I've got a few small chips missing out of the roof panel on my 88. No cracks through the panels - mostly smaller than dime sized. From reading it appears that Evercoat 870, Vette glass repair/glue is a good filler to use. From experience, I like to buy a small fresh can of stuff and do the repair, and then not feel bad about it drying out later. Evercoat is not easily sourced locally, and is around $50/quart shipped.
Anybody have any experience on a Fiero roof with Bondo Glass? It seems like a similar product, short fiber filler, to the Evercoat. 3M says it works on SMC and Walmart has small cans for $11.
I've read some folks comments on just using plain old Bondo - but since it is a roof and will take the brunt of solar heating I'd like to make sure expansion rates of the SMC and the repairs are as similar as possible.
Don`t use regular Bondo. SMC has a release agent that requires that you use a product specifically made for it. I use Evercoat but you are right, it`s not cheap stuff. Then again, I would rather use a proven product than have it fail later or not apply as well.
For small, not too deep, damage I've just put some Evercoat panel adhesive (no glass) into the ding, let it go off then sanded it flat. Glass adds structural strength but for small damage you really don't need it.
------------------ Anything I might say is probably worth what you paid for it, so treat it accordingly!
Do NOT use "bondo glas"s ! Evercoat "spotting putty" with hardener will not dry out IF when you put the lid back on, "Store it" UPSIDE DOWN. I will stay like new for years !
Bondoglass is just Bondo brand name thats their knock off of Duraglass. For a long term repair, I use SMC specific filler. I havent had to buy any Bondoglass lately, or Duraglass because I use it for rust repairs. Last time I bought it was Autozone for like $15-20 @ quart. $50+ buys a gallon.
Its still that price according to their website.
If your going to pay $50 for a quart, let me know and Ill sell it to you for $10 off each by the truckload.
[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 12-29-2016).]
Alrighty - I just found Bondo Bumper repair kit - which is an epoxy based adhesive/filler. Comes in a nice small dual syringe at .3 oz. Locally available. I'm going to give this a try and see what happens.
My research showed Evercoat Vette adhesive and US Chemicals Pro-glass to be similar products, unfortunately neither are readily available, although the USC stuff seems to be a little less expensive at around $30/quart vs. $50 for the Evercoat.
Alrighty - I just found Bondo Bumper repair kit - which is an epoxy based adhesive/filler. Comes in a nice small dual syringe at .3 oz. Locally available. I'm going to give this a try and see what happens.
My research showed Evercoat Vette adhesive and US Chemicals Pro-glass to be similar products, unfortunately neither are readily available, although the USC stuff seems to be a little less expensive at around $30/quart vs. $50 for the Evercoat.
Wish they made a small kit of either.
Thanks for all the input!
Yeah... that's the wrong shtuff. You need a product made specifically for SMC. I use the Evercoat - it's expensive for a reason - it's the best. Grind the chips out with a 24 grit disc, fill with the Evercoat, sand smooth starting with 40 grit on a block & finish with 80 grit. Feather the paint around the repair with 180 on a DA. Prime & block like any other repair. HTH, ~ Paul aka "Tha Driver"
" My research showed Evercoat Vette adhesive and US Chemicals Pro-glass to be similar products, unfortunately neither are readily available, although the USC stuff seems to be a little less expensive at around $30/quart vs. $50 for the Evercoat."
I dont know where your getting your prices from. These prices below are for GALLONS, and quarts are a lot less. You can get any of these fillers, including SMC from Ecklers corvettes and CorvetteAmerica.com and shipped directly to you.
Alright - y'all convinced me to get a quart of the SMC specific stuff. I don't mind the prices or the ordering/delivery time - I've just thrown away too many mostly full cans of garage stock that's not usable for one reason or another. So I try to buy minimum quantities - I'd rather pay more /unit. My favorite is when a full can of aerosol stuff stops spraying
I'll try the suggestion above to store the can upside down. Sounds like a good idea - maybe the material drifts down and seals the lid effectively.
I did finally find one local body supply store that stocks Evercoat. Kind of surprising that nobody else stocked it given how many Corvette enthusiasts seem to be around here. It was $61/qt. Roger, your links for the gallons are great - typical case of the internet providing way too much for less money.
Being in the business for 50 years, I hate to see hobbyists and amatures getting ripped off on prices. The SMC filler is the best choice...the others you thought about are acceptable, but not the best or longest lasting. I agree too that manufacturers should make smaller portions like tubes or even pints of material available. Ive thrown out clear that went bad after only using half of it so I know where your coming from. As for paint itself, being a professional shop, I can order as little as 1/4 pint of a base color for a small repair. Its nice fixing like a scratch or door ding with using less than $20 of material. I can pass that on to customers.
[This message has been edited by rogergarrison (edited 01-05-2017).]
Keeping expensive products as a hobby user is frustrating. In the body shops I've managed we always had a refrigerator to keep two part paints that had been mixed and leftover from a job - just in case. I've continued that for years after retiring and have had good results. Never tried it for fillers but it might be worth a shot. I once had a pint of mixed paint that sat for a year in the fridge. I banged up a Jeep I'd rebuilt and for giggles used the year old mixed paint. Warmed it up, sprayed it and five years later you can't see the repair.
Keep chemicals cold and in constant conditions and they will survive for quite a while.
------------------ FWIW, YMMV, EIEIO '86 SE, '95 XJ6, '73 C104
