Page updated
February 2004

Body Shell Repairs

Damaged body shells are unsightly, and can impair the car movement.

Most damage can be repaired simply and easily with a combination of glue and reinforcing tape.

Duck Tape works very well with most glues - and is readily available in different colours

The process

First, clean the damaged area(s). A hole drilled at the end of a split will stop it spreading.
Apply glue to the two edges and fix them together - a bulldog clip makes a good clamp, but strong tape may be better for curved surfaces.
When the repair is dry, apply a several layers of the tape to the the inside surface of the shell to reinforce the repair.
When the repair is hard (30 minutes?), remove any 'overhang' or surplus material.

If the damaged parts were carefully re-assembled, the body shape should be as good as new.
A little glue on the outside surface is inevitable and will add strength to the join.

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