I have recently tried the 3M Panel Bonding on a patch panel and i works well However i was wondering if it can be used for floor pans? I heard it is stronger than a weld but do you think it can handle the torque even from casual driving?
Not personal experience, but one of my friends was talking about this today. He told me that he has a buddy who put floor pans, trunk floors and quarters in a 442 (pre-73 version) and it has lasted for over 10 years with no problems. He's sold on the structural adhesives and was trying to convince me to bond my new trunk panels instead of welding them.
Body shops have been using structural adhesives for years on various panel installations - door skins mostly. Probably be a good idea to check with the adhesive manufacturer to see if they approve its use on floor pans though. I'd be concerned about water intrusion, and in a unibody, structural integrity.
I'd be more comcernd with flexability and with that, cracking = seperation, and death? There are many bulit proof glues and epoxys out now but they may not be compatible with the materials, some materials will expand and contract at a different rate than the adhesieve. some have no flexabilty at all! A door skin is one thing, a floor....I'll stick with good old welded in.
I sell the 3M panel bond here at Napa and have had numerous customers use it to bond in floor panels. It seems to resist water and seam seperation better than welds and is of course much easier to use. One of my body shops said a customers car was involved in a second accident after a repair and the bond adhesive didn't even crack. I had another friend who repaired his trucks bed floor with it about 5 years ago and it has held up without issue even after many loads of landscaping stones.
Thanks for that information. Sure seems like an easier and safer way to do many jobs. Just think, you could chop a top without removing the interior! Or turn a wagon into a sedan delivery the same way. Maybe add 59 Caddy tailfins to a green Satellite station wagon.
Subtle Cat very subtle...the best part is sheet metal repairs and mods can be done without heat and the chance of warping and ruining a perfectly good panel.
Alot of shops are using panel adhesives with good results. I've used them a few times but after one job I'm a little leary of them. I glued a door skin on a 72 Chevelle and a year later the same door got hit again. The adhesive held up fine but what worried me was how easy it was to remove the skin that I had glued on. I basically stuck a screwdriver behind the flange and twisted and it just popped off way too easily. I used the SEM brand on it and it seemed kind of crystalised and brittle. Since I've been welding panels on for over 35 years I just went back to doing it that way..
Living in places like Arizona and Florida, there is a lot of sun heat on panels like doors. Could become a problem. Then maybe another brand works better. I'll write more about this after we bond the 59 Caddy tailfins to deweys Satellite while he's at work. He won't notice till next Fall since he is not working on the interior anymore. You want subtle? You got it!
With all respect Dewey, I think we will agree to disagree. Yes I belive they work, but I believe they will fail if not properly mixed/instaled under the correct conditions. and the certain aplication aplies. Not on automotive, but I have seen "this" fail several times in Architectural sheet metal. The only time I have seen good out of this auto wise is on the Cougar Forums where a rusted out roof from a vynal top was patched and the other wise mint car was repaired/repainted. Just me but, is anyone else out there gona strap a baby seat to a seat that the floor is 'glued' down? With respect Dewey...'s man!
No problem Tedy. I was just throwing out my opinion on the subject. To be quite honest I am not a body man and someone with the experience you have would have a much better idea of what works and doesn't in the real world. No offense taken whatsoever.
ah shoot! I was hoping to see a fist fight when we show up in Lake Powell! Oh well...glad you guys can discuss rather than argue. Good family relations here. And I don't know if that stuff is good or not...I use duct tape.
Fights are no fun when there are no teeth flying out, a denture just does'nt have the same "pazzazz" flying across the room so whats the point?
