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Topic: Stress Cracks

in Forum: C3 Body

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Stress Cracks (1/4)
7/7/13 6:51pm

tb2k82ce

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Lemon Grove, CA - USA

Vette(s):
1982 C3 Collectors Edition 44000 miles, sat in the sun most of its life, My wife purchased it for me for Father's Day in 2007 from her girlfriend that had it for 19 years. It is on the road again. I'm retired but it is now my daily driver.

Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 2041

I was asked a question that I do not know the answer. That is not all that uncommon occurrence by the way.

Getting a C3 ready for painting. If you have stress cracks, what is the best way to repair them for painting? That is:

What is the minimum you should do if it is just a driver car?

What is the best way of repair to help ensure they do not come back?

Is there a compromise between the two? That is give you a good chance they will not come back for 5 or 10 years but not a permanent fix.

And maybe if this type of repair is better left to the professionals what should I expect them to do that I would have difficulty with?

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Re: Stress Cracks (2/4)
7/7/13 9:06pm

ebo

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Holland Patent, NY - USA

Vette(s):
#1 *1980 White, Red interior 14,000 mile #2 *1980 Red, Oyster interior 93,000 miles Resto project car, rebuilt to 383 stroker

Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 4421

Are you talking "cracks" or the seems starting to show?

If cracks are they in the paint that your seeing like check marks......I don't think you have cracks....I sure hope not....

ebo

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ebo

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Re: Stress Cracks (3/4)
7/7/13 10:26pm

Adams' Apple

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Duncanville, TX - USA

Vette(s):
#1-1974 L-48 4spd Cp Med Red Metallic/Black deluxe int w/AC/tilt/tele./p/w-p/b/ Am-Fm/map light National/Regional/Chapter NCRS "Top Flight" #2-1985 Bright Red/Carmine Cp.L-98/auto Member: NCRS, NCRS Texas, Corvette Legends of Texas

Joined: 11/8/2003
Posts: 20128

Depends on the location. "Star" cracks are damage from rocks/stones flying off of the tires from underneath the fenderwell. Mostly only occur on the tops of the fenders, but can also be seen on the sides. The best defense against that is a good undercoating....which is the main reason GM did it to begin with. To fix this, it needs to be sanded down to the glass, epoxied/resined, gelcoated, and painted.

Stress cracks in the 'glass are common. The only real "fix" is a sanding down to the bare glass, a gel coat, and paint.

Cracks in the paint can only be fixed by sanding the cracks out, and repainting.

Sometimes, a small paint crack can be lightly sanded, and buffed out, but it's NOT a "fix"...just a band-aid.

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Re: Stress Cracks (4/4)
7/8/13 2:01pm

tb2k82ce

Looking closer I thing they may be just paint crack except the bubble in the front but I know what that is and how to fix it. I will know more when I get that area sanded down.

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