I posted this earlier and can not find it so this might be a repeat if so sorry.
I like the stock look of my 86 gt except the side molding going around the car. Has anyone figured out a way to attach the door and quarter skins without using the screws under the molding? I have seen the fiberglass smooth door skins and wonder how they attach and if you could do the same with the stock door and quarter skins. I am getting ready to paint my car in a few months and want to get the body the way I like it first.
If this is not possible does anyone make a molding that is flush with door/quarter not raised? Thanks for any ideas or help.
That molding sticks up a bit above the panels to keep them from getting dinged up by other car doors. If you want to remove them and fill in the groove, you just need to cut some plastic stock to fit into the groove and slightly lower than the panels. Bond or epoxy them into the groove and let it cure. Then use a plastic filler to fill the rest. Just be aware that it will contract and expand at different rates in the sun and heat and can crack back out or at least show a blend line in the light. Of course if you ever need to remove the panel, you will have to break it off. The only way around that would be to bond bolts on the inside of the panel that would attach it with nuts on the inside of the structure. While it would def look cleaner without the molding, you wont have any protection and you run the risks above. You just have to decide if its worth those risks.
I was just reading through his thread. The doors look nice but I don't think he is making smooth quarters/fender. So I would still have to figure out a way to make those work. If you finish your bumper wonder if you could make a smooth option without the molding. I really like the nose being shorter then stock and not so pointy. Do you have an estimated finish date? Or just work on it when time allows?
rogergarrison with the panels being plastic there is no way to fill them without having some imperfections? If so I will scrap the idea of using the original panels. I want my paint job to look good all around. Instead of filling the groove could you cut it out and weld in a small section from a donor door? would not be so much filler to flex with the temp changes.
I was just reading through his thread. The doors look nice but I don't think he is making smooth quarters/fender. So I would still have to figure out a way to make those work. If you finish your bumper wonder if you could make a smooth option without the molding. I really like the nose being shorter then stock and not so pointy. Do you have an estimated finish date? .
I'm glad you like the bumper. I appreciate the comments! Jason and I have both had some personal road blocks thrown in front of us lately. We are talking about the bumper again and I've asked him to join me in another business venture. The new business might be moved to the front burner til it takes off.
I was just reading through his thread. The doors look nice but I don't think he is making smooth quarters/fender. So I would still have to figure out a way to make those work. If you finish your bumper wonder if you could make a smooth option without the molding. I really like the nose being shorter then stock and not so pointy. Do you have an estimated finish date? Or just work on it when time allows?
rogergarrison with the panels being plastic there is no way to fill them without having some imperfections? If so I will scrap the idea of using the original panels. I want my paint job to look good all around. Instead of filling the groove could you cut it out and weld in a small section from a donor door? would not be so much filler to flex with the temp changes.
Of course they can be made absolutely perfect. On Corvette restorations, I had to make special efforts to make them look as wavy as the factory. It just may not have longevity. All forms of plastic bodies are wavy as crap from the factory, Fiero being no exception...the doors are as flat as the North Atlantic...and that changes everytime the sun hits it. As far as plastic welding patches in it...first it will have absolutely no strength, and you think filler will be wavy ? Plastic welding it would need to have a skim layer of filler on the entire door to look even half good. My shop was a Corvette specialty shop for 30 years, so Ive done more than my share of repairing and customizing plastic cars...and aircraft on the side. Ive worked with every kind of plastic from fiberglass to ABS, thermoplastic, urathane and SMC. Believe me, adding a filler strip of plastic in the groove and molding it in with filler will look far better and be stronger than piecing a door together. Ive seen people piece in quarter panels on metal cars, and they are always disasterous in the end.
I was just reading through his thread. The doors look nice but I don't think he is making smooth quarters/fender. So I would still have to figure out a way to make those work. If you finish your bumper wonder if you could make a smooth option without the molding. I really like the nose being shorter then stock and not so pointy. Do you have an estimated finish date? Or just work on it when time allows?
rogergarrison with the panels being plastic there is no way to fill them without having some imperfections? If so I will scrap the idea of using the original panels. I want my paint job to look good all around. Instead of filling the groove could you cut it out and weld in a small section from a donor door? would not be so much filler to flex with the temp changes.
I made the door skins for my car, but I had to make molds to do that so that's why I'm selling them. as far as I know (haven't finished my car yet), you only need to 'glass in the end plates/nuts to bolt them up (that's how I have them on my doors). As for fenders, I made a set to pull molds from but don't have the time to do so right now. On my car, I'm using fiberglass bumpers that eliminate the moldings, & plan to 'glass fiberglass 1/4s to the rear roof section, so that will smooth out the full side. Also will totally eliminate the plastic panels, so that other mods will be easier. I believe you could get away with filling the fender slots with a scrap piece of RRIM from another door or fender, as long as you use the right bonding/glue/filler for the RRIM & prep it properly. Info on that here: http://gafieroclub.org/bbs/index.php?topic=469.0 So it's a lot of work, but I think it's worth it. EDIT: And Boostdreamer, I LOVE your bumper. With any fiberglass bumper you can fill in the sides no problem. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"
...and there you go. Personally, Id just buy the door skins from Driver and you only have the fenders to mess with and theres no big flat area to worry about waves. There also more rigid so heat dont affect them hardly at all.
I made the door skins for my car, but I had to make molds to do that so that's why I'm selling them. as far as I know (haven't finished my car yet), you only need to 'glass in the end plates/nuts to bolt them up (that's how I have them on my doors). As for fenders, I made a set to pull molds from but don't have the time to do so right now. On my car, I'm using fiberglass bumpers that eliminate the moldings, & plan to 'glass fiberglass 1/4s to the rear roof section, so that will smooth out the full side. Also will totally eliminate the plastic panels, so that other mods will be easier. I believe you could get away with filling the fender slots with a scrap piece of RRIM from another door or fender, as long as you use the right bonding/glue/filler for the RRIM & prep it properly. Info on that here: http://gafieroclub.org/bbs/index.php?topic=469.0 So it's a lot of work, but I think it's worth it. EDIT: And Boostdreamer, I LOVE your bumper. With any fiberglass bumper you can fill in the sides no problem. ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"
So is there any chance you will be making the quarter panel mold any time in the near future? Seems like quit a few people would rather have fiberglass then plastic. Is making a mold expensive? I don't think I have the skill set for it. Maybe there would be enough interest for a group buy if you made them. On the door skins you sell will it come with instructions on how to install them? Thanks guys for replying.
So is there any chance you will be making the quarter panel mold any time in the near future? Seems like quit a few people would rather have fiberglass then plastic. Is making a mold expensive? I don't think I have the skill set for it. Maybe there would be enough interest for a group buy if you made them. On the door skins you sell will it come with instructions on how to install them? Thanks guys for replying.
Sorry, but I'm far too busy to make any progress on the prototype fiberglass parts right now. But there are several vendors that make nice 1/4 panels, & they can make them cheaper than I can. ;-) On the door skins, you just have to 'glass in the plate nuts from the original skins (that bolt them up on the ends). I don't have door frames free right now to mark them or I could do that before shipping... ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"
