58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

[Jason P.]

I am starting to work on a 58 Corvette that my father has had for a very long time. I have never worked with fiberglass before but I have been watching some videos on how to work with it. I have attached some photos of some of the problem areas that this car has and wanted to get feedback from yall regarding how difficult of a job this will be.

The passenger fender looks to have had a repair done to it that failed since it has come apart. I am not sure if they should have used a bonding strip behind it.

The rear of this 58 has obviously had some work done to it as it is completely smooth with no holes for the exhaust to go through or for the bumpers to attach. I have seen other pics of 58's where they have a lip that goes around the rear end for what I guess is used by the rear bumpers.

Also, what kind of fiberglass and resign do I need to purchase to do these repairs? Anything else I would need like a roller?

I am pretty mechanical but I haven't done glass work before (but willing to learn).

Really appreciate the advice on how to tackle this job

Thanks,
Jason

[Terry D.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

I would check with your local chapters to see who has knowledge of such repairs. You only want to do this once.

[Richard F.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

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[Richard F.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

More pics and more to come.

[Richard F.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

More pics, hope this helps.

[Jason P.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

Thanks for the pics and the info. I will see how to get a hold of my local chapter and see if anyone lives close to me.

Appreciate it.

[Jason P.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

Richard, I just joined the National Corvette Restorers Society and I am not sure how I go about finding any info on the local Houston chapter. Is there a website that lists out all the different local chapters with links to those chapters? I am trying to figure out how I can find someone who has worked on a 58 Vette in my area.

Thanks again for all of the pictures.

Jason

[Richard F.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

Hey Jason, if you go to the Home page and click on Join a drop down page will show local chapters, click on local chapters and the list is there.
Bob Demmel - Chairman
1720 Chardonnay
New Braunfels, TX78132
Phone: 214 693-3959
E-mail: bdemmel34@gmail.com
Web: https://www.ncrstexas.org

P.S. If you are not concerned about recreating the seams on the rear of the 58, then concentrate on the openings for the exhaust, bumper brackets and reflectors. you wont see the seams once the bumpers are installed etc. If you need measurements I can send them.

Richard, I just joined the National Corvette Restorers Society and I am not sure how I go about finding any info on the local Houston chapter. Is there a website that lists out all the different local chapters with links to those chapters? I am trying to figure out how I can find someone who has worked on a 58 Vette in my area.

Thanks again for all of the pictures.

Jason

[Jason P.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

Thanks Richard!

If you could send me the measurements that would be fantastic!

I was thinking that the seams were there to make the rear-end bumper area more rigid and strong.

Thanks,
Jason

[Mark E.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

Jason,

If you haven't worked fiberglass matting and resin before, find a scrap panel and practice your technique. Shops who do this work may give you one.

[Richard F.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

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[Richard F.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

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[John D.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

Tons of videos on youtbe too...

[Richard M.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

Anything is repairable on these cars with effort. Sometimes easier to replace panels, but very costly. If you have the time and willing to experiment, it can sometimes work.

But recreating the flanges at the rear will be the biggest challenge. Both the upper and lower sections have flanges and were bonded together and riveted.

I've repaired flanges, but never had to recreate them completely. The easiest way would be to acquire them from a donor rear end, but then they'd need to be attached. Epoxy may be best.

A way I would consider to recreate them from scratch would be to create a supporting fixture, taped up cardboard or plastic, for a small section at a time, starting at the lower edge of the profile. Grind a horizontal groove, maybe a 1/2", in the existing lines where they belong so there is a area to attach as flange and lay up mat/resin into this groove, turn 90* outward to the proper dimensional width, built up with several layers.

Once that lower flange section is cured, you'd then have to do the same process on the top side, again filling the groove, turn 90* outward to the edge of the first flange.

Here's a example of repairing some damaged flanges and bumper mount openings. It's a substantial amount of work.

This is what I started with...then it got worse as I explored and removed old bondo from a previous repair. Metal plates behind all of this.
PB040019.jpg PA140001.jpg PA140013.jpg PA150036.jpg

The more you dig the more you find.
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Using heavy tape for a supporting mold.
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This flange was missing some area at the rearward edge.
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I used Vette Panel Adhesive on these areas.
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Mat/resin for the mount opening and crack repair. Recreating these squared openings will also be a challenge.
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The fender took a bit of mat/resin too. After laying in from the backside and a cure period, puzzle pieces added outside in layers, lots of sanding, then VPA. VPA is ideal as a filler as it shrinks less and sands like fiberglass. But more work.
PA210009.jpg PA270002.jpg P2160210.jpg

Ready for Duratec primer, blocking, finish coat.
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[Richard F.]

Re: 58 Corvette Fiberglass Repair Questions

45F05AD7-837A-4B3A-9752-07064591C9F8.jpg37B252EE-3FB5-41F6-B00C-A092947F8B46.jpgCE736329-C725-491C-91BD-A48E3A20BE80.jpgC59C6C14-2DFB-4783-A5B0-21CADD3F2DF2.jpgHey Jason attached measurements, I would put a light behind the rear fiberglass you should be able to see where the original cut out were. The combination of the measurements, your bumper brackets location and holding bumpers in place should get all your alignments.