Repairable?

[smash]

Yes, it's one of "those" MR things - don't wanna get into all that!

The kit's been on the car at least 7 years - it needs a full repaint - anyway where the wings bond to the top of roof there's cracks as per pictures. Nearside doesn't look like it was done particularly well anyway but realistically if these are repaired for painting rae they likely to go again after the first big bump?

Edited by smash on Tuesday 18th September 21:14

[Furyblade_Lee]

hav no idea what that car is, but was the crack due to the body twisting?? If it was then it might come back again unless you beef up the chassis, or do one hell of a repair and somehow put some bracing in. But from that localised picture and not knowing what the car is its hard to tell.

[smash]

It's an Mr2 Targa (full targa - no t-bar but doesn't affect torsional rigidty anyway) with the Extreme 355 kit

[Furyblade_Lee]

If you don't think it was due to an inherant weakness of the chassis twisting, it may be due to the kit being man enough for the little twisting all open top cars suffer. And if you just filler over whats already there, then yes I guess it will happen again. I'd strip it back and join it properly, using much more fibreglass than there previously. IF you are lucky, the main man John Dickens may appear here and tell you how to do it properly.

[smash]

Thanks for reply - it's the pulling apart and rebonding I was afraid of - that's gonna add to the repaint cost quite a bit.

[migwell2]

You say its a full Targa not T Bar anymore, have you had the 2 strength bars put in underneath as the T Bars been removed?

The repair would need cutting back and rebonding properly once the cause has been found to prevent it coming back.

[smash]

I don't own the car - no it hasn't had the cross bracing - was that Evans Motorsport that used to do that? Is there a kit available or is it a custom job?

Seems to be a contentious issue though - some people seem to have "got away with it" and there are hardtop kits that have shown similar cracking (I've been to see one).

So a) cross brace seems sensible and b) I need to get panels separated and rebonded. That sounds like money....

[mirach]

i would hazzard a guess that the panels were probably not bonded on correctly to start with. you could repair this without taking the panels off but it would require a fairly aggressive attack with a grinder and a bit of knowledge of grp to know when to stop.

[smash]

"fairly aggressive attack with grinder" - loving that description!

I have a painter I use who's very cost effective but not sure I would use for this type of repair work being it's more specialist grp.

Anyone hazard a guess at what repair and a complete blow over (same colour) would cost? (there is also repair to engine lid needed which has split on outer leading edge where outer skin and back are bonded together - common issue with Extremes apparently).

Edited by smash on Monday 3rd September 11:15

[batbuilder92]

A perfect candidate for a vinyl roof... I'll get my coat.

[smash]

Not the first to suggest it either!

Owner won't shift on price and neither will I so it's a stand down on this one. Much appreciated advice though should I look at any others - was drawn to this one as it has V6 conversion.