GMC body repair

Trying to find some “groove” to follow with all this new stuff around has proven to be difficult but we need to get some back.  All that yesterday about maybe posting during the day…. “Forget about it” at least for now!  If I can start here getting back a plunking routine maybe that will help…. so lets give a normal post a try:

While madness reighns at the new shop, Kevin has not left his cocoon and Capt. Pete’s coach is getting some attention.  Capt. Pete came to us from Wyoming to get his baby fixed.  He understood he wanted it right plus being retired and pretty much full timing in his coach coming to Florida this time of year to get the work done sounded like a good idea so the Capt. has been with us through the Christmas season…. hey, no hurry guys the weather is great!

And before the cocoon gets consumed with the huge project Cedric has brought to us Kevin felt getting Capt Pete back on the road would be a fast project.  I’ll do a little more on this body repair so stay tuned but as you can see, Capt Pete came out on the short stick of a kissing contest   Still don’t have that thumbnail thing down pat… hey Lucy, how do I do that, our last idea…. almost worked as they say.

Anyway, very light if any frame damage most of the transgressions took it out on the SMC plastic front clip.  The major hit was at the driver side bumper support area.  Here you can see the piece Kevin has prepared to Epoxy back into place.  Notice how the SMC plastic doesn’t react as if it were made of fiberglass.  This is why you can’t use a polyester resin or standard “Bondo” to fix things.  This piece will be glued back together with an epoxy based bonding agent then filled back with SMC fillers.  This is a very important thing to know if you expect to do body repair that will not break out.  Probably a main reason GM used this new at the time body material was for it’s strength.  Doing repairs on an epoxy based material will bring the section actually back to near original strength.  Unkike bondo that just adds back the shape, SMC materials actually bond back together making a repair stronger than original.  If you get any body repair done please be sure they understand this and use the right repair materials.  In fact if you ask your prospective body guy the question, “Have you worked with SMC materials before”, and he says no or what’s that… thank him for his time and move on.  Fiberglass ands Bondo will not stick to aluminum or to SMC plastic so you really can’t use that stuff.  As well, paint will not stick to aluminum, standard primer won’t either so there’s something too that makes painting a GMC unique to other vehicles. 

And then there’s the difference in finished textures between aluminum and plastic… and metal for that matter.  Each body surface has it’s own way to be properly finished…. be sure your painter understands this.

So stay tuned for more on Capt. Pete’s coach repair, coming in this morning passing the gate of the old shop I saw Kevin was already over there working away.  Cedric’s coach is ready for it’s colors but we just need to get Capt. Pete back on the road. 

Thanks for dropping by, been pretty quiet on the internet this holiday season, bet things will pum,p up soon.  Have a great day and go on out there and give your coach a hug… it’s out there in the cold, coolant in it’s veins just shivering out there in the garage.  Get out there and show it some love.  Get that coffee down, take the key and go fire that mother up and maybe you will feel just why you have the beast!  We all are truly blessed to have such a time machine… can’t wait to pull my coaches out. …..  See ya tomorrow…

How bout I leave you guys with a pic of my best buddy… other than Janie, and my sons… his name is Danzig (don’t ask).  He’s a Maine Coon long haired cat … no foolin… and he’s my buddy getting me out every morning ….. some food, fresh water and for that he sits in my lap and purrs up a storm getting my mind set for another day.  Pets are great people, they are completely devoted and can understand your problems even not understanding English.  Danzig is a good cat and a great friend.. we should be so influential to someone.

See you tomorrow…     .

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