Fiberglass Bumper Moulds attempt

[andyverran]

Oh nothing with any complicated curves or need for strength or water tightness or fit....
pictures to follow.


I have just done the radiator lower that I have now completed and is on the truck.

cool...howd that go? looking forward to the pics.

Since I can't finish the rear bumper I'll complete the left quarter just for the practice and try the front bumper.

[shokenore]

cool...howd that go? looking forward to the pics.

Since I can't finish the rear bumper I'll complete the left quarter just for the practice and try the front bumper.

I did consider trying the front bumper, I think though that that would be a bit long to remain in the right shape.
I did think it would need a box to support it while the glass cured.

[andyverran]

I did consider trying the front bumper, I think though that that would be a bit long to remain in the right shape.
I did think it would need a box to support it while the glass cured.

I have a plan, involving a lot of clay in for a penny and all that.

[shokenore]

Clay sounds like a plan


I'm in the process of making a snorkel.
Yep a snorkel.

I'm also mocking up a support/air dam for the new intercooler

[andyverran]

Clay sounds like a plan


I'm in the process of making a snorkel.
Yep a snorkel.

I'm also mocking up a support/air dam for the new intercooler

yeah I saw you had a new cooler...
snorkel sounds ambitious...good luck. would be good to see how you go about it.

[shokenore]

yeah I saw you had a new cooler...
snorkel sounds ambitious...good luck. would be good to see how you go about it.

The new cooler is of a shall we say more practical proportions.
I want to make the supports and the air dam out of glass.
I may also look at making the inlet and out pipes from glass too, assuming it can stand the heat and oil?

The snorkel was started, surprisingly, ages ago but I had a little too much on at the time.
Yes it is very ambitious.
But I have started so I have to finish.
Pics so far to follow

[andyverran]

The new cooler is of a shall we say more practical proportions.
I want to make the supports and the air dam out of glass.
I may also look at making the inlet and out pipes from glass too, assuming it can stand the heat and oil?

I have a suspision that oil and epoxy are not good friends...I shall google.

[sjoe]

you should not have a problem, fibreglass is quite resilient alot of boats have fibreglass engine trays that last for decades with crappy old bmc engines leaking into them constantly.

[shokenore]

you should not have a problem, fibreglass is quite resilient alot of boats have fibreglass engine trays that last for decades with crappy old bmc engines leaking into them constantly.

Thanks for the input.
I know that the glass will be ok, but I wonder if the resin will be up to the heat and oil?

[sjoe]

the oil will have no effect on the resin after it has cured.
normal polyurethane resin should be safe upto around 150c but you can get high temp resin if you are worried about it.

[RebelV8]

All power to you for attempting this Andy, if you don't try, you'll never know.

[andyverran]

Bumper mould attempt number 3, went much better than the others....still got many errors but good enough to make a part from (at least it's fine for what I want). A few bubbles to fill as you can tell!

Just need mre fiberglass to turn up...order 2 weeks ago and still no sign

[shokenore]

Looking pretty good there

[andyverran]

I'd like to have done better, but practice needed for that. Should be able to get a serviceable bumper outer, to join to the brackets already made, from it though.

Prompted by your comment on foam moulds the other month I bought some and tried it out as a jointing compount...seems to bind the glass together pretty well so I'll try it on the bumper bits ... And see how long they stay together.

[andyverran]

Mould cleaned and PVA'd (P1), bumber layed up in it (P2 gelcoat in)....cured in the sun this afternoon...so fingers crossed when I pop it out tomorrow all is ok (ish).