Im looking at a few interesting mods that I think you guys will like but I would like to use PVC or ABS plastic to get the right curves and airflow, Can I use them in conjuntion with fibre glass? Are they paintable? Any help is appreciated,
Thanks Drew

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Drew

88 Coupe 2.5ltr 5spd, bought with 41,000 miles
Lowered 1", dual performance exhaust, K&N filter

Ive seen threads hee that side scoops were made using pvc as the base and i have also seen pillar gauges made using pvc as a base and then fiberglassed. My answer to this question is yes, Id sand it with some 50 grit sandpaper first so the resin has something to attach to. Post some pics when you get things rolling along. John

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Project88GT build up thread

It depends on the surface finish of the plastic. If the surface is nice and smooth, the resin won't bond very well (if at all). But if you rough it up really well, the resin should bond to it nicely.

[This message has been edited by Blacktree (edited 08-09-2005).]

Thanks for your input!
I figured that if it was roughed up enought its bound to stick, I was mainly concerned about distortion or possibly melting of the plastics from the resin. But I doubt there will be an issue.
Any input is appreciated, feel free to add experiences.

Fiberglass will bond to anything the resin won't melt. I have used it to fix gas tanks for years. You cn put it onto a tank while fuel is dribbling out. The gas doesn't effect it at all. Not really using glass thee though. I've always just used resin and gravel dust from the driveway.

Don't worry. None of the resins that I know of will dissolve PVC or ABS.

It will bond but it might not hold up over time, depending how you glass them in...theyre different materials and shrink/expand differently to temperature changes. I used ABS naca ducts on the decklid and smoothed them in lightly, over time small cracks appeared around the ABS piece outline and I ended up ripping them out, making a mold, making fiberglass pieces and bonded them in..those are holding up fine. I also use PVC tubing for my interior mockup pieces but the final pieces will be fiberglass only (to be sure)...It might work if you roughen the surface (like already mentioned) and glass over it real good (drill some holes in the abs/pvc where you glass over for even more 'grip') Try to glass over both sides of the plastic surface..A plain added abs/pvc piece mating a fiberglass piece will crack at the borders...is my experience. Use fiberglass mat and resin to bond it in, bondo or resin alone is not strong enough. Good luck!

If bonding to composite materials (plastics), use an epoxy resin (preferably 50-50 mix) and avoid the old standard poluester resins. The epoxy resins don't melt stuff like the polyester mixes do.