too much $ for you.

Think about mixing fiberglass mat with it's resin into a paste and stuff it up into the cavity. Or

Fiberglass reinforced body filler to fill in the cavity.

Ron

[Ajzride]

You can get the 3M in a small format much cheaper:

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00596RP8A/?coliid=I2FYN2FSANZACE&colid=M31DCIXIJNP6&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B06XC91K9J/?coliid=I19YC0AH8MLI3L&colid=M31DCIXIJNP6&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it

[lsfourwheeler]

Thanks! I've got some mat and resin that matches what FFR uses. I'll try to fill it using some torn apart mat since I have all the supplies and see how it goes.

[lsfourwheeler]

Side note: I had notifications on for this thread and they didn't seem to work...Anyone else having issues with thread notifications?

[Jetfuel]

If I was going to tackle that I’ll open up the gap to allow me to fill the gap better with 5/16 Divinycell foam and resin
Leaving some of the foam stick out which it is easy to shape sand and glass over

Jet

[lance corsi]

Kitty hair.