Printer Friendly Forum Posts - molding a body kit

i will be buying a body kit soon and wanted to know how many layers i should use to mold the kit to my car to get the seemless look. also would it be better to sand the polymer body panels (i own a saturn) and the body kit before i try bonding some chopped mat to it or would it be a waste of time bc it would stick to the car and bodykit already? the body kit is made out of 7 layers of fiberglass according to the manufacturer as opposed to urethane.

If you have never done this before I would suggest letting someone else do it. Unless you just really know what youre doing. But that just my opinion.

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Learning the trade one fiberglass creation at a time!

Also if you plan on actualy driving that car, molding the body kit is a really bad idea. I don't think it matters how well it is done, it most likly will break loose at some point. Never seen one that didn't. Theres a reason why the factory bumper is not molded (other than the need to remove it) and thats because the car flexs in those joints. Its just a little bit but after some time it makes alot of difference.

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Nik
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I wouldn't mold the kit to the car if I was you. Another reason why you shouldn't is because if you get into a crash of some sort, it will be even worse and make a mess of everything instead of the front bumper getting messed up, your whole body will look screwed. Just a thought.

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I actually thought about doing the same...... until now. thanks

Pop-rivet the panels to your body panels first. Then fiberglass the seams. And be liberal with the rivets.

The best and only way to mold body kits on to a car is by using KEVLAR REINFORCED REPAIR COMPOUND i gauarante youll never crack it and it will never break loose. However if you get into a crash the metal on the car will bend and break before the KEVLAR will. eg, i towed a honda civic 1 km by the rear spoiler that was molded with KEVLAR and never had a problem.

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SWWEEET AND LLOOWWW

hahaa, Must be some tough sh--.

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I've never used that stuff but I have heard of it and heard people say it will do things like that. How much does it run?

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Nik
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Where do you get something like that?

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Learning the trade one fiberglass creation at a time!

i had done the seemless fit on my car........NEVER AGAIN, at the end of the day even if you dont drive it you can get stress cracks, we had the paint showing problems..... the steel of the car vs the fiberglass shrinks at diffrent speeds with the temp, so unless you are in a climate controlled room all the time it will crack! the stress of that alone is much more then most people relize. Just to add to that no auto companies make fiberglass parts that are like that they all have seems! there is a reason! if they dont punch it out of steel, it will have a seem to allow the contraction of the parts or movement.

just my toughts.

I am working on a 99 Mitsubishi Eclipse that has HOK burgundy wine with red flake paint and and full blitz body kit (fiberglass). The body kit was molded onto the car and there are a ton of stress cracks, which I now have to fix. If you dont like the fact that it is not molded than use decals to cover up, but definitly stay away from molding the body kit to the car. In the end you will spend a lot more on fixing all the cracks and buying more paint then if you were to leave it unmolded. That's just my opinion.

You can get it at most auto parts supply stores, such as U.A.P. or NAPA auto parts. Or go to a body shop and ask them if they can order some through there supplier. Some shops may not even know that it exists, but once they see how well it works there amazed. It cost $100.oo canadian. That gets you a little less than half a gallon of product. But it goes a really really long way.

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SWWEEET AND LLOOWWW

As for strength it is unbelievably strong. we fixed a hydraulic lift tailgate on a cube van using only KEVLAR to reatach it to the cube van. The tailgate could still lift the 2000lb it was rated for. It is still being used to deliver frieght today and its been 5 years now.

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SWWEEET AND LLOOWWW

Granted, molding a boy kit to a car looks hot, but like everyone said here...if you drive it often, its bound to start cracking at the seems from driving. It can be a good idea for a car that is strictly show, not driven. posted_image

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Im a fiberglass whore!!

you guys all brought up good points and at first i was ticked about everyone posting the negative facts about molding the kit, but at the same time i realize thats what they are....FACTS. and facts do not lie. since the car is a daily driver and the car would look really good with the kit molded i dont want to keep spending money each and every year to fix stress fractures bc i screwed it up in molding it or sumpin stupid like bottoming out on a speed bump or inclined driveway. the paint alone to fix it would prolly cost like $500 or so to fix them all around the car since i dont know anyone in the jersey area who can paint a car well for less than $1800 for prep and paint

I think your making the right decision. It does look good but not if its falling apart.

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Nik
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Hello, I hope this helps. You can get Kevlar enhanced epoxy adhesive (sometimes known by trade names as Wet/Dry 700 or CoroFix 911 from a company known as Progressive Epoxy Polymers in pittsfield, NH. Their website is www.epoxypolymers.com. I also must stress that I have used the above products and they are as strong as claimed, therefore make ABSOLUTELY sure you know what you're doing as this stuff will NOT be easy to remove/repair. posted_image

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christopher