Fibreglass repair of wheel arch mouldi ng

[MeathMan]

Hi, im looking for advice on how to repair this. I've gotten a fibreglass kit. Problem is, im not sure how best to form the shape. Also, should I apply fibreglass from the front or the back of the piece

 

[MeathMan]

Just to clarify, I've reattached the 2 screw mountings at the top with epoxy. It's the damage on the bottom right hand side im trying to rebuild with fibreglass

 

[ajlelectronics]

There are various ways of doing that.

My way would be (after grinding out the back to a dish profile and cleaning) to use cardboard covered in parcel tape, fixed across the face side of the damage. You then apply two good coats of gelcoat or layup resin to the tape and surrounding fibreglass areas. When cured, apply resin and fibreglass matting in different orientations and sizes, to build up the panel.
When cured, remove the tape covered card and there will be minimal making good to do on the face side.
Same technique to repair the fixing points.

 

[Islander71]

It looks symmetrical, in which case you could make a fibreglass mould (using release wax) from the other side for just beyond the damaged area, then attach that to the one to be repaired and fibreglass as per ajlelectronics.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

The above is good advice...but if you want to make it an interesting learning experience then I think "easy composites" do various epoxy kits...I think they do a mold kit if I recall correctly so you could make the whole part if you wanted.

Is the original fibreglass?

 

[MeathMan]

Thanks for the tips folks.
@Pigeon_Droppings2 its some kind of plastic

 

[MeathMan]

There are various ways of doing that.

My way would be (after grinding out the back to a dish profile and cleaning) to use cardboard covered in parcel tape, fixed across the face side of the damage. You then apply two good coats of gelcoat or layup resin to the tape and surrounding fibreglass areas. When cured, apply resin and fibreglass matting in different orientations and sizes, to build up the panel.
When cured, remove the tape covered card and there will be minimal making good to do on the face side.
Same technique to repair the fixing points.

Will gelcoat stick to the tape? Do I need a releasing agent?

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Thanks for the tips folks.
@Pigeon_Droppings2 its some kind of plastic

I'd stick with a plastic weld type repair personally...not sure fibreglass will stick well to plastic! Patch it from behind with plastic and then fill from the front with a flexible plastic filler maybe.

Or go all in and make a mold and a full piece in fibreglass. Spend a small fortune on resin infusion materials, vacuum pumps, vacuum gauges etc etc (mentioning no names!!)

 

[Melvyn Best]

Stick with Pigeon Droppings suggestions if it is plastic , If your not happy with the final job then someone like O’Leary’s motorhomes or Williams motorhome may be able to help with a new wheel arch?

 

[ajlelectronics]

Will gelcoat stick to the tape? Do I need a releasing agent?

No, packing tape will release by itself. You can use Cellophane or some 'Sellotape' type products for the same purpose. If you can avoid tape joins, the final surface will be better quality as the resin will pick up any imperfections.