Fiberglass FPV Bodykits - A Couple Questions

stazza · 21-03-2013, 09:40 PM

Getting some insurance work done on my GS, and for a while I've wanted the GT bodykit (sans the wing) on it, as I've always thought the GS looked a bit bog standard.

Anyways, seeing as though I'm getting my rear bumper resprayed, I asked the repairer if I could get a Fiberglass GT rear bar and they respray that instead.

The guy was a little reluctant, saying fiberglass soaks the paint up after a while and it can look dull after a while compared to legit panels. He also stated they've had fiberglass bodykitted cars come back with cracks in the fiberglass.

Does anyone here have the FIBERSPORTS kit? If so have you had any issues? I'm super keen to get the kit, as a genuine FPV kit is outrageously expensive.

Any help is appreciated, thanks guys.

Nikked · 21-03-2013, 10:20 PM

The bloke is correct, fiberglass does "soak up" the clear and is prone to crackinh, nobmatter who makes the kit.

stazza · 22-03-2013, 12:45 AM

Thanks mate. Do you think it'd be worth doing considering itll be just my weekend car and it will cost a fraction of the price of genuine bodykit?

superfly · 22-03-2013, 05:24 PM

I personally wouldn't as eventually it will look like crap. You'd be better of sourcing a second hand one from the wreckers if possible.

xisled · 22-03-2013, 05:45 PM

I hate fibreglass kits. The big problem is one decent hit and the kit will crack or shatter. A real GT bar will be able to take the hit.

richo77 · 22-03-2013, 05:51 PM

Ah the age old debate of fibreglass versus plastic, haven't seen this one in a few years

pottery beige · 22-03-2013, 05:52 PM

fiberglass is for pretenders.. goes good with e bay stripes..

stazza · 22-03-2013, 08:58 PM

Ok thanks guys I appreciate the feedback. Ill keep an eye out for something 2nd hand.

Nikked · 23-03-2013, 12:21 AM

If you do go fiberglass, coat the inside with stone guard, it helps stop stone chips. Even coat the edges of the wheel arch part of the bumper with stone guard, it makes a hell of a difference.

BionicXR6 · 23-03-2013, 02:10 AM

Does this hold true for spoilers as well?

tce · 23-03-2013, 07:37 AM

I fitted a fiberglass gt kit to my wagon had it professionally painted almost 4 years ago and it still looks as good as the rest of the car (pained at the same time). I did fill the back of the bumper with expanding foam to support it and it has no cracks (the wife even moved the chest freezer with it)

cedric · 23-03-2013, 08:10 PM

i have never known of paint problems with fiberglass, there are thousands if not millions of fiberglass hotrods, early corvetts and such that are perfect,if done propperly. they do tend to crack if they aren't thick enough in corners or mounting points but that is the quality of the spoiler. my mate did a vl walkie and after he wrecked the front spoiler he rebuilt it with so much glass and epoxy resin you couldn't dint it with a bulldozer

geckoGT · 24-03-2013, 09:22 PM

There are reasons that fibreglass kits are cheap. There are reasons why OEM kits are not fibreglass. Neither are positive points to fibreglass as a material for body kits.

Not to mention that in my opinion fibreglass has no place on a real FPV.

EVLKNEVL · 24-03-2013, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

There are reasons that fibreglass kits are cheap. There are reasons why OEM kits are not fibreglass. Neither are positive points to fibreglass as a material for body kits.

Not to mention that in my opinion fibreglass has no place on a real FPV.

Fiberglass bumpers can be hand-made with minimal tooling; vacuum formed plastic bumpers require much more expensive and complex tooling but can be produced in large numbers more efficiently. Two different approaches to suit two different sets of requirements.

geckoGT · 24-03-2013, 11:31 PM

Anyone that has owned a GT knows it is virtually impossible to not scrape the underside of the front bar, plastic stands up to this well as it will make but it is flexible and doesn't crack.

Fibreglass on the other hand, well just look at all the fully sick Silvia's getting around for a good example.

Anyway, each to their own.

Nikked · 25-03-2013, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by geckoGT

There are reasons that fibreglass kits are cheap. There are reasons why OEM kits are not fibreglass. Neither are positive points to fibreglass as a material for body kits.

Not to mention that in my opinion fibreglass has no place on a real FPV.

You do know that the EB and EL GTs had fiberglass bodykits, actually, you'll find fiberglass in a few OEM parts. The Corvette and a few other sports cars use fiberglass bodies.

Also, a blend of glass fibers and plastics (usually polypropylyne) is commonly found in cars, radiator supports mainly.