Is Anyone Else Having This Issue?

[Pat Landymore]

Noticed this today while reinstalling the engine in my two years completed ‘35 kit….

The stainless steel bedsides have become ‘unbonded’ from their fibreglass mating parts.

Now I’ll be hanged if I’m taking the entire box off and apart to remedy this…so posting only as a precaution to those folks not this far along.

My solution is currently one…but may up it to three or five pop rivets jammed into the box sides as shown in the photo. Suggest people check their box sides (and tailgate!) very carefully prior to permanent assembly.

I’m fine with pop rivets at this point in my build (rebuild?) but it’s not the most elegant solution…. Before I installed the rivet shown the fibreglass was hanging out almost 1/2” beyond the stainless.

166233

[J R Jones]

Pat, What bonding agent failed you? Which surface did it part from?
Where aethetics are not a big issue, I bond and rivet. I like Pliogrip for diverse materials, actually all panel joints.
jim

[Pat Landymore]

I’m referring to the glue (bonding agent) that attaches the stainless steel inner bedsides to the fibreglass outer skin of the box sides.

The tailgate failed me in a similar way a year or so ago…never complained about that at the time…just pried the stainless away from the tailgate while still attached to the truck, shot a whack of silicone in there, clamped it and it’s more or less ok.

Hope that answers your question. ??

[Pat Landymore]

Update…I’m ramping up to five evenly spaced pop rivets per side.

[Pat Landymore]

As a matter of general interest, I received my kit mid April 2019 and it is serial # 0059.

[McGuyver]

I think it happens a lot. My bedsides came un-glued just hanging up in the garage. Actually worked to my advantage as I had to cut a 4” section out to account for stretching the cab. I plan on using 3m panel bond when it comes time to glue the stainless back to the shortened panels. Guess I should add rivets too!

[J R Jones]

I’m referring to the glue (bonding agent) that attaches the stainless steel inner bedsides to the fibreglass outer skin of the box sides.

The tailgate failed me in a similar way a year or so ago…never complained about that at the time…just pried the stainless away from the tailgate while still attached to the truck, shot a whack of silicone in there, clamped it and it’s more or less ok.

Hope that answers your question. ??

Pat, Without HR Truck experience I assumed that you did the bonding, now I assume that it was an FFR bond and we do not know what they used.
Did the bond fail to adhere to the stainless or the fiberglass?

With a very challenging plastic to aluminum bond, I conducted a pull-off evaluation of various bond agents. Pliogrip was so good. it pulled out a bit of the test material but did not break the bond. It ain't cheap. Cartridges are $50 and the gun is about the same. It is a specialized epoxy, I like the 60 minute working time.
jim

[Pat Landymore]

Jim:
It was an FFR applied bond that I (and I’m assuming everyone else that purchased a kit) figured would be permanent.

Yes, difficult to get correctly stuck for sure! Also the release compound on the fibreglass to get it out of the mold might also cause an issue….

IIRC on the tailgate (where I could more readily open it up a bit prior to me siliconing and have a peek) came adrift from the stainless…so assuming the box sides are the same.

Thanks much for your input! 👍🏼

[Sbda4]

Pat, I am very familiar with the disbonding. I have truck chassis #82. By the time I was ready to paint, the stainless steel sheet on the bedsides and tailgate were coming loose. On the bedsides, I used 5 #10 button head fasteners that go through the steel and the fiberglass rib, with an acorn nut on the bottom (not obvious unless you get low and look up at them). I also applied silicone between the SS and fiberglass on the edge to avoid water intrusion and seepage after washing. You are essentially doing the same thing with the rivets. I wasn’t concerned about the lower bedside because the fender bolts and stake pocket bolts hold the SS against the fiberglass.

On the tailgate, I used panel bond to reglue the SS in place.

It appears that FFR didn’t prepare the SS sheet before bonding because all the glue stuck to the fiberglass and not to the SS sheeting.

[Pat Landymore]

Sbda4:

Really appreciate you chiming in! 👍🏼

[wallace18]

Yes I had to add rivets at the start of my build. I was chassis #4. First customer P/U. See post #280.

https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showthread.php?26958-Wallace18-s-35-Hot-Rod-Pickup/page7

[Robodent]

Pat. I’ve had the same issue I just recently jammed a flat head screwdriver in the rear and split the two apart enough to lay some panel bond along the top outside edge with a micro screwdriver then clamped it back together and cleaned up anything the squirted out. I thought of the rivets but didn’t like the idea of them showing on my painted truck . Rob

[Pat Landymore]

Although I’ve posted thanks to everyone who has replied by using the ‘Easy’ thanks button…Want to say thank you!! to everyone that has responded.


Now my next question is…have we all dealt with it ourselves or has anyone at least made FFR HQ even marginally aware this is going on? I know I have not…

Honestly…if they don’t get it fixed, why not change the manual and the pack out, ship the pieces separately and tell us the bonding of these parts is ours to own? I’m A-ok with that…just as long as I know.


?????

[McGuyver]

The original bonding agent on mine was brown in color and I had to use a flap disk to grind it off the fiberglass side. It was on there pretty good. The stainless had some residue on there but looked aerated and was thin. Thinking the adhesive let go of the stainless.

[Pat Landymore]

Thanks McGuyver!

I’ve sent an email to FFR tech support letting them know this a is fairly common issue and that they may need to change process. Will advise when I have a response.

[VIRGIN MIKE]

I tack welded the front, sides and bottom of my bed together and bonded the bed to the sides with a split copper pipe
166605

[Pat Landymore]

No response from FFR HQ yet, but as of today my truck is sold…so I care somewhat less.

If for some mystical reason I do get a reply, will come back on and post it.

[McGuyver]

Congratulations on the sale Pat, certainly a unique build. I will miss seeing you post about it.