13 replies to this topic

[Joe Benoit]

I searched and couldn't find much about this. We are trying to reuse the Hartop from our old #97 on our new SM build. The top has a crack on the passenger side just above the corner of the window. I heard to use a slow/long open time resin. It appears the crack is in a structual type of location for the top. Are there any words of wisdom from the board? Pitfalls? Advice?

Joe

[LarryKing]

Maybe reinforce on the inside with mesh/epoxy?

[tony senese]

you need to do both the inside and the outside, and get as much of the cracked resin out as possible, although it may be structural, the whole top is made of fiberglass so you just need to replace it with fiberglass. lots of sanding and cleaning at prep helped me get it right after getting it wrong several times. I just used a fiberglass repair kit from autozone. I will post before and after when I find them.

[tony senese]

http://mazdaracers.c...ash-damage-top/ shows the damage

http://mazdaracers.c...-the-06-damage/ shows the repair after fiberglass and bondo

http://mazdaracers.c...0-after-repair/ after paint


http://mazdaracers.c...ild-of-new-tub/ after 5 years of use, and on the new tub.

[Jim Boemler]

Not sure why, but the pics aren't coming through...

[tony senese]

Fixed my gallery was set to private by mistake.

[Dave Lewis]

I would want to attach the top firmly on the car to do the repair. Possible stress could crack the repair. Don't ask me how I know.
Tony, where did you get the window.

[Jim Boemler]

That's some nice work, Tony! Are there any pictures of the process? How long did it take?

[Joe Benoit]

Wow Tony, I only have a little crack near the window. Looks like you got hit by a dump truck. Glad to hear this isn't so hard. Looks very time consuming though. Thanks for the pictures and info.

Joe

[tony senese]

I would want to attach the top firmly on the car to do the repair. Possible stress could crack the repair. Don't ask me how I know.
Tony, where did you get the window.

I agree Dave, I was lucky that the stress cracks took about a year to show up, I just sanded and repatched the one that would not go away, the strange thing was it was on the least stressed spot but you are right.

[tony senese]

That's some nice work, Tony! Are there any pictures of the process? How long did it take?

I really was not in picture taking mode, I had to repair the car for an enduro in about 2 weeks and that was way more work that I had ever done before. Notice the other pic in the gallery of the rest of the damage..... I hit the pit wall coming out of the carousel at mid-ohio, and the car flipped up in the air and spun like a ballerina and then landed on the roof and kept rolling to all 4 wheels..... First NASA National championship in 2006.

[Jim Boemler]

I understand about the lack of pictures -- I always wish I'd taken more myself. That hit must've been quite a ride.

[tony senese]

My daughter edited a video and posted it that year. See it here......

[CruzanTom]

My daughter edited a video and posted it that year.

Glad you were OK. Watching the video brings to mind the quote by Dragster Don Roberts, "After the third flip, I lost control"