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cressidakiller · 08-18-2008, 04:45 PM

Hello, has anyone ever fixed cracked plastic body panels? I have a black 87 crx si w/ cracked fenders and nose panel/front mask (piece between headlights). I was thinking of soldering or putting putty/fiberglass filler on back of panels.
I saw this link on plastic welding
Automotive Plastics: CRX Fenders and Header Panel, plastic fenders, nylon 66
And I thought I read somewhere about someone using Tiger Hair fiberglass filler on the back of a panel to hold it together.
I've barely used a welder or solder unit.
I bought some good fenders but was still hoping to salvage the others.
I'm having trouble locating a nose panel under $130.
Thanks

4U2H8ME · 08-21-2008, 01:10 PM

I'd put 2 or 3 layers of fiber glass on the back, and fill in the front with a small amount of bondo on front then sand and primer

phyregod · 08-21-2008, 07:19 PM

Save yourself the headache, and spend the cash. Its well worth it in the end.

cressidakiller · 08-21-2008, 10:11 PM

thx guys. i think i'll buy a $10 solder kit and play around w/ it using my shredded old fender as scrap. i am doubtful about welding plastic. but the bondo/fiberglass thing might work on small cracks. i'll keep it updated. i prob will buy nose panel but first i'll experiment.

TurboMirage · 08-22-2008, 01:14 AM

buy a c/f hood. it will negate the header panel.

awptickes · 08-22-2008, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TurboMirage

buy a c/f hood. it will negate the header panel.

You can even buy a jacked up CF hood, and just sand and paint it to match the car, then you don't have the weight, but you don't look like a ricer either.

INJEN78 · 08-22-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by awptickes

You can even buy a jacked up CF hood, and just sand and paint it to match the car, then you don't have the weight, but you don't look like a ricer either.

carbon fiber hoods look rice unpainted?!?!?!
i think hoods,trunklids and roof caps shouldnt be painted,only the fenders should

cressidakiller · 08-22-2008, 12:36 PM

a hood that negates the header panel would be good, but i'd prob take the cheaper header panel over that. i just got the car and have been spending a bit fixing it up. yeah injen the top of a car being black like jdm s13 fastbacks are a cool look. even a black 'stripper' roof is cool. i gotta admit the ricers do love carbon fiber, even if the legit people do too. god knows the crx could use a little weight off the front.

TurboMirage · 08-22-2008, 12:42 PM

yeah if you run the c/f hood and header panel you loose a hole 5 whopping pounds.

nootrac22 · 08-22-2008, 02:35 PM

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TurboMirageCoupe · 08-22-2008, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4U2H8ME

I'd put 2 or 3 layers of fiber glass on the back, and fill in the front with a small amount of bondo on front then sand and primer

Id suggest this as well...sounds like a winner!

caboose · 08-22-2008, 06:48 PM

I dont know how well fiberglass will stick, especially if it's a polypropylene.

I've had really good luck fixing plastic like this.

1. Get the back of the part really clean and nice in rough with some course sand paper, then clean it again with some wax and grease remover.
2. Take a thin piece of sheet metal that covers the crack, and extends quite a ways beyond it.
3. Drill a bunch of small holes into the sheet metal.
4. Mix up some good long set two part epoxy (not the quick set stuff or the putty)
5. Apply the epoxy all over the area the the piece of metal will sit. Make sure to apply enough that it contact the entire piece of sheet metal. When you press it down hopefully some epoxy comes through the holes.
6. Apply more epoxy over the entire top surface of the metal, making sure that you get it through all of the holes.
7. Let the epoxy sit for at least a day... probably 2 or 3 would be best.

The key is getting a good rough surface so that the epoxy has a physical lock with the plastic, and then making sure that the eposy is coming up through all of the holes, because that will physically lock it to the metal.

Now you can flip it over and fill the cracked area on the other side, prime and paint.

cressidakiller · 08-22-2008, 07:07 PM

dang, 5 lbs, i'm so used to hoods being like 50 lbs, so cf being a 25 lb loss. wow, a plastic welder, who knew it existed. i'll have to put your plastic experience to good use. thx again guys. i'm not sure on the plastic type, my 97 gst had polyurethane bumpers and rear quarters i think, but i never worked on that plastic. by the way some people say it helps stop or slow the crack to drill a small hole at the far end of the crack (direction it is going).

08-18-2008, 04:45 PM	#1
cressidakiller Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DC Age: 28 Posts: 255 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 87 crx si Rep Power: 8	how to fix cracked plastic body panels Hello, has anyone ever fixed cracked plastic body panels? I have a black 87 crx si w/ cracked fenders and nose panel/front mask (piece between headlights). I was thinking of soldering or putting putty/fiberglass filler on back of panels. I saw this link on plastic welding Automotive Plastics: CRX Fenders and Header Panel, plastic fenders, nylon 66 And I thought I read somewhere about someone using Tiger Hair fiberglass filler on the back of a panel to hold it together. I've barely used a welder or solder unit. I bought some good fenders but was still hoping to salvage the others. I'm having trouble locating a nose panel under $130. Thanks

08-22-2008, 01:14 AM	#5
TurboMirage Running on two cylinders Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southbridge, MA Age: 25 Posts: 16,218 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer RPW E5 Coupe Rep Power: 220	buy a c/f hood. it will negate the header panel. __________________ Home of the RPW built 2000 Lancer CC Coupe. See what is done to the Little EVO5

08-22-2008, 12:42 PM	#9
TurboMirage Running on two cylinders Join Date: May 2003 Location: Southbridge, MA Age: 25 Posts: 16,218 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 2000 Mitsubishi Lancer RPW E5 Coupe Rep Power: 220	yeah if you run the c/f hood and header panel you loose a hole 5 whopping pounds. __________________ Home of the RPW built 2000 Lancer CC Coupe. See what is done to the Little EVO5

08-22-2008, 06:48 PM	#12
caboose I still know everything Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Hamilton, MI Age: 20 Posts: 311 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 89 CRX HF, 96 Accord EX, 88 Dodge Daytona Shelbyz T-tops Rep Power: 13	I dont know how well fiberglass will stick, especially if it's a polypropylene. I've had really good luck fixing plastic like this. 1. Get the back of the part really clean and nice in rough with some course sand paper, then clean it again with some wax and grease remover. 2. Take a thin piece of sheet metal that covers the crack, and extends quite a ways beyond it. 3. Drill a bunch of small holes into the sheet metal. 4. Mix up some good long set two part epoxy (not the quick set stuff or the putty) 5. Apply the epoxy all over the area the the piece of metal will sit. Make sure to apply enough that it contact the entire piece of sheet metal. When you press it down hopefully some epoxy comes through the holes. 6. Apply more epoxy over the entire top surface of the metal, making sure that you get it through all of the holes. 7. Let the epoxy sit for at least a day... probably 2 or 3 would be best. The key is getting a good rough surface so that the epoxy has a physical lock with the plastic, and then making sure that the eposy is coming up through all of the holes, because that will physically lock it to the metal. Now you can flip it over and fill the cracked area on the other side, prime and paint. __________________ Formerly the.original.kermit Back from the dead... twice I NEED PARTS!!! http://hondaswap.com/parts-sale-trade-wanted/wtb-1989-crx-parts-161172/#post1079066 Check out my progress... http://hondaswap.com/auto-multi-media/my-1989-crx-project-144941/

08-22-2008, 07:07 PM	#13
cressidakiller Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DC Age: 28 Posts: 255 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 87 crx si Rep Power: 8	dang, 5 lbs, i'm so used to hoods being like 50 lbs, so cf being a 25 lb loss. wow, a plastic welder, who knew it existed. i'll have to put your plastic experience to good use. thx again guys. i'm not sure on the plastic type, my 97 gst had polyurethane bumpers and rear quarters i think, but i never worked on that plastic. by the way some people say it helps stop or slow the crack to drill a small hole at the far end of the crack (direction it is going). Last edited by cressidakiller; 08-28-2008 at 12:02 PM. Reason: new info


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08-21-2008, 01:10 PM	#2
4U2H8ME Beer its whats for dinner Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: BRONX, NY Posts: 98 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 91 Accord LX coupe, Jdm H22a with LSD trans. Rep Power: 4	I'd put 2 or 3 layers of fiber glass on the back, and fill in the front with a small amount of bondo on front then sand and primer

08-21-2008, 10:11 PM	#4
cressidakiller Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DC Age: 28 Posts: 255 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 87 crx si Rep Power: 8	thx guys. i think i'll buy a $10 solder kit and play around w/ it using my shredded old fender as scrap. i am doubtful about welding plastic. but the bondo/fiberglass thing might work on small cracks. i'll keep it updated. i prob will buy nose panel but first i'll experiment.

08-22-2008, 12:36 PM	#8
cressidakiller Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: DC Age: 28 Posts: 255 iTrader: 0 / 0% Ride: 87 crx si Rep Power: 8	a hood that negates the header panel would be good, but i'd prob take the cheaper header panel over that. i just got the car and have been spending a bit fixing it up. yeah injen the top of a car being black like jdm s13 fastbacks are a cool look. even a black 'stripper' roof is cool. i gotta admit the ricers do love carbon fiber, even if the legit people do too. god knows the crx could use a little weight off the front.

08-22-2008, 02:35 PM	#10
nootrac22 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: PA pocono mts Age: 32 Posts: 3,121 iTrader: 1 / 100% Ride: daily driver working on 92 prelude 4ws Blog Entries: 1 Rep Power: 109	Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

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how to fix cracked plastic body panels