Fixing plastic on a BX.

[dodge man]

My BX 2350 needs some repair to the plastic side panels. Some of the damage is my fault, most of the problem is the fact the plastic tabs that hold it on are broken. I was using large washers to hold it but one side the tab is almost gone.

I am thinking of taking metal straps and running it down the sides maybe 12 inches and booting them to the sides with large washers, the bending it 90 degrees and hooking it over where the studs are for the plastic tabs. Any chance this will work? I am afraid this might just crank the plastic over time where I drill holes to hold the metal straps.

Any other ideas?

 

[SARG]

Perhaps rather than using metal straps you could use some of the very heavy belting material I've seen at TSC ( I actually bought some to create the inserts for the snow blower impellers that have been discussed on this forum often ) That material is semi-rigid and would flex ... but is still remarkably tough and would hold together. Maybe a combination of both.

 

[dodge man]

I have some old bed mat, that might be worth a try.

 

[AStanton]

Are you on good terms with any local auto body shops? Maybe if you brought a panel in for them to examine, they might have some good pointers on repair.

 

[stingray1]

Could you bond your metal straps on the inside of the panel with fiberglass cloth and resin? I have a cracked side panel that I welded on the inside with a soldering iron,then fiberglassed over the weld.

 

[Homeline]

Could you bond your metal straps on the inside of the panel with fiberglass cloth and resin? I have a cracked side panel that I welded on the inside with a soldering iron,then fiberglassed over the weld.

+1 on the welding. Obtain some doner orange plastic & a plastic welder or HD Weller soldering gun & go to town. I did this on some fender liners for my old Mazda. Worked great.

 

[geoff l]

I have had some success welding with a soldering iron and zip ties, you can reinforce with wire or light mesh.

 

[stingray1]

I weld from the back side only,just line up the cracked pieces in the original position. If the repair is done right it is hard to spot from the outside,no holes,bolts/washers,zip ties or repainting.

 

[dodge man]

In the case of the tabs that hold to panels on, the tabs are pretty much gone. I need to start over I guess if I'm welding plastic on.

 

[stingray1]

In the case of the tabs that hold to panels on, the tabs are pretty much gone. I need to start over I guess if I'm welding plastic on.

I thank you have a good idea using the metal straps to make the hooks. I would just bond them to the inside of the panel with Fiberglas and resin. I only welded my panel because it was cracked (my hooks are in good shape) and just used the fiberglas to give it a little extra strength. Good luck with the repair.