The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Paint and Body Shop 37 truck fiberglass parts

With 30+ years experience in composites (carbon fiber/fiberglass/kevlar) I can speak with a bit of authority.

First: Many (most??) fiberglass manufacturers run more parts through a mold than the mold is designed for. As the parts cure they create heat which over time warps the mold. This leaves the parts requiring a certain amount of tweaking before they fit right. Some a bit of tweaking, some a LOT of tweaking. Depending on how comfortable you are with having to modify a part to make it fit is one consideration.

Second: Fiberglass expands and contracts more than metal and more than most topcoats can withstand. Over time nearly all painted fiberglass parts will show checking (spiderwebbing/cracking) of the paint. Look at about any vintage 'Vette with original paint to see what they'll look like. Whether or not you'll be happy with that is another consideration.

Third: Composites can take more minor abuse than steel without showing structural damage. The other side of that coin is metal will dent and still be serviceable where fiberglass, once it reaches the point of failure, is a total loss. Once it breaks it has NO structural integrity. It can be repaired but repair is costly and usually not visually pleasing.

Composites have their place, including in the automotive world but one needs to be aware of the idiosyncrasies of composites and be willing to live with that. Good luck with your project.