Same over here. It would go for $900 easy.
Turns out the rear window is $100 and side window was $50. Misread the post they had.
Cracked hardtop repair question
- Thread starter 06TJ35's
- Start date
Same over here. It would go for $900 easy.
Turns out the rear window is $100 and side window was $50. Misread the post they had.
So I think those cracks are a pretty easy fix and if you can pick up that top for short money, go for it. Fiberglass is pretty easy. You can't really screw up, worst case you are not efficient in your layups and have to repeat steps. I learned chopping and modding boats by trial and error.
Grind the cracks out. You want a 'v' profile. The longer the scarf (wider the 'v'), the better. You don't have enough grinding where you are into tyvek suit territory, but do wear a mask, gloves, and long sleeve shirt.
You can use the resin of choice; epoxy will give you the best bond, vinylester next, but even polyester will be adequate.
Get some chopped strand mat, pull it apart/loosen it, and use that with your resin to fill the cracks. You want to overlap onto good solid glass and you want 'more glass and less resin' as you do it.
Sand it down. Repeat prior step if there is not enough filling material. Fair with the compound of choice; being you are in LA there have to be some marine stores around, no? They can help steer you regarding these three items.
Once sanded and fair, you are ready for paint.
Some of the stuff listed above is just fillers. You want strength and a good mechanical bond.
Grind the cracks out. You want a 'v' profile. The longer the scarf (wider the 'v'), the better. You don't have enough grinding where you are into tyvek suit territory, but do wear a mask, gloves, and long sleeve shirt.
You can use the resin of choice; epoxy will give you the best bond, vinylester next, but even polyester will be adequate.
Get some chopped strand mat, pull it apart/loosen it, and use that with your resin to fill the cracks. You want to overlap onto good solid glass and you want 'more glass and less resin' as you do it.
Sand it down. Repeat prior step if there is not enough filling material. Fair with the compound of choice; being you are in LA there have to be some marine stores around, no? They can help steer you regarding these three items.
Once sanded and fair, you are ready for paint.
Some of the stuff listed above is just fillers. You want strength and a good mechanical bond.
That SMC resin stuff is expensive I can’t find it for less than $50. Also i went online and acted like if I was going to buy clicked on calculate shipping and said they couldn’t ship to my state because of state restriction. So I’m not sure if they even sell smc resin in Cali?
I have used this to repair fiberglass. Non-structural. Works well on cracks.
Hardman Double Bubble Red Extra Fast Setting Epoxy (3-5 minute) - 10 Packs (#04001) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C6SLAWQ/?tag=wranglerorg-20
LOL your state is so fucked up
Forget the SMC stuff. I told you how to do it if you don't want the crack to come back. You have 2 West Marines (hate the place, but they have most everything) in the Los Angeles area. Even Home Depot will have a can of polyester resin that will be enough to do a thousand repairs for $15. But they won't have the CSM or a decent fairing compound. For that matter, you can just buy microballoons or cabosil and mix it into the resin to make your own fairing compound. Will take longer to sand than a true fairing compound, but infinately cheaper. And you will find a million other uses for epoxy resin, trust me, so don't sweat that. Just find yourself a marine store and have at it.
You just reminded me about Devcon. That shit will fix anything.
Also im not sure microballoons are sold anymore. They really do cause cancer.
Devcon 62345 Plastic Steel Epoxy - 25 ml Dev-Tube https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000H5S8KC/?tag=wranglerorg-20
Would I be able to use polysester resin with fiber glass strips ? If not I’ll use cabosil I think Home Depot carries it as well.
The cracks got there because the wind blew the top over not because of wear and tear. I still want to reinforce as strong as possible.
Yes. Questions is strips of what? Glass comes in all types of weights and weaves. Again, I'd be using chopped strand matt for best results. I guess you could use a light finishing cloth if thats all you can find, it will be a stronger repair than the smc or devcon but will be harder to build up in the scarf correctly. Weaved biaxial matt and similar like 1708 etc you'll never get fair.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0782XPRYH/?tag=wranglerorg-20
ZEN357
TJ Enthusiast
I think you'd be better off saving your money and buying a new one. Sometimes, repairing something like that will cost you more in the long run.
