Morgan5763

Hi all, I’ve got a ‘59 J59S103744 that needs some fiberglass repair. I will include photos of the damage to the front end of the car. Would it be recommended to draft a new front end on the car or can the surviving fiberglass be repaired? Additionally the car is bare glass and has been for over 20 years, does the car need to be gel coated?
Thanks for any help and tips!
Dean Morgan

DUB

Just about every fiberglass panel that is damaged can be repaired....BUT...the time to repair that specific damage may actually take more time than removing it and installing a new panel(s) or a one piece front clip. So it depends on if a person is worried about keeping all factory panels or not for judging...OR if the panels are so badly fatigued by being outside and the sun getting to them they are weakened and 'soft'.

So it all depends on YOUR TIME and what you value it at....along with your ability to correctly repair and laminate any damaged areas....due to...laminating 'some' damaged areas of repair requires skill and making use the lamination is done correctly instead of just slapping on mat and resin and having the resin so thick it could cover a silver dollar.

I know if this car were in my shop.....I would get out the book and see how much new panels cost and then the time to remove and install them......then grind out the bad areas and see how bad it is and figure in the time to 'save' the body and repair these damaged areas and see what the owner wants to do.

I know I would gelcoat this car once I got all of the areas repaired. Some choose to use a polyester primer instead. Some choose to epoxy primer it and then apply a 2K primer.... But I prefer to use gelcoat.

DUB

csherman

I do alot of C1's
Based on two photos - I dont see what you have shown is that bad.
Based on the bottom photo it looks repairable
I see a hole in the upper fender above the wheel
I see damage in the bumper cover
Is this it?
First strip the car to bare glass
I take out all the old repairs front and back of the panel and then craft my repair plan
You can always section in pieces vs entire panel replacement - but again I only see a little of the car
Based on what I see here - I could repair it.

Leor29

hello csherman, I’m Leo. New to this forum and I have a 58 with front end damage. Would like to send you photos and ask for your opinion on fiberglass work. Want to keep all original fiberglass, but would like your opinion. How can I send you photographs?

leo

csherman

Shoot me an email
twobuckis@msn.com
I have two 59's we are currently working on