Fibreglass Body Bits. Yes or No?

[b2tf]

I'm after a bit of info and advice from those with fibreglass bodykit parts (in particular bonnets). I'm seriously considering putting a buldge bonnet on the ute and while a carbon fibre one would be my ideal choice, a fibreglass one might be easier to get on there given cost and availability.

I'm not too familiar with fibreglass bodykits as Ive never had any bits on the ute or any other car - the kit on the XR8 is the genuine one and to be honest I do have reservations about putting Fibreglass bits on my car as it feels "cheap". I know of the usual pros and cons like easy repairs etc but Im just wondering how do fibreglass bits wear and fare in the long term?

Interested to hear opinions on this one in particular from those who have, or have had, fibreglass bits on their car.

[FTe_XR8]

my old forte had an XR bodykit on it and the previous owner had reversed into something on the l/h side behing the rear wheel and cracked the fibreglass, biggest prob was when i washed it i always got the cloth stuck to it and i couldnt clean it properly, and the whole kit prob wasnt installed the greatest as the silastic was breaking away from the body where they'd run it around.

[HLC]

yours being a country car, the paint will chip easily off the glass.

thats about the only downside. its pretty strong stuff when you think about it. yeah not as strong or as flexible as plastic, but dont hit anything and you'll be right.

[superroo]

The thing is with fiberglass, it is the same as any product. There are good products and bad (cheap knock off's) products.
As long as the past is a good product that is preped/painted and fitted (includes test fitting) properly, then you shouldn't have a problem.

If you want to have a look at a fiberglass Awc bonnet, pm me when your next going to be in melb. I'm about half an hour east of bluepower.

Cheers

[superroo]

I also need to say that the issues that i have said i have with my bonnet in other threads relate to the way the bonnet was fitted, and that i believe it is not fitted properly or as well as it could be.
They are nothing that i hopefully can't rectify in a few weeks once i am no longer time poor.

Cheers

[Dezza]

Originally Posted by superroo

The thing is with fiberglass, it is the same as any product. There are good products and bad (cheap knock off's) products.
As long as the past is a good product that is preped/painted and fitted (includes test fitting) properly, then you shouldn't have a problem.

Agreed

I know it's not an AU but my front bumper is fibreglass, and since getting it, I have scraped it on high kerbs, and have hit a bird with it! It hasn't cracked or got seriously damaged (besides a few scrapes in the paint on the bottom). Mine was a perfect fit for the car. It lined up perfectly. I couldn't be happier with it.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by superroo

The thing is with fiberglass, it is the same as any product. There are good products and bad (cheap knock off's) products.
As long as the past is a good product that is preped/painted and fitted (includes test fitting) properly, then you shouldn't have a problem.

If you want to have a look at a fiberglass Awc bonnet, pm me when your next going to be in melb. I'm about half an hour east of bluepower.

Cheers

Ben

yours in particular would be good to see as its the part Im looking at buying. What's it look like on the underside? Can you tell by looking at it that its made from glass?

[InfernoSR]

Well its not my AU... its to do with my XG ute... it had a full fibreglass front bar on it... and i found that its simply to flimsy as is... it really needed some steel bracing to strengthen it...

[superroo]

Originally Posted by b2tf

Ben

yours in particular would be good to see as its the part Im looking at buying. What's it look like on the underside? Can you tell by looking at it that its made from glass?

To a trained eye, yes you can spot that it is glass, but just looking at it unless you know what to look for then no.

Just looking at the bonnet you can't really tell it's glass or spot it that it is. The only time you could was when the bonnet arrived and around the latch cut out you could spot the glass which had been cut (it was white against the black gel coat). But i had my bonnet painted body colour on the top, and the matt black engine bay colour underneath so that it doesn't stand out. This really helps hide that it is glass. Look at where it is cut for the latch and you can tell

It's little things like that, that if you know what to look for you can tell. Like round the latch, where the struts go into the bonnet, and where the top and bottom skin are joined. They are all hard to spot, but i know what i'm looking for/at.

Touch the bonnet, and you know right away what it is.

Pic of the current under side, please excuse the poor pic, the weather is crap atm



Cheers

[bcr2734]

your insurance will not cover the Carbon Fibre bonnet. Cause if it shatters on inpact. you will know about it.

my mate has a glass Auxr bonnet bulge and he had no dramas. he brought it from ssv

[BLACKAUXR8]

i priced having a real BA bonnet cut up and fitting the bulge to my AU bonnet including the bracing underneath (this was for extra engine bay room under bonnet) it was $2200 painted. I know a few people with the fibre glass bonnets up here in brisbane and havent heard anything bad yet.

In saying this i wouldnt put fibreglass on my car for the reason your thinking about. I dont have any at the moment its all factory kit so i dont really want to start putting any on it.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by bcr2734

your insurance will not cover the Carbon Fibre bonnet. Cause if it shatters on inpact. you will know about it.

my mate has a glass Auxr bonnet bulge and he had no dramas. he brought it from ssv

no problems with insurance as i have already checked - completely covered.

[KOUPE76]

Originally Posted by bcr2734

your insurance will not cover the Carbon Fibre bonnet. Cause if it shatters on inpact. you will know about it.

No problems insuring my car with a Carbon Fibre bonnet here in Vic. Shannons insure me so it must vary in different states.

[XR82GO]

I have both Bonnet and XR50 bar on all 3 cars and dont have any problems with them at all...Just have to make sure that the product is good quality before you leave the place of purchase....the bonnet on my sedan is carbon fibre and is the best of the lot for quality and finish...has been painted and in the right light you can see the carbon pattern in the paint

[Ronza]

gday all ok just a question for all im not experienced in fibreglass bumpers but have been offered a series 2/3 CR2 havoc rear bumper for $450 whats this price like and how does fibreglass compare in strength and overall looks etc does it look cheap sorry but unsure on them but dont wanna wait around for a genuine rear bumper spoiler cheers!!!

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by Ronza

gday all ok just a question for all im not experienced in fibreglass bumpers but have been offered a series 2/3 CR2 havoc rear bumper for $450 whats this price like and how does fibreglass compare in strength and overall looks etc does it look cheap sorry but unsure on them but dont wanna wait around for a genuine rear bumper spoiler cheers!!!

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong but I think the C2R stuff is actually ABS plastic, in which case I wouldnt hesitate to put it on. Seeing yours is a ute though, I didnt think C2R made stuff for utes?

[Ronza]

No this is for my AU2 sedan!!!

[XR6-VCT-2000]

Nothing wrong with Fibreglass imo, I'de use it. Check out an old Corvette to see the potential of good fibreglass work.