You want to build a new fiero part. Lets say it's a door panel with an integrated scoop or a new F355 bumper or something...

How would YOU compare ABS to fiberglass or urethane? In other words, I believe the original material for a lot of the flexible parts is some form of urethane. Fiberglass is common on aftermarket parts, but it does not flex. I don't even know how well paint adheres to ABS, but they seem to use it for double stick tape ricer parts all the time

Would you rather have urethane aftermarket parts? ABS? Fiberglass? Do you even care?

Give me urethane anyday. But unfortunately it is only practical in high volumes.

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But what are the pros of urethane over abs? Besides being original equipment on the fiero?

Most short track oval car noses are made from ABS. Paint doesn't stick worth a damn. A lot of people don't even try to paint them for that reason.

That's what I thought the problem was... Are there any adhesion promoters for ABS? I've also heard that adhesion is poor with the "black" ABS, but not with the natural color ABS... any truth to this?

no thing sticks to ABS
the original windsurfers were ABS and cracked in high stress areas
everything was tryed to stop leaks
nothing worked

btw ABS needs expenceve tooling [molds and injection equipment]

kevlar and vinialester resin will allow a lot of flex
and while they cost more in materials the tooling is the same as regular fiberglass

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Question wonder and be wierd
are you kind?

Have to disagree. I have painted all kinds of parts for ages. Ive never had any problems painting ABS parts. If you wipe them off and just use a scotchbrite pad thats all the prep they need. No primer or anything other than just the paint is needed. Ive got ABS parts on my cars and there still perfect. Urathane parts are the ones I see with the most peeling problems. Lots of Corvette replacement/ custom parts come in choices of fiberglass, urathane and ABS and I ALWAYS order the ABS if possible. They dont sag like urathane after a few years and fit is better than with fiberglass. The only drawback Ive ever seen is being more rigid, they do tend to break on impact and usually not able to repair it. Not a problem though, cheap enough to just order a new replacement. When I worked on only custom vans for a manufacturer here for about 11 years, it got to be where we only installed and guaranteed ABS flares and didnt mess with urathane or fiberglass ones.

Thanks for your input, you told me exactly what I wanted to hear

That's interesting that they break , you'd think it would bend more...

Most manufacturers say that their ABS parts are unbreakable. In part thats true, they will bend and flex to some extent when there warm. It gets very brittle in cold weather. BMW and Jaguar for example, use ABS covers on their bumpers...not urathane like most US cars. I have seen a trend in the last year or two though for some cars made here to go to that. Pretty sure both front and rear covers on my Magnum are ABS.