Quote:
Originally Posted by HardcoreZ28
You'll have to v out the crack and use either a fiberglass filler or a special sandable epoxy. It's definitely repairable. If you can reinforce it on the backside with fiberglass matting as well it would help but not sure because it may be visible then.
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what he said. see my crude paint drawing for more info on how to v out a crack. what you want is to enlarge the opening with sandpaper slightly in order for the fiberglass to have somewhere to sit, get rid of anything that isn't thoroughly attached (cracked/flaking bits), plus you want to have both edges be very rough so that the resin has something to bite into. don't use anything finer than 100 grit sandpaper to v out the crack.
if you've ever spackled a hole in the wall, the process is very similar. by using fiber mat to reinforce the crack you are basically building strength, much like mesh tape. they sell kits like what you need in auto body supply and marine (boat) stores complete with everything you need (including instructions). you might even be able to find something at pep boyz, advance or auto zone and, of course, online. epoxy is a bit trickier to use for something like this and you run the risk of it cracking at the edge eventually. much better to use a fiberglass repair kit. further, there are places online that can help lead you down the right path. google is your friend.
try to keep the repair under the level of the surface of the hood; use a straight edge like a metal ruler to make sure. you can always build it up with epoxy body filler, but sanding it down can be a bit tricky. while you can always have someone else do it, you should at least attempt to do it yourself. it's almost impossible to make it worse and any body man can undo whatever you do, just in case it doesn't work out. you never know, you might have an affinity for it and become an auto body tech specializing in fiberglass repairs...
