Fiberglass-How Far Gone is too far gone?

[manx#3094]

I came across a buggy body I was thinking of picking up. I have not seen it yet, however, the owner is telling me that the body is kind of rough. The glass fibers are showing through in several areas.
I do not know anything about fiberglass repair. Can such a body be saved?
Thanks!

[Dale M.]

If bulk of body is good, you can grind down poor areas (where it is delaminating) to fresh surface material and then build up areas with new cloth/mat and resin.... Its not difficult, it is labor intensive and require a lot of sanding and shaping.... Fortunately almost all the tools you need are same as working with wood.... Unfortunately is very dirty process....

Many a body has been saved or modified with just knowledge of how to work with fiberglass materials... Its not difficult and anyone can master if...

Dale
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"Kellison Sand Piper Roadster" For Street & Show.
"Joe Pody Sandrover" Buggy with 2180 for Autocross (Sold)
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All suggestions and advice are purely my own opinion. You are free to ignore them if you wish ...

[Hank22]

Can you post some photos of the damage? I'm no expert, glass work is messy, stinky and sticky but is not terribly hard to do. pictures would help more talented people than me on this site give you some sound advice.

Good luck

[dlund]

I would just add that you should consider that you can get a new body for $1600ish. It sounds like a lot, but thats all new fiberglass and fresh gelcoat. You are facing lots of work and a not insignificant amount of money just in paint once you finish all the glass work. Unless is something special, like an original Manx, for me personally it's not really worth bringing a basket case body back to life. I'd much rather save $ doing mechanical and electrical stuff. Fiberglass and paint are nasty messy jobs.

Dave

[joescoolcustoms]

This body was worth saving.

This body will be saved too.

It just depends on how much work you are willing to do to it.
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Bad News Racing 2018 NORRA 1000 3rd in Class
Best Day Ever Racing 2022 NORRA 1000 2nd in Class and first All Female team to complete the race

Everyone is gifted. Some just do not open the package.

Looks like it was painted with a live chicken,polished with a brick and buffed with a pine cone

[Wolfgangdieter]

You almost need a MOPP suite - sanding fiberglass is a very itchy process. Use old long sleeves and throw away after each use. Definitely wear a dust mask. Think crushed glass mashed in your skin.
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CMC '57 Porsche Speedster Replica and Dolphin boat tailed full pan VW MOD-T Street Buggy