How many people have left there mk4s in red gelcote?
I am contimplating leaving the car in the red gelcote for a year or so before geting it painted.
How difficult is it to get rid of the mold lines and make it look half way decent?
Thanks,
Jim
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How many people have left there mk4s in red gelcote?
I am contimplating leaving the car in the red gelcote for a year or so before geting it painted.
How difficult is it to get rid of the mold lines and make it look half way decent?
Thanks,
Jim
That is a very common and good idea.
FFR MkII, 408W, Tremec TKO 500, 2015 IRS, DA QA1s, Forte front bar, APE hardtop.
I'm only 2 weeks in.. but.. that's what I'm doing. I left the parting lines alone too. I just set my panel gaps.. left them pretty tight actually.. and am driving it around as we speak. I plan to drive it this way until about July/Aug... when it's a bit toooo hot down here.. then I'll send her for Paint.
I ran mine in gel-coat the first driving season and highly recommend it, you get to enjoy it sooner and you can schedule to have the paint & body-work done over the off-season, while you're working on the interior & carpet (also gives you an opportunity to flush out any issues the first driving season and address them when the body comes off for paint).
Mine made our club calendar in gel-coat.
20131231 Photshoot04.jpg
F5R #7446: MK4, 302, T5 midshift, 3.55 Posi IRS, 17" Halibrands
Delivered 4/4/11, First start 9/29/12, Licensed 4/24/13, off to PAINT 2/15/14!! Wahoo!
My Build Thread: http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...ter-Build-9754
(Most viewed Roadster build thread on this forum!)
Delivered: 6/17/2017
First Start: 12/30/2017
Completed: 12/7/2019
Legal: 1/30/2020
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double post
F5R #7446: MK4, 302, T5 midshift, 3.55 Posi IRS, 17" Halibrands
Delivered 4/4/11, First start 9/29/12, Licensed 4/24/13, off to PAINT 2/15/14!! Wahoo!
I will likely go RED-GEL before going RED-PAINT too.
I cut the body mold lines down, not all the way yet, by blue taping both sides of each line and then going at it with of all things, Cheepo Emory Boards.
The doors have been clearanced with my trusty belt sander and open just fine, however, I have yet to do the hood and trunk.
It looks petty good from a distance of 20 feet or so.
https://youtu.be/IGYtX-3p7xk
Last edited by GoDadGo; 01-15-2018 at 05:49 PM.
I have a long way to go until I get to that point, but that's what I'm going to do. Depending how the funds are looking at that point, it may be longer than one driving season. I've been thinking it would be fun do the dip-your-car coating and try a bunch of different colors for a few years. My family really wants me to do lime green, doing dip-your-car would make them happy.
Started dreaming of a Cobra around 1987
Purchased Complete Kit 6/9/2017, Delivered 9/4/2017, Rolling Chassis 3/30/2018, Engine Dyno'ed 3/4/2022, Engine installed 8/27/2022
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Serial #9158
Design Engineer at BluePrint Engines
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Jeff
F5R #7446: MK4, 302, T5 midshift, 3.55 Posi IRS, 17" Halibrands
Delivered 4/4/11, First start 9/29/12, Licensed 4/24/13, off to PAINT 2/15/14!! Wahoo!
I ran mine in gelcoat for well over 2 years! Smile never faded. It was hardcore looking back then, and still got tons of thumbs-ups!
FFR 5369 Pin Drive, IRS, Trigos, Torsen, Wilwoods, FMS BOSS 302 "B" cam , Mass-flo. CA SB100 (SPCN) Registered
Delivered 4/23/06. "Finished" 4/2012 (still not done!)
Nothing wrong with driving in gel coat.
One huge note though. Do not put anything on the gelcoat. No wax, no armor all, no nothing. Your painter will hate you.
I ran mine in gel coat for a month. Worked out a few bugs then couldn't wait to get the body off and start the body work. These things are far to attractive to be seen without paint.
Thanks for all of the responses.
I'm about 45 days away from delivery.
The verdict is in... maybe knock the seams down a bit and drive for a year.
Jim
Mine has been in gel coat for almost 5 years. I take it to the track whenever possible and I would have a tendency to tip- toe around the course if a $6,000 paint job was at stake. Besides, most people think it's painted until they get up close and I have to explain the mold marks.
Mark IV -- 04 Mach1 Donor -- 4.6 DOHC -- TKO 600 -- 3:55 Gears -- 3 Link - Hydroboost PS & PB -- 13" PBR's Front & 11.65's Rear -- Cuesta Wiring -- Thompson Signals -- FFR Radiator, heater, wipers, and catalytic converters -- Metco DS safety loop -- Forte 7/8" front bar -- VPM 3/4" rear bar -- Champ road race pan -- Corbeau A4 Seats -- Nitto NT-05's on 17 x 9's.
Jim,
Reach out to Jay (ThickCobra) and get on over to his place to check out his car. It's done and on the road, but in gelcoat still.
Hope to see you in the spring!
Later,
Chris
"There are no more monsters to fear, and so, we have to build our own."
Mk3.1 #7074
Chris, you do know the car is on a lift, semi hibernating. Lol. As for your wagon, outstanding. I remember riding in the back, kind of a rumble seat with no seatbelts. And, a rear door that hinged both ways. I am exploring restoring a F2 series 1948 - 1951 Ford pick up. Trying to source one. I can tow your wagon when it breaks down.
Packet Fan, PM me and more than welcome to visit.
Mk4 Roadster 20th Anniversary #8658. 04 of 20. 3.31 IRS.
Forte 427 Dart, TKO 600, Quick Fuel 780 carb. Delivered 9/2/2015, First start/Go Cart 2/18/2017.
Road Legal August 31, 2017
Driving mine in gelcoat
I drove mine in gelcoat for about 4 months. DO NOT put anything on it. Also do not put any shiny stuff, Armorall, etc on your tires when in gelcoat.
I sanded the seams, and rattle canned them to blend, and drove it like that for 4-5 years. I had several people tell me they liked the vintage looking patina.
Roadster Mk3 5294, 302 Comp XE276HR cam, AFR 185 heads, 650 Quick fuel carb, Air Gap intake, T-5 3.55 gear Levy Upper & Lower Front and Rear control arms Purch Jan 2008 Tagged Mar 2012 Best ET 12.14 @113** SOLD 4/8/18 **
YouTube Videos: Current performance - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7c...86xO3U4l4RtVMQ Older build - http://www.youtube.com/user/joeembery#p/u My Pics:
http://s207.photobucket.com/user/Joe...?sort=6&page=1
OK Guys,
What happens if something - wax, armor-all etc., - is applied to the gelcoat?
I appreciate the warnings to not do something but a why would enhance understanding.
Jim
My Build Thread: http://thefactoryfiveforum.com/showt...ter-Build-9754
(Most viewed Roadster build thread on this forum!)
Delivered: 6/17/2017
First Start: 12/30/2017
Completed: 12/7/2019
Legal: 1/30/2020
Member of the Mile-Hi Cobra Club
Dave's Cobra YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbk...npK1UZHj4R-bYQ
Agora 1:8 Scale Cobra Build: https://thefactoryfiveforum.com/show...l-Build-Thread
A lot of those products contain silicone and other chemicals that can cause a lot of problems with paint prep. The gel coat on the bodies is pretty rough. Lots of pin holes and seams that allow chemicals to penetrate into the fiberglass. Very difficult to get everything thing clean later. I have seen a couple FFR bodies with bubbles where the paint separated. One of these cars was painted by a very reputable painter. I can only assume it was an issue with a foreign substance.
Last edited by CDXXVII; 01-17-2018 at 10:13 PM.
Going on three years and 1500 miles in gel coat. Enjoyed not having to worry about rock chips and messing up a show quality paint job while I have learned to drive it. One of these days I'll have to get it shipped to one of the Jeff's but for now I want to drive the heck out of it. Enjoy it in gel coat!
Thanks Guys.
Explanation appreciated, will save problems as things progress.
I have been thinking about cleaning up the seams and going to primer.
Jim
I just finished my first season in gelcoat. I will get it painted next winter after I take some autocross training.
Gary
IMG-0407a.jpg
Mark IV base kit, 2015 Coyote, Wilwood brakes, IRS-3.55 TruTrac, T56, ABS, PS, Nitto G2, Carbon fiber Dash