Gen 1 (94) trunk lid made of....

[BadAndy]

Aluminum skinned? Fiberglass? I've heard both now. I had a spot repaired some years ago (5+) that has returned. It's a star looking thing, a cancer I call it about the size of a silver dollar up near the top left corner. I could tell from the day the place fixed it, it would be back someday. Present day - repair again at the right place or buy a new trunk lid with no cancer? I have this fear it can't really be repaired correctly and I should just get a new lid and start from there. Any thoughts? Anyone else seen this? Thanks, Andy

[AutoformSteve]

The trunk lid is fiberglass...SMC....which means that it can probably not be repaired with polyester resin. If ever there is a star in fiberglass it indicates a crack in the gel or surface coat. It must have originated from an impact either from the top side or the bottom side or from metal that is sometimes molded between the inner and out layers and moving around for some reason. It sounds like it is the area of the trunk lid hinge attached point.
The only way to properly fix it is to start removing the paint...and then keep grinding away at the fiberglass until the cracks in the resin and fiberglass mat layer are gone...you can tell a when the fiberglass is cracked when there are white lines in the resin glass layer...you need to completely grind away until the white/cracked lines are gone...which could be when you grind all of the way through the panel. after that the fiberglass needs to be built back up to the correct thickness...feathered back on the repair area edges...not just slapped on top and ground away until flush. If there are cracks on the bottom side...they need to be addressed and repaired the same way as well.
Once fiberglass is cracked...you can not repair it by filling the cracks with filler or putting something over it...it will not work long term.
A good custom shop can fix it if they know what they are looking at.

[01sapphirebob]

There were no aluminum panels on the GEN I's that i'm aware of. Except maybe the sills? Got a pic of the "cancer?"

[GTSnake]

My GEN1 started forming cracks everywhere, especially the hood. One of the doors even started veining. I was loosing sleep at first, but then later accepted it and never got them fixed. Disclosed them to the new owner and parted ways with the car. I think most GEN1's will eventually start having these issues with age.

[Luisv]

Sheet Molded Composite (SMC), oversimplified, is basically a sheet composite that is press molded into shape. It is made by laying resin (which type varies) out then laying chopped fiber over it. It rolls out in sheets that are press molded at temperature. Bottom line, it's fiberglass. For repairs, you basically need "kitty hair" glass mat (you can pick this up at a number of places including many marine supply stores. You then uses the appropriate resin (epoxy or polyester depending on what the base material is made of) and you can patch repair. It's time consuming but not rocket science.

If we see photos of the damage, we can tell you the process/needs for the repair. I don't believe most SMC is gel coated for the auto industry. Main reason is that it is brittle and lends itself to surface cracks. However, I don't know enough about the Viper body to tell you that for certain. I can tell you that Vettes are not and they are all also SMC. They've used SMC for decades so it is nothing new.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

If you don't want to meddle with the OE lid again, Id consider buying a used trunk, Red, great shape, for $495 or so.

[BadAndy]

Thanks guys. Learned a lot, fast! I'll post a pic later tonight. I think I have the right guy who can do the work, but I think he's thinking along the lines of getting a used lid and moving forward as well. For roughly $500, might be the worth while option and lay the bad one to rest. I'll have to pass this info onto him as well for him to read. To date, I'd really only discussed it with him on the phone he hasn't seen it but he comes highly recommended.

[AutoformSteve]

Here is the way I like to think of it...all composites (carbon fiber, carbon Kevlar, glass fiber, ect) are basically...glue and string...to repair it correctly you need to match glue to glue and string to string.

[Bill Pemberton]

Side sills on the Gen 1s are aluminum -----

495 for a good used one is a no brainer in my estimation, as it will likely cost that much or more to repair the one you have!

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Side Sills on ALL Gens are Aluminum !

[Bill Pemberton]

Oh, I know , Jon, was just answering the specific question above that there was no aluminum panels on a Gen 1 -- just composites.

[Bugman Jeff]

Having many years experience in the fiberglass car industry, I can say that fixing cracked composites isn't rocket science, but it does need to be done right. The key is that ALL the crack must be ground away. If any of the crack is still left under the repair, it will crack again. For what body and paint work costs these days, unless you're particular to having all your original parts, the lid from Jon is a pretty good deal.

[BadAndy]

I think a new lid is what I'll do. It's about all I've got to fix up right now on the list of to-do's, so not a big deal really. Thanks guys. Anyone want to buy a used lid? LOL