I will be removing my rubber nose on my 85 Choo Choo next weekend to try and reinforce the dips in the rubber. My plan was to fiberglass in some wood in each top section to make each section stay flat after bolt up. My question is would foam be better than wood or any other ideas on what to use to make the rubber stiffer across the front adjcent to the hood.
Dos anyone have any experience doing this kind of mod? What can I expect, any pitfalls or shimming ideas? Any hidden fasteners on the nose section?
Would clamping be the best way during cure of the fiberglass?
Thanks in advance....

No one has any ideas at all????????????

Hey Rod, I've never really messed with fiberglass, but your concept with the wood sounds feasible. I'm not so sure on foam, it may give some. I'd like to know how it comes out, whatever you do with it, I may be working with one soon myself.

Good luck,
Lee "Caveman49"

try the fiberglass in a not visible part first. there are some materials that "melt" when the glass is curing. gets hot. try some kind of thick steel instead of the wood. the wood "bleeds" and will separate the fiberglass.do not use preassure treated wood.that will definitely bleed. try taking the piece to "place" and then reinforce on the "inside". i work on my boat and my car with fiber. it is good,but you have to know it

I just finished using fiberglass with 1/4 inch plywood. i clamped everything down flat during cure but later thought that the design was not totally flat when new. I may have trouble reinstalling because of clamping flat but the fiberglass has cured now so it is too late to adjust.

Thanks for your input but I had done the repair befor reading your post. I would have used metal if I would have read your reply first.

The end result was a little better but If I do it again I will use metal instead of wood and cover the entire underside. The mistake I made was only covering the dip area but once the dip area was reinforced dips appered in the area not reenforced.

Thanx for the feedback Rod, we learn as we go eh!

3M makes a product that is a two part urethane plastic repair. I have a body shop and we use this product along with strips of fiberglass matting to reinforce the under side of urethane bumpers we repair.


The 3M product number is 8231. If you know someone in the BS business as them to borrow their applicator gun for this. Don't buy one just for a one time use, they are in the neighborhood of $100.00. The plastic repair kits are approx. $25.00.