Adhesive for attaching the wire grating on 69 Shelby Fiberglass

[jayb]

So I'm just getting around to putting some of the final touches on my Shelby clone.  One of them is the steel grating that goes in all the hood openings, and the two front fender openings.  It looks like I have to trim and glue these pieces somehow to the fiberglass.  Any suggestions on what adhesive I should use?  It should probably be clear, or black to match the grating, and it needs to stick pretty well to steel, raw fiberglass, and painted fiberglass.  The pictures below show the grates and the inside of one of the hood openings:

[Heo]

I use a adhesive that is used in house constructions
you can glue things in vertical position and it sticks
without  sliding down its called PL600 here in Sweden
You cant remove steel glued to fibreglass without
using ultra violence and a BFH
Some building suplier should have something equal in stock

[afret]

We just used the dark gray JB epoxy since we had a bunch laying around. 

[My427stang]

I hate to say it, but a bead of Right Stuff may hold in this case and be able to be cut loose later.....

I am NOT a Right Stuff junkie either, but it does stick pretty well and has the color and consistency to do the job

If not, 4-6 good dollops of JB Weld should hole pretty well once cured

[BruceS]

Jay, I would also lightly scuff the areas where you will apply the "goop" on the hood to stick those little grates on. Especially because of the acceleration they will see! 

Bruce

[fastback 427]

Scuff the area with 80 grit then use the green fiberglass filler sold at any Napa or body shop supplier. That will be a permanent fix. Apply light bead around the opening then set grating in place then another coat over the top will set it place for good.

[WConley]

Agree with Fastback 427 above.  You need a slow-setting epoxy product that has a filler / stiffener added.  The green stuff at NAPA is very good, but I have a soft spot for Evercoat Formula 27 marine filler.  Very similar stuff.  Works great on fiberglass and the stiffness will ensure you get all around and through the wire mesh.

Good luck getting the car sorted!

- Bill

[fe66comet]

When I worked at an auto shop we often glued emblems, mirrors and trim on with clear silicon. After gluing most parts would just stay in place, if they wanted to be stubborn a block of wood wrapped in a rag with a bungee cord wrapped around the panel would hold things in place. The great thing about it is it remains flexible so it does not vibrate off, like when a fiberglass hood is placed over a 1000 hp engine. Get the good stuff like 50 year silicon sealant and clean all the area with denatured alcohol first, but be careful around finished paint it will dull and make it hazy if spilled and left to dry. Just dampen the rag and give it a quick wipe. Dewaxer also works on the same principle.

[Qikbbstang]

Kind of different using what I presume is expanded metal as Jay says "steel" and I take it for granted it actually is steel because he ought to know what steel is. In the filter industry expanded metal is used everywhere right down to backing the pleats in HVAC filters. * Expanded metal is cool Ive seen it made by cutting the stamping/cutting the slots and pulling to achieve the expanded metal.  I scored 3'x4' 1/2" steel plate grating that is reserved for my BBQ burner plates. Normally the steel expanded is tough to hold off rusting and by nature it's hard to seal against corrosion. My Fav is Stainless Steel Mesh which is a woven wire cloth -- you see it on/in NASCAR grilles etc. The woven SS Mesh is exponentially stronger and does not look like shit when dinged as does the expanded stuff.
   I'd go with the silicone for someday someone will want/may need to remove those metal grilles and silicone slices unlike epoxy which could be a real bitch to get off a glass hood w/o collateral damages! Jay now knows to mist the silicone with water to set-off cure the silicone faster!


* decades ago when I first got into filters the shops used the scrap metal sheets for HVAC filter backing after the bottle caps had been punched out of them, the dam stuff was razor sharp/deadly and sometimes they'd get un-stamped sheets with the soft drink/beer logos.

[Qikbbstang]

BTW Jay were those "grilles" actually expanded steel and not some other metal?  ...............Just seems expanded steel even "galvanized" * is rare in that size and kind of a bitch to keep from rusting.
 I confronted filter Mfgs years ago for bragging they used Galvanized expanded steel ...well when you slice the steel to expand it you slice clear through both the galv top/bottom and also the steel. The exposed steel starts rusting...