Crack starting at top of front wheel opening?

[Paul B.]

Hi,

My car has a crack developing at the joint at the top center of the wheel opening on the passenger side. I can see that it has been repaired before, so I would guess that the right front corner of the body is not shimmed correctly? The driver's side shows no signs of any problems past or present.
I'm having some paint work done on it now, what is the best way for them to repair the crack? How do I adjust the body to prevent it reoccurring?

Thanks,
Paul

[Chuck R.]

Re: Crack starting at top of front wheel opening?

You might not require any adjustments to the body Paul, it might have just been a poor repair to begin with.

Chuck

[Chuck S.]

Re: Crack starting at top of front wheel opening?

I agree with you, Chuck...when a fiberglass repair is done properly, it's like the crack was never there and it's as strong as the panel was originally.

That doesn't meant that you might not need to make shim adjustments, but frankly, I doubt it...if it has the factory shims, what's changed? You probably don't know how the original crack happened, and you don't say what year. I'll bet it's a midyear; they're notoriously weak over the wheel well.

A proper fiberglass repair must be taper ground (36 grit) about 2" from the crack, and laminate 3-4 layers of polyester resin (assumes 70-71 or earlier) and fiberglass mat; first on one side (either inside or outside) and then the other. If you only do one side, then you're going to have halfast repair...and I expect that's what you have now.

[Mark S. Lovejoy]

Re: Crack starting at top of front wheel opening?

What year are we asking about?

[Paul B.]

Re: Crack starting at top of front wheel opening?

The car is a '62, and it had a full frame off resto several years back. The seam had previously been opened for a panel replacement, looks like it had cracked again afterwards and had been repaired. I'll check with my body guy to be sure he glasses his repair, and doesn't just bondo it. Anything else to consider?

Thanks,
Paul