13 replies to this topic

[MiniAuto]

ive fitted some group 5's to the mini



question is whats the best way to blend them in. would p38 do it or would i be better laying fiberglass cloth over the area
for added strenth

[panelbeaterpeter]

Don't blend them, they ALWAYS crack. You can get a rubber sealing strip from minispares or similar.

[the.stroker]

agreed dont blend,my group 5's have the rubber sealing strip which looks good.

[MiniAuto]

would they still crack if i fiberglassed them to the body ?

[panelbeaterpeter]

Yes.

[morley]

Slight hi-jackage, but i have group 5s blended in on mine at the moment and yep they have started to crack so i was just wandering what would be the best way to remove them and have new ones fitted 'normally' if posssible
thanks

[panelbeaterpeter]

Remove any screws/rivets etc, you may have to hack away any filler to get to them. Then basically remove any filler from the area, til you have bare metal. Re-prime and paint.

[morley]

Remove any screws/rivets etc, you may have to hack away any filler to get to them. Then basically remove any filler from the area, til you have bare metal. Re-prime and paint.

[MiNi2iNFiNiTi]

I'd like to do this aswell. Is this or this what your describing?

Edited by MiNi2iNFiNiTi, 24 April 2008 - 08:59 PM.

[marvin151173]

I'd like to do this aswell. Is this or this what your describing?

the 2nd one, i have it on my group 2 wide arches, looks good, a nice tidy job.

Good luck

Marv

[jack_marshall]

I have those exact arches on mine.. well sort of.

Mine were some cheap copies from a show. They wernt symetrical, they were wobbly and the gel coat was naff. But it didnt matter to me cause I wanted to blend them in.

Mine have been on the car and in use for about 18 months now, and only 1 has cracked at the front where I bumped into a high kurb.

I used proper fibreglass matting and tetrosyl resin to fibreglass them on. I stripped the area to bare metal and ran a soft sanding disk on a grinder (P24) over the gel coat.

I then screwed the arches on using the holes already in them. This basically placed the arch where I wanted it and kept it in place while I glassed it on. Although I did leave the screws in, then just cut them off from the otherside when I was done.

For the actually fibreglassing, I cut strips of fibreglass matting and applied them over the join, brushing on plenty of resin and making sure there were no big air bubbles. It only takes about half an hour to go off, but best to leave it a day or 2 to go really hard before you start working on it.

I then shaped what I had a little better quickly with a DA sander and 80 grit disks. This was uber itchy. Gloves, mask and eyewear are a good idea.

Then I started about filling the arches to the shape I wanted.

Each arch took me about 8 hours (I wasnt very good back then) to fill alone. Probably closer to 10 hours per arch with the fibreglassing and attachment.

As said, its highly likely they could crack, just make sure you use proper matting and not just fibreglass filler which is made for filling holes and such.

Anyway, heres a picture of how mine look.

http://www.dannytipp...acks-mini-2.jpg

Hope that helps.

[Tomf]

Jack did you just use one layer of matting with resin or did you use a couple of layers to give more strength? What is the best way to go about it?

[jack_marshall]

I did 3 layers I think.

I cut the matting into strips about 6 inches long and must have been 3-4 inches wide. Give them a chance of bonding on well.

I let one layer partially 'tack off', not hard, but hard enough to add another layer without making a mess.

Be warned though, they took ages to get right. After I filled them into the shape I wanted I then polyestered them which is like a really thick filler primer. Stuff I used was made by Debeer but is discontinued now, but was by far the best stuff. It was like artex on the walls you have at home!

I polyestered the whole of my car cause I deseamed, de-bumpered, blended arches etc etc. I then blocked this out with 120 on a selection of blocks. This was to get the filled areas as near perfect and the flat areas as straight as possible.

I then primed and blocked out with 320.




Edit- Forgot to mention. To stop any water ingress I used plenty of seam sealer under the arch where it joined the body.

Use plenty to make sure no water can get in as this will ruin all the hard work. I then undersealed under the arches when I did the rest of the car.

Edited by jack_marshall, 24 April 2008 - 10:38 PM.

[MiniAuto]

well am not going to blend them in based on lack of skill lol
got the little black trim stuff and am just going to paint the arches