Fiberglass Help!

[dewitt88 10+ year member]

Hey I am totally new to fiberglass and I am fixing to begin a door panel job. I have a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. The door speakers are 4x6 and I want 6.5. I know I could convert but I have decided to totally re-build that section of the door panel. However I have few questions. First can I fiberglass over the existing or do I need to remove and make my own mold. Again I know your probally laughing but I am new to this. Resin is also confusing me. eproxy or poleyester? What is this diffrent uses for each??? I know how to mold glass and bond. Thats not a big deal. Second question. For something this small how thick of glass do I use and how many layers? I was thinking 6 ouince and 3 layers. Should I use more or less? Thanks for yalls help and when I get this project started I will post pics.

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[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Hey I am totally new to fiberglass and I am fixing to begin a door panel job. I have a 1999 Pontiac Grand Am. The door speakers are 4x6 and I want 6.5. I know I could convert but I have decided to totally re-build that section of the door panel. However I have few questions. First can I fiberglass over the existing or do I need to remove and make my own mold.

Depends on what you want to do. Got any pics of what your starting with ? Would make it easier. You can always use OEM panels and make molds of them . But sometimes there are easier ways to to about things. Need to see what your starting with

Again I know your prob ally laughing but I am new to this. Resin is also confusing me. epoxy or polyester? What is this different uses for each???

Not laughing my brother , nobody knows everything . As for resin , polyester is the cheapest and most readily available ( napa brand, bondo brand, and Elmer's which sucks are all polyester) . You mix the resin with mekp to start the chemical reaction which cures it. You can vary the mix ratio a little to account for weather. If it's colder , you might want to mix a little hotter ( add more mekp). And vice versa in warm weather. Polyester is fine , works great . Use it most of the time myself now a days. Epoxy has better adhesion characteristics. Neither really like to stick to plastic that well. But generally speaking Epoxy will adhere two substrates together better than polyester. Epoxy uses a different catalyst , and the cure time is controlled by use of different catalyst. The ratio is kept the same for all different catalyst though. The different catalyst usually come in fast, regular, and slow cure times. You can use epoxy , but polyester is cheaper .

I know how to mold glass and bond. Thats not a big deal. Second question. For something this small how thick of glass do I use and how many layers? I was thinking 6 ounce and 3 layers. Should I use more or less? Thanks for yalls help and when I get this project started I will post pics.

Should be more than sufficient . Lay it up properly switching bias every layer, working out all the air bubbles, and excess resin. And You will have some strong arse door pods. For doors I usually go with resining both sides of my mold material , if they aren't too big of pods one layer of 5 ounce , and a layer of kitty hair. Ends up pretty Darn strong , and not as heavy as added layers of mat . //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[dewitt88 10+ year member]

Thanks for you help...I will post up some pics with the outline of what I want to re-build.

If I make my own mold how will I attach to door??? MDF and screws or bolts??

 

[ramos 5,000+ posts]

Mdf , 1/4" hardboard or something , and bolts , screws, factory attachment . Just depends on what you have to start with //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[dbornotdb 10+ year member]

Thats a big project to undertake for your first job.

Good luck and post pics as you go.

 

[Crzy 10+ year member]

i am in school so i cant acess my photobucket but i converted my 94 grand am to 6.5 on my first gloassing project. search my old threads and look for my completed install thread shows what i did or completed door pods some of that nonesense, when im home ill post pics if u cant find them and explain how to do it more if you are interested

 

[Crzy 10+ year member]

aright heres a pic

 

[dewitt88 10+ year member]

Nice...Well I have decided to take and buy tow used door panels and tear all the vinyl off. And I am going to cover the entire panel and put 6.5 in it. If I like I will put it on the car if not I will show yall some pics and throw it away. I figure it would be better to do it that way just in case. Thanks!!

 

[acold7dusta 10+ year member]

good decision!

if all else fails, you could always make kick pods, like i did in my alero (also 4x6) and then you wouldnt have to scrap a whole door panel