Asbestos in panel glue in 58???????

[Mark Malone]

OK Guys I know this sounds silly,

A neighbour of mine that I just helped sell their 58 is having respitory problems and has been reading somewhere that asbestos was used in the panel bonding of early Vettes.

Now I know that it was used in cement sheeting for building construction pre 60's but I can't imagine it in panel bonding but I promised that I would ask the question so can someone tell me for sure?

Thanks as usuall, Mark.




My Vette Page

[Nicholas L.]

Re: Asbestos in panel glue in 58???????

I don't know for sure about the panel bonding adhesive but it could be true. Many filling type compounds used asbestos and some still use asbestos. Some drywall joint compounds and auto brake linings containing asbestos are still sold in the U.S.
Contrary to popular belief very few asbestos containing products are banned in the U.S. Asbestos is a serious health risk when it becomes airborne. This would happen when doing a lot of sanding without wearing a respirator. It takes 15-30
years after exposure to asbestos before the health problems are discovered.

[Larry Allen]

Re: Asbestos in panel glue in 58???????

Mark,
Asbestos was used in several applications during those years, not only in autos but homes also. The ban on manufacting asbestos was about 1972 but the EPA ban on using it was as late as 1989 with complete phase out by 1996.

The only way to determine if asbestos is present is to have a sample tested. The cost is about $35 and only takes a couple minutes. I don't know for sure if GM used it in the cars, the exhaust donuts for sure, but it was used in several adhesives, for who knows what purpose. Back then it wasn't considered a threat and was really cheap. I would recommend wearing a mask anytime you sand paint (lots of lead prior to 1978), glue or anything that has dust. Of course I didn't wear one when I did my car but hindsight is really 20/20.

[Nicholas L.]

Re: Asbestos in panel glue in 58???????

Almost the entire 1989 EPA Ban and Phaseout Rule for asbestos was vacated in 1991 by the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Only things banned are corrugated paper, rollboard, commercial felt, specialty paper, flooring felt and new uses of asbestos. Things like disc brake pads, drum brake linings, friction materials, clutch facings and some other things are still allowed to be sold and used in U.S.

[Patrick H.]

Asbestos risk

Generally, the cancer causing threat of asbestos only comes with long-term prolonged exposure. Rare, occasional exposures are not going to be a significant threat.

Think of it like smoking: exposure on rare occasions won't be a significant problem (unless you're allergic). Same with asbestos. In many cases, we're causing many more problems by insisting on its removal from buildings (providing it is in good condition) than we are if we left it alone. Long-term asbestos exposure PLUS smoking is a definite high-risk. That's a proven fact.

Once again, you can thank the lawyers and TV news shows for scaring the public into thinking that getting within 10 feet of the stuff will give you cancer. Now if they would only do that with regard to smoking, my job would be a LOT easier.

Patrick

[Mark Malone]

Re: Asbestos in panel glue in 58???????

Thanks Guys,

I will pass on the info to my "worried" neighbour.

Thanks, Mark.

[Tom R.]

Re: Asbestos in panel glue in 58???????

Corvette used the asbestos based bonding agent until 1976 when they made the change to a non-asbestos based material. The new stuff shrank with age. It was reported that the depression of the seams resulted in 77 cars and was correted in 78. If it was corrected in 78...I hate to see what 77 seams looked like!

[John H.]

Re: Asbestos in panel glue in 58???????

Corvette panel adhesive was never "asbestos-based" - it was a polyester resin mixture (until the SMC panels came into use in the early 70's), and the resin suppliers used various inert fillers to give the resin "coloration" and "body"; don't remember offhand what the filler materials were, maybe someone else has that info.