'72: Need a Little Guidance on Fiberglass Repair

[Patricia Brown]

My '72's driver's side cargo tub bottom is ripped out. I would like to splice in a good bottom, but I'm uncertain how to go about making a strong repair. I assume first thing would be to cut off all the jagged, ripped portion until what's remaining is good, strong 'glass, then trim the new bucket bottom to match the shape of wha's remaining of the existing one.

Then, should I use mat and resin to build a 3-layer-thick narrow strip, and while still wet stick it to the inside seam of the repair? Then do I just grind a V in the outside and fill in with mat and resin?

I'm new to this but would like to make a really strong, lasting repair, and preferrably one that looks as good as possible, even on the inside.

Thank you for any help!!
Patricia

[Brandon Metzger]

Re: '72: Need a Little Guidance on Fiberglass Repa

Patricia,
No suggestions on the repair, however, have you checked ebay. I often see these tubs on ebay at a fairly good price. I believe almost all if not all C3 tubs are the same except for the mounting hardware. Look under "corvette spare tire" and a number of them should pop up. Read the discriptions and make sure you are getting what you want. Some of these things come on in surprisingly good shape.

Regards,
Brandon

[mike cobine]

Re: '72: Need a Little Guidance on Fiberglass Repa

I went out to try to see my storage compartment on the '68 as I believe they are very similar, but where it is parked, I had a problem getting a good look.

I believe there is a taper to the bin so that the opening at top is larger than the bottom. Unfortunately, the right side and the side in the center are not smooth, but may be smooth down near the bottom.

What I would do is cut the existing bin as low as possible and still get a smooth, straight cut while keeping it as long (deep) as possible.

Then I would cut the donor as near the top as possible so that it is also long (deep) as possible. Then I would slide it over the existing like a crown on a tooth. That might be hard with the body on the frame, so you might have to work around on it and trim as needed. But if you can get a lot of overlap of the donor and the existing, you will be much stronger.

Do all this trial fitting without resin. It may take several attempts. (The dentist who did my crown 6 years ago took a dozen attempts easily and still managed to get it to absess. And he was a pro?) When you are happy with the fit, then you can fiberglass it on permanently.

It may hang a bit lower this way, but probably not so much as to be a problem. It will be noticable to anyone looking, but with a few miles on the car, especially a dusty gravel road or two and some rainy highways, and odds are no one will notice. Of course, how often do you have people crawling under your car? :-)

The area is hard to get into, both under and inside, to make a smooth fiberglass repair, so I think I'd fiberglass only between the overlapping sections and not try to smooth the seam and make it look one-piece. If it were off the frame and you had lots of fiberglass and bodywork experience, yes, but on the car and not much experience, no.

[Patricia Brown]

Re: '72: Need a Little Guidance on Fiberglass Repa

Mike
Thank you for the suggestion. I had not noticed the tub was tapered, but it sure makes sense to slip the new one over the old. I talked to someone else about it today who advised the same appoach, only he mentioned just using adhesive where the two overlap and not mess with mat and resin. I'm thinking I will glue them at the over lap, but then perhaps try to smooth the ouside a bit by grinding a taper and seeing what I can do with some mat and resin. This work is all on a gutted cowl-back body without a frame in the way, which helps.

Thank you for the help,
Patricia