| Author | Message | ||
| Paul (Pcelenta)
Member Username: Pcelenta Post Number: 291 Registered: 7-2002 |
I believe that around 1980 ferrari began making the front spoilers from steel on the standard spoilers.. | ||
| Andy Falsetta (Tuttebenne)
New member Username: Tuttebenne Post Number: 9 Registered: 3-2003 |
my 77 308 has small flares in each of the lower valances behind the wheels (front and rear) rather than conforming to the "tuck" of the rocker panel. I have not seen these on other cars and wonder where they originated from. Has anyone else seen this? The front's are metal and the rears are fiberglass and yes, are orange gelcoated. | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 384 Registered: 8-2002 |
Getting down deep enough during the current repair/rebuild, my euro front spoiler on my US spec car also has the orange gel coat, as seen in the photo.  | ||
| lou staller (Lou_staller)
New member Username: Lou_staller Post Number: 21 Registered: 12-2002 |
I checked with a magnet and my front spoiler is metal. Which is OK because the very front is dented from the PO banging into things. This way I can hammer the dents out. If it was fiberglass it would have been torn to threads. Thanks for the input on the 'orange stuff'. | ||
| Mike Charness (Mcharness)
Member Username: Mcharness Post Number: 365 Registered: 8-2002 |
I just had my valance (w/euro spoiler) removed to have some damage repaired and for it to be repainted. It appeared to be all fiberglass, though there seems to be metal embedded for the flanges where it attaches. | ||
| Brian Keegan (4redude)
Junior Member Username: 4redude Post Number: 86 Registered: 7-2002 |
Yes the lower rear quarters are fiberglass and covered in orange gelcoat. The USA front spoilers were available in steel or fiberglass I believe, but the Euro deep spolier was always fiberglass. The front spoilers (factory spare parts) I have seen in orange and gray, but the rear quarters were always orange. | ||
| lou staller (Lou_staller)
New member Username: Lou_staller Post Number: 20 Registered: 12-2002 |
I've worked with fiberglass before but never saw orange gelcoat. Weird color but then again... I also don't think the lower front fenders or spoiler are fiberglass. I'm at work so I can't check but I'm pretty sure they are sheet metal. My car is a US QV model. Maybe the Euro model with the larger spoiler are fiberglass. But I'll check mine later. Thanks to all. | ||
| Chris Coffing (Valence)
New member Username: Valence Post Number: 5 Registered: 3-2003 |
The orange stuff is probably gelcoat. This product is used as a smooth outside layer on fiberglass parts. Without it, these parts would be slightly porus and almost impossible to properly paint. Why orange? It's easy for the fiberglass fabricator to see any bubbles or dry spots in his laminate when that first opaque coat in the mold (on the outside of the part after de-molding) is a bright color like orange. Gelcoat is what gives most fiberglass boats their color and smooth finish. | ||
| Jerry W. (Tork1966)
Member Username: Tork1966 Post Number: 563 Registered: 7-2001 |
I have orange on my '79, particularly on the inside of the rear wheel wells. | ||
| Verell Boaen (Verell)
Member Username: Verell Post Number: 626 Registered: 5-2001 |
Yes, both the lower half of the rear quarter panel, and also the lower half of the front fenders/spoiler are fiberglass. The orange is probably some form of filler. Ferrari used a fair amount of filler to get the panels smooth. | ||
| lou staller (Lou_staller)
New member Username: Lou_staller Post Number: 19 Registered: 12-2002 |
Is the lower rear 1/4 panel on a '84 308 GTS QV fiberglass? Mine is and I'm wondering if that's the way Ferrari built it. I've also come across some bright orange 'stuff' under the factory black paint. Is it psychedelic bondo? |