Just found a grill and valance insert for my `72 but the grill needs work, broken in the middle, what`s the best repair method as I`ve seen a few different ways - super glue, fiberglass, plastic welding etc. ? I did the one on the car by making a paste with plastic from a parts grill and acetone and fiberglassed the back side for strength which held up well but maybe try something different on this one, also need to strasighten the valance insert as it is bowed in a couple areas - heat and weight or any other ideas?
I ordered and am going to try PlastiFix. Should be here in a day or so.
https://www.polyvance.com/PlastiFix-Kits-1/
Others on the forum had recommended it.
Photos are of the types of cracks and breaks will try to fix ,then paint argent.
I had seen about doing the acetone and donor plastic method which seems to be as natural a repair .
I'm following along as I will need to do this one day on a 72 Cuda grille. Mine is broken in the middle as well.
How does one ensure that the angle between the halves is correct? Bolt it to a header panel while repairing?
Not sure if your 72 grille is the same angle as my 73 grille , as mine is out I could trace an outline and get an angle dimension .
I might bolt mine in the carto do the initial repair as mine is broken in half, once that sets I`ll take it off to finish. I may get that Plastifix kit and try it out.
If it's bolted in place you know it fit's and won't twist a little while curing. :alan2cents:
Quote from: 73440 on October 13, 2018, 02:38:30 PM
I ordered and am going to try PlastiFix. Should be here in a day or so.
https://www.polyvance.com/PlastiFix-Kits-1/
Others on the forum had recommended it.
Photos are of the types of cracks and breaks will try to fix ,then paint argent.
I had seen about doing the acetone and donor plastic method which seems to be as natural a repair .
Let us know how the Plastifx works for you.
Received the PlastiFix today .
Found best pricing on eBay , $35.93 with free shipping.
Seller was " straight_asanarrow "
I was a little concerned that it would not be made by Polyvance now called urethane supply company, due to the photo in ad not showing the plastic shipping container , but all good as photo shows as product received.
Scuffed the grill paint and started v notching the cracks for the PlastiFix repair.
Need to get some denatured alcohol tommorow per instructions.
Did the PlastiFix repair today.
A little different to work with ,drops at a time , but got the job completed.
The instruction card explains about the drops at a time method but I watched a YouTube video to confirm instructions.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gnCl6ogtfZI&t=13s
The repair feels very solid.
Will let it set a day or so then sand down for painting.
One thing, the liquid has a very strong odor, probably not the best to breathe.
I used Plastifix to repair several cracks in my '70 Cuda Grill and was very happy with the results. Does take some patience for deeper cracks to slowly build up the material and then sand smooth to the surrounding surface. Something I added to larger cracks as reinforcement was to put a piece of drywall tape on the back side of the crack over the crack and then coat the tape with a two part epoxy. Sort of like a using fiberglass to reinforce. I added some before and after pics.
Quote from: torredcuda on October 13, 2018, 01:56:41 PM
also need to strasighten the valance insert as it is bowed in a couple areas - heat and weight or any other ideas?
I would go with weight over several days/weeks- Maybe leave it in the sun with the weight applied. I have tried more aggressive heat (heat gun) on distorted plastics in the past and normally made them worse.
Your repair looks good and solid.