stress crack repair?

[rowingone]

Whats the proper way to repair stress cracks prior to a repaint?

 

[mike weyman]

i am no expert ,so if someone knows more, please fill in the blanks.
i did some research into this before i started mine.
where the crack is you would follow the crack sanding a valley along the crack line. about an inch wide, about halfway through the fiberglass ,tapering back to the flush surface. if you can do the back in this manner also, it would be better.
i used as a first layer, fiberglass resin with a layer or two of cloth(what you can fit below grade in the crack) the back side only matters to you, so you can load it if you sanded it well.block sand the first layer down to flush with 180 +or-,and apply fiberglass reinforced filler. most times you can sand this out properly with a good block, if not a topcoat of polyester filler will bring the low spots up flush.prime and paint as desired.i hpoe this will steer you in the right direction or my rebuild is frigged.lol.mike

 

[studiog]

Is a stress crack different than a spider crack?

Does a stress crack go all the way through? Is a spider crack only as deep as the paint? Can anyone clarify the teminology? Thanks.

 

[mike weyman]

unfortunately a stress crack does go right through, a spiderweb is just in the gelcoat and looks like a crack in a frozen pond .it has a starting point with several webs going outward from that point.
forgive my ignorance but i have no idea of what an early sixties vette is worth.after i got 16 thousand into my 75, i got a chance to buy a convertable with the 4 headlight configuration like yours.this car had fresh paint and a good top and was only $20,000 canadian,about 13,000 american.is this a good price??the car had a 427 i believe and ran and looked great except the guy painted it bright red instead of a blood red.the bright color took away from it.

 

[studiog]

unfortunately a stress crack does go right through, a spiderweb is just in the gelcoat and looks like a crack in a frozen pond .it has a starting point with several webs going outward from that point.
forgive my ignorance but i have no idea of what an early sixties vette is worth.after i got 16 thousand into my 75, i got a chance to buy a convertable with the 4 headlight configuration like yours.this car had fresh paint and a good top and was only $20,000 canadian,about 13,000 american.is this a good price??the car had a 427 i believe and ran and looked great except the guy painted it bright red instead of a blood red.the bright color took away from it.

From your description this sounds like a good price. Many project cars seem to go between the $13,000 to $15,ooo mark. But remember you may still have to put allot of cash into the car to get it the way you want it. Once you start taking a car apart it always seems to need more than you originally estimate.

 

[mike weyman]

i wish i had seen it before i got the 75.oh well, i guess someone else will get to paint it dark red lol.mike