Shaving side moldings-fiberglass?

[94BLITZCIVIC]

Ok, you know those really ugly stock black line moldings on the side of the EX's? What would be a good way to shave them off? I was thinking of maybe taking off the moldings and then filling them in with foam and then using fiberglass to smooth them out and make them flush with the rest of the car. Would this work out alright? I saw in some other posts of when so guys tried to shave door handles and when the fiberglass got hot you could see where the door handles used to be. Would this be a problem? Thanks for your help.

[Buzz1167]

I haven't heard of anyone using foam before. Typically if there is a large gap you weld in a strip of metal, but if you cant weld, then your just improvising (IMO). You definatly have to realise that the metal can expand and contract, and so can the foam (as it gets hot and cold); I wouldn't use dissimilar substances. The reason you stated of "being able to see the fiberglass" is what im talking about. Im sure there is some way you can do it, but welding it is the typical solution. Its not "normal welding" either, you have to spot weld it like 100 times so it doesn't warp really bad. You can either try it yourself, or you can take it to a shop. I don't know how much they'd charge you just for the welding.

HTH
Buzz1167
Jon N

[notenoughmoney]

I have a frined who did his and you could see the place where his molding were but then he redid them. He took them out did one layer of fiber I believe then bondo then another layer of glass.. this works but I am actuall;y not sure if he actually did the first layer with fiber... I think so but her first drilled a million little holes so that the glass had something to stick to.

[94BLITZCIVIC]

Originally Posted by notenoughmoney

I have a frined who did his and you could see the place where his molding were but then he redid them. He took them out did one layer of fiber I believe then bondo then another layer of glass.. this works but I am actuall;y not sure if he actually did the first layer with fiber... I think so but her first drilled a million little holes so that the glass had something to stick to.

Could I just bondo the whole thing?

[Buzz1167]

Whoa, Bondo is pretty strong, but if there is a big hole (which I think there is), it might not be strong enough to hold about 20lbs of itself to a 1/4in wide piece of metal. Usually it is applied in relatively thin coats (or medium coats and sanded alot) becuase it has to stick to the panels, and if its too heavy it will just fall off. (I think this was in a movie too). So since I don't know exactly how much bondo youll be needing (I dont have a new civic) theres no real way for me to say if its too much. I would only assume that you could guess youself, how much are you filling? I wouldn't ever use like 1/2" of it or something crazy like that (whitch I could guess it might be, and I haven't had a chunk fall off, so I guess I really don't know what the "max" is) If you don't think your reaching I guess you can always try it. Make sure that its nice and sanded down and clean first so it has something to stick to.
Also I have never used a big hunk of bondo by itself, so I don't know how it expands/doesnt expand if its applied like that.
of course this is all assuming that your trim is kind of like mine, I know that if I took mine off I'd have a pretty good sized crevice where it used to be.

HTH
Buzz1167
Jon N

[notenoughmoney]

If you want to bondo the whole thing and that is it which I would not suggest drill tons of little holes on the inner metal and when you do bondo it push the bondo partially through that might help it to hold itself.... just an idea.

[Maple50175]

wow i learned something new

[friedcircuit2.0]

actually whether or not you drill holes means nothing when talking about that much bondo. the only way to fill a gap like that is to weld. that much bondo will never hold and for the short while it is on there it will never cure and the moisture will wind up rusting out your door skin. plus even if you drilled a million lil holes the wight of body filler is so immense especially when it is on a vertical skin that it would never hold. take it from me, i am attending my final year at OSU Tech the best automotive collision repair school in the country and this scenario has been pounded into our heads all along.

[friedcircuit2.0]

also on bondo, the maximum thickness allowed in a respectable body shop is 1/8" to 1/4" at the most. my friend has a 91 civic and he tried to shave his without welding, now he wishes he had just painted over them instead of trying to fill the gap without welding.

[ZeroG]

actually I have a 92 honda civic hatchback and I filled my side moldings in with bondo and it looks bueatiful.

[ZeroG]

but.... you got to do it right Im not sure how the guy with the 91 civic did his....

[kittles3069]

Know I wouldn't suggest this but I have a 98 civic and i used just Bondo... it was like 1/2" but it went on in like 20 coats, thin layer by thin layer. It lasted unpainted for over a year without chipping, cracking or falling out, and i just got my car painted a month ago and it looks perfect. I would still recommend welding a metal plate and then going over it.


You can see old and new pics here My Car on Car Domain or Integration Racing Photo Album

[kittles3069]

Now I wouldn't suggest this but I have a 98 civic and i used just Bondo... it was like 1/2" but it went on in like 20 coats, thin layer by thin layer. It lasted unpainted for over a year without chipping, cracking or falling out, and i just got my car painted a month ago and it looks perfect. I would still recommend welding a metal plate and then going over it.


You can see old and new pics here My Car on Car Domain or Integration Racing Photo Album