Mike,
Something to remember about fiberglass repairs on metal is that
they are different materials. They expand and contract at different rates as
the temp. rises and falls. Also, any part of the metal that is uncovered
(like the back side) will eventualy allow moisture to seep in and cause
delamination. After a while water will condense between the repair and the
metal and will cause rust and a larger chunk of car will fall out! Fiberglass
is easy to work with and sticks to anything for a while, but this type of
repair should not be used where there must be structural support(like holding
up a car battery or floor boards). Small patches on some areas will work for
a while. Any repair done like this should only be considered a temporary
patch. That is ok if your car is just intended to be a daily runner or will
be sold in a year or so, but if you are going to keep and restore then buy
the replacement box from VB or others and have it welded in. It might not be
as expensive as you think and the repair is 100 times better. If fiberglass
is used it must be COMPLETELY removed before any welding can be done as it is
very flamable. I used to fix this kind of thing all the time where people put
everything from chicken wire to metal strips and wood in the area to hold up
the wet glass. What a mess! They still had to have the right metal pieces put
in after the glass repair was removed. It can be more expensive in the long
run. Glass is great stuff if used correctly or your expectations are not too
high. Good luck with the project!
PLB3
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