Community Forums

Wroughtnharv · 07-19-2016, 07:39 AM

93 Vectra RQ 35

It's new to us and of course we are fixing and modifying. One of the issues is the Fiberglas covers for the basement doors is separated from the steel frames.

The original bonding method was two sided tape. The issue with using the same method is I would have to remove the door and then risk damaging the skin in the process. As we all know there will always be that small area that bonded perfectly and the process of separating the two will be impossible.

I have used drive in rivets successfully many times in other applications. But aesthetics demand that if I do this I have to come up with a pattern that adds and not detracts from the appearance.

Has anyone done this?

rgvtexan · 07-19-2016, 11:12 AM

You need a G-String to do that!

Use a piece of thin music wire to slip behind the tape, and pull down. It will strip the old tape off and then you can replace with new trim tape.
Xylene can be use for clean up.

If you have room for it a wire Cheese slicer will some times help

Wroughtnharv · 07-19-2016, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rgvtexan

You need a G-String to do that!

Use a piece of thin music wire to slip behind the tape, and pull down. It will strip the old tape off and then you can replace with new trim tape.
Xylene can be use for clean up.

If you have room for it a wire Cheese slicer will some times help

I will use the wire, great idea.

One of the issues is the lower part of the doors have a bad rust problem. So tomorrow morning I will pick up some 3/4" X 1 1/2" 16 gauge rectangular tubing for rebuilding the parts of the framework that are rusted out or about to be. I'm also picking up some 18 ga galvanized sheets to recover the inside skin.

I will try to document the process because I'm sure that I'm not the first person to like the idea of a weathered and proven coach that just needs some tlc.

For me the biggest advantage of fixing stuff like this myself is I can remedy any issues that arise from the repairs.

I am going to use the rivets because I have a lot more faith in mechanical connections than in chemical ones.

I'm attaching the photo to show the panels I'm worried about. I can just see having to replace one that was blown off going down the road.

Wroughtnharv · 07-21-2016, 09:22 PM

Couple of updates.

The panels are ABS, not Fiberglas.

I'm removing the rusted areas and replacing them with new steel.

I'm going back with drive rivet attachment.