How do you examine a fiberglass body?

[NewYorkGuy]

What do you look at & check in a fiberglass body? What do you avoid?

thks,

nyg

[strictlypersonl]

Shrinkage: Look for areas that are showing any fiberglass pattern beneath the paint. It will only get worse over time.

Stress Distortion: Areas of the outside surface that are distorted by a bonded inner panel or a bolted junction.

Heat Distortion: Wavy areas of the outside surface near heat sources. Even the sun can do this if the body is inadequately cured.

Stress cracks: Cracks on outside edges (and sometimes surfaces), typically unsupported. Usually from the body shaking.

Uneven panel thickness: This eventually will create one or more of the above maladies.

[DanEC]

If a magnet sticks to it anywhere you have a problem. You may think I'm only joking but, you would be surprised what has been used by Bubba to repair fiberglass breaks on old Corvettes - license plates, metal mesh, coffee can metal, screws, etc. I have a friend whose 67 Shelby Mustang is being restored and after painting the fiberglass hood just kept coming out bad. Finally the shop ground down into the surface of the hood and guess what - an old license plate used to repair a hole or crack.