Rear flare installation

[MerlinC4]

Hi All,

I have a set of rear flares that I'm planning to install soon, but I don't have much body work experience so I don't really know the proper order to do things. First, I plan to chemically strip all the paint, then I'll install the flares. Here's my current plan:

1. Strip the body completely.
2. Mount the flares with screws to see where they'll sit, then remove them to cut out the old fender lips.
3. Remount the flares with screws and glue them on with Vette panel adhesive.
4. Use a stranded fiberglass body filler to smooth the flares into the body.
5. Use a more lightweight filler for the final smoothing.
6. Epoxy prime the whole mess to see how things look.

Does this process make sense, or should I be using other products or a different order of steps?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Red69]

You can see some good photos of flair installation on this site and bad vette.
http://www.tropiczoneracing.com/Rebuild.htm

 

[patsnitrovette]

http://davesrollingthunder.com/rt/rolling thunder/rear flares/Rear Flares Install.htm

heres another good one too,im finishing up mine also.

 

[paintdaddy]

It all sounds good.As far as using vette panel adhesive,also check into duramix or 3M structural adhesive.Really good stuff but I think the Duramix requires a certain gun to apply.There are different types of each product,they also have a metal to metal adhesive that has been proven to be equal strength to a weld. :eek

 

[MerlinC4]

Figuring out which product to use when has been the most difficult part of the project, so I'm really looking for some first hand experiences. The Evercoat Vette panel adhesive that I have says that it's for "non-structural" panel bonding and filling. Well, what exactly is non-structural? Does that mean if the area starts to flex the glue will let go? And how can the stuff be strong enough to bond panels well, and also good as a top filler that will be easily sanded? Something just doesn't seem right here, hence my questions.

Here's what Evercoat says about it: "Polyester body filler primarily used as a filler on SMC and fiberglass panels. When used in conjunction with FIBER TECHTM or EVERGLASS®, provides optimal performance of the repair system, reducing cracking, repair mapping and bond line swelling. Can also be used as a light duty-bonding adhesive for non-structural repairs such as backing repair strips and old style fiberglass panels. This non-shrink polyester body filler helps prevent repair mapping on seam lines over fiberglass. Blue cream hardener included.

Is this the right stuff to bond the flares, or did the other flare people out there use something else?

Thanks for the informative webpages! The TropicZone page shows exactly what I need to do, but it doesn't list any of the products or procedures. The Rolling Thunder page shows everything, but they're a different kind of flare that used a bonding strip. I don't think I could do with what I've got. Mine are like the TropicZone flares in that they screw over the existing fender.

 

[paintdaddy]

If yours screw over the existing panel the vette panel bond would be fine.For extra insurance you could use one of the products I mentioned.As far as structural vs non structural,you are right.For instance I would definiteley use a structural adhesive if I were going to bond a new front clip on or replace a fender well.Email 69myway and see what he used.I looked at his car last spring and he did an excellent job on the flares,no cracks,shrinking or swelling.

 

[slyone1000]

I just used Resin to bond mine on, with a lot of Fiberglass Matting and Cloth, inside and out. I also put a lot of screws on the the panel to make shure is sets on the body curves just right. I used a couple of extra drops of hardner is the resin to make sure is dried well. But mine were the panels, and not just the lip flairs. It was the first time I had ever done any major fiberglass work, and mine turned out wonderfull. I followed DaveRollingThunder's photos. And took my time.

 

[MerlinC4]

I just used Resin to bond mine on, with a lot of Fiberglass Matting and Cloth, inside and out. I also put a lot of screws on the the panel to make shure is sets on the body curves just right. I used a couple of extra drops of hardner is the resin to make sure is dried well. But mine were the panels, and not just the lip flairs. It was the first time I had ever done any major fiberglass work, and mine turned out wonderfull. I followed DaveRollingThunder's photos. And took my time.

Great info, thanks! This brings up another good question: What's the difference between panel adhesive and regular resin? Is the resin stronger and harder to sand, making it bad as a filler?

 

[Gunther]

Hi

ECKLERS sells a good little book about fiberglass panel repalcement and repair.
It is also available from ZIP and other vendors.
They also mention what bonding adhesives to use for the different years as the manufacturing process changed somewhere in the beginning of the 70th.
I would not use filers to bond the panels. Some resins do shrink a lot, even after years. Jsut use what the specialists ( ECKLERS ) recommend and you will get a good product.
Cutting half your car apart to bond new panel flares in is a major project .

Get this book first, it's very cheap , but makes you much more confident.

Good luck. Gunther

 

[paintdaddy]

Resin should not be used as an adhesive,it might work but there are better choices out there.Resin is mainly used as a product to hold strands of fiberglass together,nothing more.

 

[MerlinC4]

Resin should not be used as an adhesive,it might work but there are better choices out there.Resin is mainly used as a product to hold strands of fiberglass together,nothing more.

Thanks paintdaddy, that clears things up a little for me.

It sounds like I should look for a can of 3M structural adhesive.

 

[MerlinC4]

Anybody know a 3M part number for the best flare adhesive? I'm been looking at the 3M site, but the only "panel adhesive" I can find says "non-structural" just the the Evercoat I have. I can't find anything called "structural".

Thanks!