Gelcoat over Seams

[c66vet]

I am using Eclkers gelcoat and want to cover the fender seams on the car. Can the gelcoat be sprayed over the seams or is there prep work required to the seams before coating with gelcoat. 2nd question - I have sanded a little too much on the firewall and have fiberglass fibers sticking out, especially around the rivets. Can I spray the gelcoat over the rivets or should all rivets be removed and then gelcoat the firewall. Some of the rivets appear to really stick out, someone suggested that I use bondo around the rivets to close the gap betwen the rivet and the firewall. Thanks C66VET

[zwede]

I'd recommend grinding the seams out and fiber glassing them before gelcoat. The factory seam filler is weak and after all these years tends to turn to dust. If you gelcoat over it, there's really nothing backing the gelcoat.

As for the rivets: If they are visible you should drill them out, gel coat and then put new rivets in. Gelcoating over the rivits will look "cheap".

Edit: You should wait with putting the new rivets in until after you have it in primer. Then shoot some primer on the rivet heads before putting them in. This will give you the best look.