Theoretical Fiberglass Work And Cost For A Friend?

[the1sen]

Hi,

I have this friend, see... He's a goofball, and not very bright, but he has a Lotus.

He was changing the oil in his Elise today and the Jack he was using got stuck in the seam of the concrete floor. This caused the jack to tip, and then my friend's Elise slipped off the Jack and the Jack cracked through the fiberglass near the side of the jacking point.

He realizes that he will have to get a Starshield replacement, but it was due for it anyway.

The crack is about 3" wide and is right under the driver's side door. Just how expensive IS fiberglass to repair, or conceal imperfections like this? Would my friend be looking at under $1000 for this type of work?

Thanks, and my friend appreciates your answers.

[GR82DRV]

Your friend sounds like a real idiot. It's a good thing he has a bright guy like you helping him.

OTOH, I've seen some non-structural fiberglass repairs on airplane fairings where holes are "stop-drilled" at the end of a crack with a very sharp bit. This should stop the crack from running. After it is drilled, you could try refilling the area with epoxy, sanding, and spot painting the damaged area. since it is low on the rocker panel of your "friend's" car, it might not show much anyway.

Good luck.

[GR82DRV]

If your friend is looking for a less expensive alternative to painting and Starshield repair, after stop-drilling and epoxy he might consider some custom-cut rock guard strips for the lower area of the car.

Sweet Daddy probably has the material needed, and if it was applied to both sides of the car it would just look like a practical and custom application on your friend's car. Fortunately, your friend's car appears to be graphite gray anyway, so there wouldn't be much contrast to distract the viewer's eye.

I applied rock guards from Blackwatch Racing on my BRP Elise just for protection, and they look very good. I didn't like the way they ran up so high along the wheel wells, so I trimmed them back, following the natural lines of the car, and it worked out well.

[ErictheBastard]

Your friend needs to sell his Lotus and buy something that suits his mentality, like maybe a Pontiac Aztec.

[Appleseed]

since this has just happened to someone else recently, it has scared me from ever attempting to jack up the car or have it lifted anywhere other than the dealership... Now I am going to be a big baby about it...

[the1sen]

Yeah, he's a real douche bag. I will definitely tell that a-hole to get himself an Aztek.

My friend has had bad luck with changing oil in his car. Last time he tried to change the oil, he tried backing onto the Rhino ramps... well, it didn't go so well. the driver's side ramp got sucked under the car and wound up denting the lower sheer panel and access panel. $250 later, my friend repaired it, but that was a damned expensive oil change.

This time, I'm sure it's going to be an expensive oil change again. Any idea of how inexpensive this process would possible be GR82DRV?

Next time, I am going to get him over to the Lotus dealer to get it done. What a jerk!

[avonnieda]

Hi, I can't help with your fiberglass question, but I can definitely vouch for Jim Clayton's Jack helper

FS: Rear jack helper

It makes jacking the rear simple, you can then just lower the car onto your ramps. It's worth the small investment.

Best of luck with your friends repair,

-Adam

[vao4v]

Originally Posted by avonnieda

Hi, I can't help with your fiberglass question, but I can definitely vouch for Jim Clayton's Jack helper.

+1++.....

[GR82DRV]

Originally Posted by the1sen

Any idea of how inexpensive this process would possible be GR82DRV?

Honestly, I think your friend could drill and epoxy for nearly free. If he went with some protective black covers on the lower edge of the car after that I'll bet he could be all done for less than $100.

Judging from other posts seen, I now think your friend's car is black, which is even better than gray. Well-cut and well-placed protective covers would look good and cover up any small dings that may appear now on his lower Starshield, possibly killing two birds with one stone. This way there is no painting involved, and I think that nobody would ever know the real reason for the "custom" lower guards.

There are various aviation articles on technique for fiberglass stop-drilling available. Or you might call a local general aviation aircraft mechanic for some friendly advice if your friend is uncertain on how to do this. The key is to drill slightly ahead of the direction(s) that the crack(s) are propagating with a very sharp bit, putting very little pressure on the fiberglass. You want to cut a small hole that stops the propagation. Then, you can fill in the hole with some epoxy (I'd start by using a small syringe). Use several applications of built-up epoxy until you have enough to fine sand for an even surface.

I'd like to see a dollar bill held next to the damaged area to judge just how large the crack(s) and scuffs are, but I'd still bet that this would work fine.

[the1sen]

I will get my friend to contact Mr. Clayton for this Jacking thing. My friend says "Thanks"

Hey GR82DRV.

Looked up Stop Drilling. My friend is hoping a local shop will be able to handle it along with some spot painting, since he fears demolishing his vehicle any further.

I stopped by my friends house to give him a hard time and make fun of him for being such a complete waste of space and a douche bag on top of that for messing up his Lotus and I shot this picture.

[...m...]

...you know, the entire conceit of this thread went right over my head until i got to the last post...

[GR82DRV]

the1sen,

Tell your friend good luck. Looks like there are two crack runs to stop-drill.

Also, if it is somehow possible to reach the back side of the damaged area a fiberglass patch could be epoxy-bonded there to further strengthen the area. This way could actually end up stronger than it was before the mishap.

Please have your friend post his success story.

[the1sen]

well, my newly winged, well written comrade, I will let my friend know that my thread for him had the great ...m... befuddled.

[mrcarcrazy]

Best of luck to you. uhh...er...hmm...your friend.

That really sucks, makes me consider Mr. Clayton's jacking device once more.

[Green Hornet]

Can't believe nobody has said this yet. Sooooooo

No Worries - It'll Buff Right Out!

Seriously - the Jack Helper is a great tool. I use it to jack up the rear of the car and then use the Rhino Ramps under the wheels when I change the oil.

Tell your "friend" good luck