GavinJ
Club Retro Rides Member
MGB 3.9 v8 Sebring
Posts: 927 
Club RR Member Number: 209
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Fibreglass panel & strength?GavinJ
@gavinj
Club Retro Rides Member 209
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In the process of building up my MGB Sebring and currently debating on how many fibreglass panels I should be fitting to what is essentially a road car...
So far it has a fibreglass bonnet and front wings and currently debating a fibreglass rear tailgate........
Something in my head is telling me not bother with a tailgate as if I was unfortunate enough to have anyone nudge the back end either on the road or track then the rear panel would probably just fold in with a fibre glass tailgate....resulting it probably more damage than if I had the steel tailgate in place.
Anyone on here have any experience on the strength of fibreglass in a bump? am I worrying to much?
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Last Edit: Jan 9, 2012 18:19:43 GMT by GavinJ
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RobinJI
Posted a lot
"Driven by the irony that only being shackled to the road could ever I be free"
Posts: 2,995
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Unfortunately it depends on the particular panel. A lot of factors will effect the strength of a fiberglass piece, from the thickness, to the shape, and as a result the replacement panels could be stronger than the steel ones, or could break in half if breathed on.
In general though, fiberglass's relatively brittle nature means that in an accident it will shatter/break rather than deforming, which isn't ideal, especially if an accident involves multiple bumps. Although that said, in the process of breaking it will absorb a reasonable amount of energy, so it's not completely useless if the part's designed correctly. Basically, it depends on the panel, but generally I'd not rely on a fiberglass panel structurally unless designed for that purpose, which most aftermarket bolt on panels wont be, but then again a lot of exterior steel panels are also really quite weak, relying on the chassis and fixed panels to provide the strength.
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CIH
Posted a lot
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I think you'd be okay doing everything except side doors
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Last Edit: Jan 9, 2012 19:50:49 GMT by CIH
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Jan 10, 2012 19:52:45 GMT
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Bolt-on GRP panels aren't built for strength. I'm not saying that to dis GRP, I'm saying the strength of your car is therefore in the steel frame.
As has been said, the strength of GRP panels depends on the construction used : the type of material used, how heavy (read 'thick') it is, in how many layers. The shape also matters. Compound curves have good strength.
If your tailgate is strong enough to hold the rear glass, I'd say it's plenty strong enough for safety.
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