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smooth sided gmc [message #139247] Mon, 15 August 2011 08:56 Go to next message
petemosss is currently offline  petemosss   United States
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Registered: August 2008
Location: Jacksonville, Florida
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Hey body finishing guru's:

Any new opinions, rants, or crazy ideas out there to achieve the smooth sided look. With all the new materials being used in newer car construction and its subsequent repair, you'd think there would be some new technologies from 3m or whoever involving combining dissimilar materials.

All I get is the blank stare when I try to talk about anything but paint and reducer at my local auto body supply house.

Has anybody had any non cracking success with the 1/8 x 2" aluminum and just filling it in?


Pete 74 Canyon Lands 26' "Emery"
Re: smooth sided gmc [message #139257 is a reply to message #139247] Mon, 15 August 2011 10:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Chr$ is currently offline  Chr$   United States
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Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
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Every coach I have seen with the aluminum strip filled at the joints and painted was cracked, or more recently, starting to bubble under the paint. I'm trying to decide what to do there too. Perhaps just finish it smooth, bevel the edges, and leave the joint unfilled like it was built to allow drainage and flex?


-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ

77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
Re: smooth sided gmc [message #139293 is a reply to message #139247] Mon, 15 August 2011 14:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
petemosss is currently offline  petemosss   United States
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Location: Jacksonville, Florida
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I think my 74 and your 77 are a bit different on the center seam? anyway...

I was think along the same line of filling the alum to alum side and leaving an 1/8" gap to be filled with some of that kick a$# CR Laurence RTV Jim B has on the alum to frp side. It's sealed everything else and stayed flexible. It would match my nose and tail seams. I don't think it's paint-able though. Can't have everything...

Trying for a flat pearl single color rod look with everything else thats metal SEM satin blacked. A chrome edged rub strip just won't work with a Boeing rat rod look.

Any comments campers?

Thanks! Pete


Pete 74 Canyon Lands 26' "Emery"
Re: [GMCnet] smooth sided gmc [message #139318 is a reply to message #139293] Mon, 15 August 2011 17:01 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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Location: Sydney, Australia
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Senior Member
G'day,

On later model GMC's the center seam was an extrusion that had an "H" cross
section. The aluminum fit into the upper part of the "H" and the fiberglass
fit into the lower part of the "H".

JimB replaces the early strips with 2" wide aluminum strips from the front
side marker light to the rear side marker light. I don't know what he seals
it with but it has to be something that paint will adhere to so I don't
think it is RTV unless the stuff he uses has no silicone in it.

Regards,
Rob M.
Sydney, Australia


-----Original Message-----
From: pete

I think my 74 and your 77 are a bit different on the center seam? anyway...

I was think along the same line of filling the alum to alum side and leaving
an 1/8" gap to be filled with some of that kick a$# CR Laurence RTV Jim B
has on the alum to frp side. It's sealed everything else and stayed
flexible. It would match my nose and tail seams. I don't think it's
paint-able though. Can't have everything...

Trying for a flat pearl single color rod look with everything else thats
metal SEM satin blacked. A chrome edged rub strip just won't work with a
Boeing rat rod look.

Any comments campers?

Thanks! Pete


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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: smooth sided gmc [message #139330 is a reply to message #139247] Mon, 15 August 2011 18:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Larry C   United States
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Registered: July 2004
Location: NE Illinois by the Illino...
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The problem seems to be the different materials ability to stretch and contract to temperatures. The OEM bump guard as well as the Aluminum strip over the edges allowed the body panels to move without cracking or scraping paint.

If there was a flexy material that could be painted installed there, like the car bumper material, it could bulge with the stretching and flatten with the contraction of the body panels.

Seems Painting the aluminum the same color or a contrasting color is still the best bet if you don't care for the rub rails...



My thoughts


Gatsbys' CRUISER 08-18-04
74 GLACIER X, 260/455-APC-4 Bagg'r
Remflex Manifold gaskets
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Re: [GMCnet] smooth sided gmc [message #139863 is a reply to message #139247] Thu, 18 August 2011 16:56 Go to previous message
lcoldren is currently offline  lcoldren   United States
Messages: 28
Registered: March 2004
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Junior Member

Pete
To achieve the smooth sided look on my GMC we used a 2"x 1/8" Aluminum
strip. All corrosion must be removed from area where the old metal strip
was located. The joint seam on the coach were cleaned and sealed and any
areas on the body aluminum sheeting showing any indication of corrosion
received special attention and prep. The 2" aluminum strip was prepped on
all sides then attaches using counter sunk stainless screws and the heads
were filled and sanded. The top and ends of the strip were caulked and
painted. The bottom was left open to allow drainage and breathing. In the
past 4 years I have seen no cracking or bubbling of the paint on the strip
or seams.

Larry C
Fort Collins CO
74 Canyon Lands

-----Original Message-----
From: gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org
[mailto:gmclist-bounces@temp.gmcnet.org] On Behalf Of pete
Sent: Monday, August 15, 2011 7:57 AM
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Subject: [GMCnet] smooth sided gmc



Hey body finishing guru's:

Any new opinions, rants, or crazy ideas out there to achieve the smooth
sided look. With all the new materials being used in newer car construction
and its subsequent repair, you'd think there would be some new technologies
from 3m or whoever involving combining dissimilar materials.

All I get is the blank stare when I try to talk about anything but paint and
reducer at my local auto body supply house.

Has anybody had any non cracking success with the 1/8 x 2" aluminum and just
filling it in?
--
Pete
74 Canyon Lands 26' "Emery"
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