Cody 82 ZXT Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I want to fill the gap between the headlight extension and the fender on my 82 ZX. It bolts to the fender in 3 places and I assume I should also use a bonding agent as well as the bolts so the gap will not change and crack the filler used to smooth the transition. I searched the forum and found about a page of info but, wasn't able to find a real answer. Seems like everyone had a different idea about the subject. I thought I would bring the subject back up to see if any of the more experienced guys could tell me (us) more info about bonding fiberglass to steel. Thanks Cody Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsk8ter Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 im going to do this to i just planned to glass mine on because i got fiberglass fenders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody 82 ZXT Posted March 19, 2007 Author Share Posted March 19, 2007 Any pics and information on the fenders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBK Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I bolted and tack welded mine then filled, tried with out the tacka nd kept cracking! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rdsk8ter Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 i got my fenders from show cars alot of people here have spoken very bad of show cars but if you are very specific and list every thing including a date you expect them then they will get you the parts by then or you can dispute the paypal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted March 19, 2007 Share Posted March 19, 2007 I bolted and tack welded mine then filled, tried with out the tacka nd kept cracking! Well I don't know about an S30 but and S130 has fiberglass buckets so you can't tack weld them. I would think a flexible seem sealer would be a good choice but I'm not a body guy. Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody 82 ZXT Posted March 19, 2007 Author Share Posted March 19, 2007 Guy, what are you going to do to yours? Anything? The most sensible answer is to leave it alone but, I've just always hated that seam on the front of the car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 The thought has crossed my mind to fill the seam but I've been so busy with the front end and spoiler that I completely forgot about it till you made this post. I think I'm going to just leave them as is and try to get this thing painted soon! It's killing me to have it off the road! Basically at some point you just have to say enough is enough with all these small body mods, the front end was enough for me! LOL Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TeamNissan Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 with glass to glass I would add bolts not use a bonding agent. A bonding agent thats flexable with still allow the bondo to crack and a stiff agent will prob crack itself and then the bondo. After adding bolts I would fill the gap with that bumper filler/ repair bondo (I dont mean the glass one I mean the poly one) then a papper thin layer of bondo then sealer, primer, paint etc... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blueovalz Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 I will add a dissenting opinion on glass-to-glass bonding. Many of my panels are multiple parts bonded together after they were individually formed. I roughed up the bonding surfaces (36-40 grit paper), and then sandwiched a layer of resin soaked mat (thick enough to ensure full contact) between these two surfaces. I've never had glass-to-glass parts crack or separate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TBK Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Sorry about that , Mine are metal buckets (S30) assumed yours were same! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedNeckZ Posted March 20, 2007 Share Posted March 20, 2007 Just did this to my Z. Have metal fenders and fiberglass buckets. We first used 80 grit sandpaper to remove the paint and took it down to bare metal on the fenders. Only the paint on the buckets were removed. We then filled in the connection area with short kitty hair. Used two layers on it. After sanding it down with 80 grit, we filled it in with bondo (1 layer). We then sanded it down starting with the 80 grit and finished with 180 grit. We then primered it and wet sanded with 240 grit. We are now working on the back wheel openings. HOPE, to be able to paint it in the next school period (Spring) . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cody 82 ZXT Posted March 21, 2007 Author Share Posted March 21, 2007 Just did this to my Z. Have metal fenders and fiberglass buckets. We first used 80 grit sandpaper to remove the paint and took it down to bare metal on the fenders. Only the paint on the buckets were removed. We then filled in the connection area with short kitty hair. Used two layers on it. After sanding it down with 80 grit, we filled it in with bondo (1 layer). We then sanded it down starting with the 80 grit and finished with 180 grit. We then primered it and wet sanded with 240 grit. We are now working on the back wheel openings. HOPE, to be able to paint it in the next school period (Spring) . Sounds like what I was thinking. I may play with it tommarow and just see how the connection comes out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
280zx_sliding Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 i have yet to do this but i know if u use the kitty hair it will hold really good. and should not break unless u get hit. and i think that would be the least of ur worries if u get hit... but ya what he listed sounds like a good idea. i do body work at my house when im not working at Chili's. lol but ya what he says should work pretty well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aziza z Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 my fender and bucket where metal so i welded it and grinded the acess away. here an in progress pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexideways Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ How do you remove the front end, is it hard not to crack anything? I realy love the looks of what you did... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aziza z Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Im not worries about anything cracking really. Theres welds under everything then fiberglass to the airdam. so its pretty sturdy. Put it this way. if i push on the air damn the fender thats closest goes out a little til i let stop putting pressure on the airdamn. so Im pretty sure (if i dont hit anything) it wont crack. i hope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VinhZXT Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Cody, On a ZX I suggest you not to mold the headlight bucket to the fender. It will crack eventually. This is because you can't put much fiberglass to hold the 2 together. If you do there will be a lump there. I had a lot of success molding fiberglass to metal in the pass (on my yellow Z) using the same method as BlueOval. But I used a few layers of thick and soaked fiberglass mat to hold the parts together. I wouldn't do it in this case though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Challenger Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Aziza what happens when you need to take a fender off? Is your air dam metal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aziza z Posted March 21, 2007 Share Posted March 21, 2007 Aziza what happens when you need to take a fender off? Is your air dam metal? the air dam is fiberglass. and im hoping i wont need to take the fender off. if i do ill probobly have to take everything off at once and the chances of it cracking then will be more likely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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