Molding New Fiberglass Parts- How To? - ZR-1 Net Registry Forums

Bob Eyres · 05-24-2012

Sorry for the non-ZR-1 nature of this post.

I've noticed Brett, and others, discussing the molding of new fiberglass parts recently on the forum and I'm wondering how it's done.
Are there any sites where this process is shown, step by step?
I have a project on an older, steel bodied Chevy I'm looking at, and I'm wondering if it can be accomplished without major investment in tools or materials.
Recently I saw a cable show, "West Coast Customs" I think, where they used spray foam, right on the car, to establish the male part of the form, carved it with hand tools, and made the mold from that. It glossed over the details on how it was actually done. Any tutorials available?
If you're curious, it's for a custom Chevy, with this type of rear-end:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHm02...hannel&list=UL

At the rear end, the rolled pan on the one pictured is pretty crude. But if you could mold one with the correct compound curves using the existing body lines of the 53'Chevy, but in the style of the 53'Corvette, front and rear, I thought it would be cool.
I'm not trying to make it look like a Kalifornia Kustom from the period, but in the style of a GM Motorama show car using some of the styling cues from the early Corvette on a Bel Air two door hardtop of the same year. Kind of like an early "Super Sport" Chevy with one of the first smallblock V8's of the period. The first of the 265 V8's were tested in these full sized cars (probably 54's), but what if they popped a development motor into a Chevy styling exercise. A car that never existed, but could have.

Any thoughts?

Blue Flame Restorations · 05-31-2012

Hi Bob. I just saw this thread, otherwise I would have posted earlier.

All you really need is PVA (Poly Vinyl Alcohol) mold release and a clean, slick surface in order to make a mold. I know that sounds simple but it is, for the most part. You can spray or brush the PVA onto the part. Spraying is the best method. After it dries, you can apply resin and matt.

You have to make sure tha the part you are copying is not going to LOCK the mold onto itself.

Tyler Townsley · 05-31-2012

FYI.

http://www.miketrax.info/fiberglass/...he-price-of-1/

Tyler

Bob Eyres · 06-01-2012

Thanks Brett, Tyler.

05-24-2012	#1
Bob Eyres Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Jupiter, Fl. Posts: 815	Molding New Fiberglass Parts- How To? Sorry for the non-ZR-1 nature of this post. I've noticed Brett, and others, discussing the molding of new fiberglass parts recently on the forum and I'm wondering how it's done. Are there any sites where this process is shown, step by step? I have a project on an older, steel bodied Chevy I'm looking at, and I'm wondering if it can be accomplished without major investment in tools or materials. Recently I saw a cable show, "West Coast Customs" I think, where they used spray foam, right on the car, to establish the male part of the form, carved it with hand tools, and made the mold from that. It glossed over the details on how it was actually done. Any tutorials available? If you're curious, it's for a custom Chevy, with this type of rear-end: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHm02...hannel&list=UL At the rear end, the rolled pan on the one pictured is pretty crude. But if you could mold one with the correct compound curves using the existing body lines of the 53'Chevy, but in the style of the 53'Corvette, front and rear, I thought it would be cool. I'm not trying to make it look like a Kalifornia Kustom from the period, but in the style of a GM Motorama show car using some of the styling cues from the early Corvette on a Bel Air two door hardtop of the same year. Kind of like an early "Super Sport" Chevy with one of the first smallblock V8's of the period. The first of the 265 V8's were tested in these full sized cars (probably 54's), but what if they popped a development motor into a Chevy styling exercise. A car that never existed, but could have. Any thoughts?

05-31-2012	#2
Blue Flame Restorations Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pendleton, IN Posts: 3,904	Re: Molding New Fiberglass Parts- How To? Hi Bob. I just saw this thread, otherwise I would have posted earlier. All you really need is PVA (Poly Vinyl Alcohol) mold release and a clean, slick surface in order to make a mold. I know that sounds simple but it is, for the most part. You can spray or brush the PVA onto the part. Spraying is the best method. After it dries, you can apply resin and matt. You have to make sure tha the part you are copying is not going to LOCK the mold onto itself. __________________ 1988 KOH Prototype EX5023 sold 1990 ZR-1 #444 Convertible 1990 ZR-1 Black #966 1991 ZR-1 Quazar Blue #296 1957 Duntov SS Project

05-31-2012	#3
Tyler Townsley Join Date: May 2005 Location: Nichols, FL Posts: 615	Re: Molding New Fiberglass Parts- How To? FYI. http://www.miketrax.info/fiberglass/...he-price-of-1/ Tyler __________________ 55 Polo White (Project) 61 Jewel Blue (Sold to buy above) 66 Nassau Blue 68 Torch Red 88 ZR1 Blue 90 ZR1 White

06-01-2012	#4
Bob Eyres Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Jupiter, Fl. Posts: 815	Re: Molding New Fiberglass Parts- How To? Thanks Brett, Tyler.