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356 Replica body

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 8:56 am
by Mustang Sally
Hi Guys, I'm looking for some advice. The fibreglass body on my 356 replica has a few cracks in the gelcoate layer. Is there any way that this can be sealed or neatened up?

Re: 356 Replica body

Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 9:42 am
by JamesD
If you want to do it properly then you need to "V" notch every crack and then fill it up with Resin and glass. then filler and sanding and then spray.

http://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f101/fr ... ir-108332/

Here is a little bit of a guide...

Re: 356 Replica body

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:36 am
by flatfourfan
Yup...........v slot them. I did this with my speedster when I painted her and I found out now that we didn't get every one, so when I repaint her, I'll probably do it again. It's no huge deal.

Re: 356 Replica body

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:17 am
by Mustang Sally
Thanks guys, sounds like a nice project. Nice pics of the Lotus repair, thanks JamesD!

Re: 356 Replica body

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 8:50 am
by calooker
You will never get them done 100% the reason it happens is due to stress / weakness / flex, bottom line, it's to thin / week in the area. Been there, tried it and even added more fibre glass. The only answer woud have been to have thicker areas (more fibre glass) where these srtess points occur from the start, so patching solutions like mentioned is not the solution, it will crack again.

Re: 356 Replica body

Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 9:11 am
by flatfourfan
Rui is right........check as to why the cracks are developing, I found my body to actually be loose in certain spots and we made mounting points so that it could be secured down much better.

Car was done a little over 2 years ago and it's still fine.