Home GRP Repair?

[Mark.]

Hope Mods don't mind the cross post with the South Coast forum.

Cerbera 1, Badger 0

I've never played with GRP before so was wondering if it's a possible home repair - failing that anyone know any trustworthy TVR repairers in the south?
Suppose it's a good excuse to get the fun wrap I was considering on the front end now.

[gruffalo]

have you thought of Plasticman on here?

[Mark.]

Haven't thought of anyone just yet but hoping for someone local-ish to South Coast.

[DarkMatter]

Mark. said:

.... I've never played with GRP before so was wondering if it's a possible home repair - failing that anyone know any trustworthy TVR repairers in the south?

I had a similar dilemma myself, in the end I decided to pay someone to do the job properly. I chose Classic Restore at Eastleigh near Southampton. They did an excellent repair and paint on my Griffith, and provided me with a photographic record of the work done.

I chose them because I'd seen the high quality work they did on a friend's TR8, I knew they had experience of working with fibreglass cars as they specialise in Renault Alpines, and they were cheaper than CS Coachworks.

[zed4]

Oh dear Mark!

Speak to Graham here: http://www.oceanyachtmouldings.com/Automotive-Moul...

He's the best around!

[Huntsman]

Pants.

Try this place over Cosham way

http://www.fibreglass-centre.co.uk/

[Mark.]

Thanks for all the links guys - will check each of them out - perhaps they can give a rough ball park figure with a few decent pictures to start with.

[ninetynine]

as the car looks still driveable i would use plasticman he will sort that in no time

[Mark.]

It is driveable yes, and of course I am well aware of the chaps skills, but isn't he midlands/north-ish? (remember I live a couple hundred feet from the Solent) so time/economically it doesn't make a lot of sense.

Though I do have one or two other little jobs in mind for him

[plasticman]

If you want to do it yourself and want some pointers you can call me on 07771 928302

[Mark.]

plasticman said:

If you want to do it yourself and want some pointers you can call me on 07771 928302

You are a Gentleman. I will certainly give you a shout when I do get out there.

[robsco]

Just sell me the car Mark and I'll sort it out.

[Jam Spavlin]

That looks worse than it is, some grinding/ sanding chop matt and resin bridger and filler/stopper and a little pain and thats as good as new!

I honestly don't know why people/body shops are scared of fibreglass repair its not rocket science. As plasticman has said drop me a message as fibreglass is my thing/business but I'm in deepest darkest Yorkshire

[Mark.]

robsco said:

Just sell me the car Mark and I'll sort it out.

[Mark.]

Jam Spavlin said:

That looks worse than it is, some grinding/ sanding chop matt and resin bridger and filler/stopper and a little pain and thats as good as new!

That's what I was hoping to hear

[Jam Spavlin]

Honesty once you get it cut back and sanded down it will look a lot less daunting.

[blitzracing]

If you do attempt it yourself, you have to grind all the damaged area out and the surrounding area making a valley, including any hairline cracks. You can then fill the damaged area with one of the resin / glass fibre mixed pastes like P40. If the parts are broken apart, you will need to use some glass fibre matt behind the damaged area as well to reinforce it. Once the P40 is hard, you grind it back below the level of the paint, and then use a thin skim of filler to make it smooth, followed by lots of smoothing work with wet and dry paper, then filler primer, more soothing, then base coat and laquer. Any trace of the orgional damage to the gell coat will re-appear if you dont cut it all out. It takes a long time to do a decent job, as everything has to be ultra smooth, and the curvature of any filler perfect along the origional shape. If you run your finder tips over the repaired area, and can feel ANY change in shape or texture, its not good enough. If the original paint is metalic it takes some some skill to bend it in when its resprayed, and if you need to wait until the weather conditions are right before you put the top coat on, (or have a heated garage)as it affects the drying time and finish it its too hot or cold. So its do-able at home- but it takes some time and skill to do it properly. At least with the damage being low at the front its not the most visable area.

Edited by blitzracing on Tuesday 25th March 12:44

Edited by blitzracing on Tuesday 25th March 12:58

[Jam Spavlin]

Honesty once you get it cut back and sanded down it will look a lot less daunting.

[Mark.]

I'm hoping to get some help with the glass work and happy to take the time to do it properly (got a summer car I can use). Obviously can't paint it properly, but the whole car needs a respray anyway, the paint (Rolex Blue) is pretty shagged to be honest. So really now seems a decent time to get going. I quite fancied a wrap on the front to cover the worst of the stone chips while I get a respray sorted - and probably a new interior too.
MOT due in April and Tax December, operation on shoulder in just over a week and working abroad most of May so half inclined to take it off the road, claim some tax back and do one or 2 other jobs too.

[rev-erend]

You could do it yourself but like many skills - it could end up looking like a dogs dinner (sorry no pun intended.. as its a Cerb).

Worth giving to the pro's .. plenty of choice and recommendations above.