Author Topic: Need help... Plastic repair  (Read 3573 times)

Offline purple1

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Need help... Plastic repair
« on: August 08, 2007 - 03:48:28 PM »
I need to make some repairs on plastic grills. Any one have any ideas? I never done this before. HELP...  :1zhelp:

Dave :wave:

Edit: Pics added. This grill (lower one 3rd pic) is even worse...
« Last Edit: August 08, 2007 - 03:54:24 PM by purple1 »

Dave


Worlds first e-body trailer.    Severna Park, Maryland




Offline kingtroll

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2007 - 04:39:14 PM »
Do a search on plastic this subject has been discussed before. Try reading this for example...


http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=16388.0
1974 Barracuda

 

Offline purple1

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #2 on: August 08, 2007 - 07:21:55 PM »
Found Plast-Aid and 3m automix, any more ideas? You know, before I spend my money...  :faint:

Dave :wave:

Dave


Worlds first e-body trailer.    Severna Park, Maryland

Offline moparclown

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #3 on: August 08, 2007 - 07:41:12 PM »
I have been trying the Idea I got on a thread on Moparts.Mixing plastic shavings(same material your fixing)with acetone in a glass jar,until its in a toothpaste consistincy.Takes some time and practice,thats for sure and make sure you have a lid for the jar this stuff sets up fast.Use a dremel to v-shape the plastic.I also have been thinking of a grill repair on my 71 grill,which is missing the last couple of inches on the pass. side.Just need to make a mold of the end,so I can try and make that section.Right now I am doing a couple of repairs to few things and will see how it holds up

Offline purple1

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #4 on: August 08, 2007 - 07:53:45 PM »
Sounds like a good idea Clown. Thanks, I may try the acetone trick. What are you using to make a mold out of?

Dave :wave:
« Last Edit: August 08, 2007 - 07:56:23 PM by purple1 »

Dave


Worlds first e-body trailer.    Severna Park, Maryland

Offline moparclown

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #5 on: August 08, 2007 - 09:07:12 PM »
I have been kicking around the Idea of using heavy aluminum foil,folded many times.And then use a 70 grill end to start forming it until I am happy with it.Crazy Idea but will give it a go real soon.The Clown


ps      hey Dave
          bezels look great

Offline purple1

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #6 on: August 08, 2007 - 09:17:18 PM »
Thats a great idea... I got another one, use the non-stick foil and something like fiberglass or bondo behind it to make a form. It would make a nice hard form, Just a thought...

Anyway,thanks and let me know how it works out. I will be trying something in a week or two.

Dave :wave:

« Last Edit: August 08, 2007 - 09:22:53 PM by purple1 »

Dave


Worlds first e-body trailer.    Severna Park, Maryland

Offline Devil

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2007 - 10:23:02 PM »
I just redid my grilles... if you have any questions let me know.  I'm going to do a rundown of what I did.

I used a product called PC-7 for plastics/abs.  Worked great.


1) First clean area of work

2) File edges of repair work to create a V in the plastic.

3) Have some sorte of backing, I used thin strips of metal and used them as a brace.

4) Take some clamps or such to make the jig or such as sturdy as possible, don't want the grille to move around.

5) Use the PC-7 And glue the backing piece behind the broken area.

6) Use the PC-7 and cover the V you made earlier in it, don't worry about it being smooth.

8) Let dry for 24 hours.

9) The two pieces should be joined together now, take some sandpaper and start sanding down the PC-7 overflow to make is conform to the grille shape.

10) Once sanded down, paint with whatever color you would like, black, argent, purple?...

I've also used this to make pieces I was missing in the front of the grille and on the back.  I have a few pictures I'll throw up here in a bit to show you some of what I did.  I left my camera at school the week I did the grille repair, and only have the first part covered.













Here are a few good links too....

http://www.automedia.com/Plastic_Grille_Repair/res20011101gp/

http://www.moparmusclemagazine.com/howto/40625_plastic_working_techniques/

Ryan
« Last Edit: August 08, 2007 - 10:28:31 PM by Devil »
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69 Charger R/T SE
70 Barracuda
74 Dart Swinger
93 RamCharger
88 Caprice Classic Brougham

Offline Travis72

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #8 on: August 09, 2007 - 01:54:21 AM »
Ryan laid it out well, I used SEM products but followed the same basic procedure.  Pictures are in this thread:

http://www.cuda-challenger.com/cc/index.php?topic=33943.0

Travis
72 Cuda

Offline purple1

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #9 on: August 09, 2007 - 08:02:18 AM »
Thanks. Now I know I can do this...  :thumbsup:
I will try to get some good pics as I go.

Dave :wave:

Dave


Worlds first e-body trailer.    Severna Park, Maryland

Offline MoparCar

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #10 on: August 09, 2007 - 08:47:09 AM »
Great ideas. I have the same problem with the passenger side "tip" of my 71 Challenger grill. The 71s seem to always have the tips in bad shape or missing. If you have the broken parts the repair shouldn't be too bad. But if you don't have the curved part that needs to be glued back on then it might be tough.

Maybe those of us with good end pieces could make a mold from the good section and cast/pour repair ends for those with the opposite ends missing? For instance I have a perfect drivers side but the passenger side tip is missing. Example, I mold you a nice drivers side piece and someone with a perfect passenger side could mold me a passenger side tip and we swap? Just an idea.......now how to mold that. I know if I made a box or small container around the tip there are molding liquids available that can be poured for doing this.

Offline Wang

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2007 - 10:59:01 AM »
I have rebuilt corners of grilles without any donor parts. I took 'soft' metal and bent it to shape needed, taped it to the backside of the grille and used a two part epoxy like those stated above. (I personally used a product from Crest called Rigid Red, it comes in squeeze tubes instead of a gun style applicator, and is less money for a kit)
Hurry,, Duane the tub,,I'm Dwouning....

Offline purple1

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #12 on: August 13, 2007 - 09:21:02 AM »
Ok, I used Ryan's advice. Got the PC-7 from Home Depot. This stuff worked great and I got one grille repaired and ready for paint. Only two more grilles to repair now.  :woo:

Check out the pics, with a little black paint it is hard to tell it was repaired.

Dave :wave:

Dave


Worlds first e-body trailer.    Severna Park, Maryland

Offline moparclown

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Re: Need help... Plastic repair
« Reply #13 on: August 27, 2007 - 08:53:04 AM »
I just picked up my winter project----wooo hoooo
ps--anybody have anymore broken sections that I would be interested in?Thanks The Clown