Fiberglass fabrication
 

Hello guys, I wondered if you could help me out. I want to make a custom facia plate for my 240. I want to eliminate the stock heater controlls/dome light so i can mount gauges in the plate. I also want to reshape it a tad to make it look a tad more factory.

Heres the plan, use polystyrene to trim and cut out the shapes i want to "add" to the stock heater panel. Smooth the heater panel and use an epoxy based resin to apply matting to the whole thing. I know the general principals of fiberglassing. Ive seen it done and my buddy knows how. Does it sound like im on the right track????

Thanks guys- Evan

Well while i have it apart i might as well........

Re: Fiberglass fabrication
 

Hi Evan-------I wish I could help you out a little on this subject, but unfortunately the only fiberglass stuff I do is repair work----which is a completely different demon than fiberglass Fab work------Give a shout out to BowTieZ-----If I remember correctly he has done a bunch of fiberglass fab work for his toy------Good luck-

Re: Fiberglass fabrication
 

Thanks for the tip scott, ill give him a try. I guess i could just try it too. I dont have much else to do LOL!

Evan

Well while i have it apart i might as well........

Re: Fiberglass fabrication
 

Even, go check on hybridz in the paint and body area I believe. Terry Oxandale put up a post there about how he made his custom body kit. Some good info there.

Also for anyone that hasn't seen Terry's car, its awesome! Check it out at hybridz.org under the featured rides section.

Re: Fiberglass fabrication
 

ok im a lil confused in 2 area's. first....you are gonna make the factory piece look a tad more factory????? second.... are you planning on making a dummy piece then pulling a mold --------->thus making a one piece lightweight replacement? the epoxy resin is kinda confusing me too..... epoxy resin is used in carbon fiber work......completly different from the polliester resin used in 'glass work. ok......im not sure what you are going for but heres how i would accomplish this task. fisrt, try to translate your idea into the 3-d finished product using plastic, cardboard, bodyfiller, whatever is handy and works.....this is the plug...only temp and gets tossed after your mold is made. make sure to finish this piece as best you cant....because your mold will reflect anything that is not up to par.......next......use a release agent, if you dont have any you can substitute "crisco" it should be okay for a small piece, lay in a "gell coat" let that tack up then start laminating.... till you have a semi rigid/heavy piece made....allow to cure fully, remove the plug, now is the time when a good release agent is important. air, flexing, and a lil playing with it....plug should "pop" right out of mold. recoat mold with release agent, cell coat laminate in about 2 layers......NO AIR VOIDS HERE.....then in a panel like that i would laminate in a piece of balsa core...adds thickness and rigidity not much wieght......fallow witha few layers of glass. let it cure......pop it out.....finish like anyother cell coated glass piece prep and paint, cut holes whatever...and remember ...making the mold is a pain....but you can always whip out another piece if you need to......so save the mold....just in case.....then you can always make a "wet" layup out of carbon fiber someday too.....look kewl....but not really strong......

later
chris