Gents: Got a quick question. Background: I have a 1966 Corvette roadster. The Rally Red paint is beautiful and was done properly in 2011. I bought her a few weeks ago and researched the vehicle and the restorer carefully. I also was given a comprehensive restoration book with over 100 pictures. By all accounts (including a NY based NCRS Judge who was only able to look a photographs) she's a peach. My Question: After detailing her for 7 hours or so, under a harsh bright light I noticed 3-4 very light vertical ripples in the front quarter panel of the driver's side. They are very light and only slightly noticeable under the right light and angle. I went to the restoration book and could not detect any blemishes. Are these stress fractures or paint imperfections? Any guidance or advice would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: Odd Vertical Ripples, Driver's Side Front Quarter Panel
Possibly just ripples in the original fiberglass. If you ever have a chance to observe a Bowtie car, check out the "imperfections" in the fiberglass on one of those.Leif
'67 Coupe L79, M21, C60, N14, N40, J50, A31, U69, A01, QB1
Top Flight 2017 Lone Star Regional -
Re: Odd Vertical Ripples, Driver's Side Front Quarter Panel
Agree with Leif.
Wavy body panels are part of the charm these fiberglass cars have. When the panels were made, some areas had a higher or lower cloth/resin ratio. With that comes more or less shrinkage in some areas.
For some of us, it is a beautiful thing.
tcComment
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Re: Odd Vertical Ripples, Driver's Side Front Quarter Panel
Leif and Tracy: Thanks much. With all the talk about proper tire size (and corollary fiberglass damage in some instances when big tires were run), I was getting worried that perhaps someone had run some big honking Micky Thomson's on her in past. Appreciate the feedback. The NCRS Technical Forum is a great asset.Comment
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Re: Odd Vertical Ripples, Driver's Side Front Quarter Panel
I would be worried if it didn't have waves.Comment
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Re: Odd Vertical Ripples, Driver's Side Front Quarter Panel
The waves may be in the fiberglass or if the car was painted with laquer paint the laquer has a bit of plasticity to it and can change slightly with temp changes. my 59 had a small crinkled area on the fender when it got hot but when it cooled down the area smoothed right out. the small ripples in the paint may of shown up due to the intense lighting. did they smooth out when the areas cooled?Comment
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Re: Odd Vertical Ripples, Driver's Side Front Quarter Panel
Edmund,
If you are talking about the waves behind the front wheel, that usually happened because that's where they were attached to the body. If you look under the fender, it is not attached. It has a rubber seal. Had they attached that there would be a ripple there also. As mentioned earlier, the glass shrinks a bit.
I leveled those ripples from my 67 only to have them show up a few years later. I almost made the mistake years ago when installing the inner wheel well. I was going to glue it (attach) to the fender but saw the rubber stapled to the old one.
DomComment
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Re: Odd Vertical Ripples, Driver's Side Front Quarter Panel
live with it, honestly i do not think most of the responses you have are not on the right track. my 66 roadster has these (ripples) you
are dealing with.. its in the fiberglass, mine are showing up in an area on either side of the gas filler door, no panel behind outer skin.
my car is clearcoated,knocking them down seems to last only a few days, then their back...Comment
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