FFR #068 Body Damage. - - Need some Creative Ideas!

[seanbrown427]

Hey Folks.

It's been a long long time but I have decided to bring my old girl back to life. After countless moves and career changes I want to get back into it. I have one particular problem that I want to see if any of you creative folks can help me find a fix. This happened when I was moving the car off a trailer in a new area and the slope was just a wee bit off and it snagged and snapped off the part of the body between the exhaust and the front wheel well. Adding insult to injury along the way someone threw away the piece thinking it was garbage... So I can't just re-attach it. Does anyone have any ideas? I tried to upload a picture but I can't figure out how to get it working.


134416

[GoDadGo]

Yes, you can re-attach the piece if you still have it.
It will take working the item from both sides and I'd suggest using Vynilester Resin since it is so near the exhaust.
Shown below is a thread that many of us have found to be helpful.

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

[rich grsc]

Yes, you can re-attach the piece if you still have it.
It will take working the item from both sides and I'd suggest using Vynilester Resin since it is so near the exhaust.
Shown below is a thread that many of us have found to be helpful.

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

He said he doesn't have the piece. Going to be hard, but you can try to make a pattern and layup your replacement part.

[seanbrown427]

Yeah, this one is going to be tough. Does anyone sell those metal pieces that protect the end of the fenders anymore? I thought there were some I saw a long time ago

[q4stix]

Is anyone else on the forum that's still in gel-coat good with FG?
They might be able to make an outside mold of their car and ship it to you to have a body guy glass in your car

[seanbrown427]

Wow, that would be amazing.

[GoDadGo]

He said he doesn't have the piece. Going to be hard, but you can try to make a pattern and layup your replacement part.

Sorry about that, I truly am dyslexic and missed the fact that the part got trashed.

Use. A/B Foam .to sculpt the piece, then glass over it using the chop-strand mat.
Once the fiberglass is cured, dig the foam out from the backside.
The sculpting process is the toughest part.

https://www.fibreglast.com/product/2lb-Mix-And-Pour-Foam/Mix-and-Pour-Foam?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1qL6BRCmARIsADV9JtawSYppP9YAk2b bED6qLFkPxzXA9BSNgUmcVOM7S-stlUWsDsQD2zMaAtk3EALw_wcB

https://youtu.be/Bs2egy3yK8A

https://youtu.be/Hq5MfXIC_fU

Another option would be to create a form out of cardstock, tape over it with painters tape, and glass over it.
This could be pretty trough since you've got complex curves to recreate.

Good Luck & Happy Glassing!

[Avalanche325]

I would call FFR in the remote chance that they have a partial or damaged body that they could part out.

Making a mold off of anyone's car would be easy for a fiberglass guy.

[j.miller]

Cut the other side off to match.....WHAT ! you said be creative. If I had a MK1,2or 3 I would gladly make you a mold but the shop is full of MK4s. sorry, still no help.

[John Dol]

Look on you tube and see if there are any people re building a wrecked cobra. Ask if they can spare the part you need.
Other then that the above mentioned methods for recreating it is what you can do. If you don't have the skill certainly a body shop could do it. But that will be more $$.
Recreating a metal piece to glass against is another option.

Good luck,

John

[Hotyacht]

Make some patterns off the side you still have - just out of cardboard would do. Make one that fits (vertically) right in front of the exhaust, another a couple of inches in front of that, and one at the wheel arch, then just flip them over (mirror them) gives you the side you are missing. Glue them into a sandwich with polystyrene blocks between at the correct spacing. Make a pattern that fits the surface of the bodywork in that area - again mirror it - and use this to get the profile shape. Carve the polystyrene block to fit the cardboard, just with a wood rasp and sandpaper..........voila! you have a female mould! Lay some glass onto the mould and build up to the same thickness as the body and you have your replacement part which you can then attach and then fair with bog and paint.

[Just puttering]

I will make a mold for you but it is MK3.1! I have no idea of the changes in between but probably not much in that location?

[seanbrown427]

Bill,

That would be HUGE! I sent you a PM. How much would you charge me ? I think I can make anything work. I doubt there has been a lot of changes right there.

[Just puttering]

Im thinking saran wrap cover and spray foam from home depot unless someone else has a better idea? I never was real good at body work so havent played much, especially in the last decade or so!!

[seanbrown427]

I would think that would work. I maybe do it in 2 pieces somehow so it is easier to pull apart. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make a mold? Appreciate the help folks!