Plastic-like material for gap filling?
jps - 6/6/18 at 10:55 AM
I have some gaps between my GRP bodywork and my chassis rails that I want to fill. Unfortunately these gaps are between the top of the chassis rails
either side of the cockpit - and the top return on the GRP side panels. I.e. the bit you push down on with your hands to lift yourself out of the
car!!
My plan is to make some very snug fit wedges to go into the space between the rail and the GRP - which I will then bond in with plenty of sikaflex -
which will fill any small voids that I can't get snug with the wedges. Any suggestions on the material to use?
My current plan is to fashion the wedge from some plastic facia board - i.e.
this stuff
You can see the beginings of the gap in the left hand side of the pic below, it is about 10mm by the wheelarch end of the side panel
Description
[Edited on 6/6/18 by jps]
nick205 - 6/6/18 at 01:40 PM
UPVC windows and doors are often fitted with plastic packing wedges, available in a variety of colours and thicknesses. That might help you fill any
voids between the GRP and the chassis rails. When I fitted my GRP panels I rivetted the top return lips of the GRP to the top of the chassis rails
(through some alloy edge trim) to hold things in place. You're correct that that edge bears driver and passenger weght as you enter and exit the
car.
photo here to show (although you can't actuallysee the rivets).
[Edited on 6/6/18 by nick205]
SJ - 6/6/18 at 02:27 PM
How big are the gaps? Can't you just some some suitable sealant or mastic?
jps - 6/6/18 at 02:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SJ
How big are the gaps? Can't you just some some suitable sealant or mastic?
It's a wedge shape, at the point where the dashboard sits it's flush, by the time you get to the back, by the wheel arch, it's at least
10mm. And I'm not confident a sealant in such a big gap will go hard enough to allow me to push down on the panel to get out of the car. Hence I
want to fill the majority of the gap with something solid and just use Sika to secure it/fill the final tiny voids.
Bluemoon - 6/6/18 at 03:51 PM
Could you rock the panel so the dash to wheel arches are flush only the bonnet area would need spacers? Might simplify the job?
Or cut the GRP and re-join along the fold line (can be done but not so easy).
cliftyhanger - 6/6/18 at 04:59 PM
I was going to suggest packers,but then thought about car body filler. That should be adequate and easy to use.
steve m - 6/6/18 at 06:18 PM
I used black windscreen mastic to fill the voids, and never had an issue yet,
steve
bi22le - 6/6/18 at 10:35 PM
quote:
Originally posted by cliftyhanger
I was going to suggest packers,but then thought about car body filler. That should be adequate and easy to use.
Too brittle surely?
Angel Acevedo - 6/6/18 at 11:05 PM
PU adhesive will be stiff enough..
just see how hard the stuff goes off on the tube.
It will be easy enough to apply too, but I donīt think you can get the panel off on one piece should you need to do so.
PAULD - 7/6/18 at 01:23 PM
3 m's seam sealer, and put a fillet around anywhere that water could get between chassis and body panels while you are at it.
