Impossible hatch repair?

[EFI70Blazer]

Well, i finally decided to see if i can even fix my hatch today. Figured i had nothing to lose at it's present state. This will kind of be slow going since i have never done fiberglass repair and have limited time to work on it, but i am willing to give it a shot.

Here is what i have to start out with.





I then seperated it with a putty knife also sharpened on one side. Total time to do this was about an hr. I did do some new damage taking it apart, but for the most part it did seperate fairly well.

[EFI70Blazer]

I plan on foam filling the entire hatch before i glue it back together to hopefully give it more strength and stability

[fun in dirt]

You can do it! My hatch looked about like that once I got the globs of kitty hair off the PO put on it. Here is how I went about it http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=264025. I didn't post many pics of the after but can take some more if that'll help you. Just remember that it's useless like it sits now so you can't really screw it up only make it better!

[EFI70Blazer]

If you want to take some after pics that would be great. I need to get some measurements where the latch pieces go, because mine does not have those parts at all and i dont have the pieces to put back in either.

[cstanley]

i had no idea they separated like that! I'm watching...

[jaros44sr]

Had no idea either, should make the repair easier. Thanks for the info! I'll keep watching....J.

[Mint68]

Question....

Can you get the inside plates out with out spliting the hatch. Will the plate where the t-handle mounts slide out the side when the latches are removed.

[EFI70Blazer]

Originally Posted by Mint68

Question....

Can you get the inside plates out with out spliting the hatch. Will the plate where the t-handle mounts slide out the side when the latches are removed.

I dont see any way they can come out without splitting the hatch. You would also have to remove the rivets that hold the metal pieces in place.

[Mint68]

Originally Posted by EFI70Blazer

I dont see any way they can come out without splitting the hatch. You would also have to remove the rivets that hold the metal pieces in place.

That is what I figured. One hatch I have is perfect on the outside, and rusty on the inside. The second hatch is cracked in multiple places on the outside, but perfect on the inside. Maybe I will just split them both and frankenstien one together.

[jaros44sr]

Originally Posted by EFI70Blazer

I dont see any way they can come out without splitting the hatch. You would also have to remove the rivets that hold the metal pieces in place.

What if.... you cut an access hole, since you have to do fibreglas work any way, jat...J.

[EFI70Blazer]

Originally Posted by jaros44sr

What if.... you cut an access hole, since you have to do fibreglass work any way, jat...J.

You could probably do that, just cut a small hole for the end pieces, but the part over the hatch handle would take a pretty big hole.

[BUDDY]

Subscribed

IMHO, I'd go and check out a few topper hatches & how they latch closed. I have always thought that the o.e. style latches were a little fussy & problematic. I'd prefer, personally, that they be a bit simpler.

All that to say this. Since you basically have a blank canvas to do with whatever you'd like, why not make it work exactly how you'd like it to. Simplicity is priority, few but effective parts with little to wear out, & easy to adjust & maintain.

BTW - when I first got my blazer, the handle didn't lock. I looked high & low for a replacement key or for a locksmith who could work this out for me. Nothing worked because of the condition of the handle. I did however find that a regular garage door handle that you could & still can get from home depot or lowes fits into the square hole for the rod pivot perfectly, you just have to trim the length of the shank on the handle. For around 10 bucks you can have a new & shiny hatch handle that looks VERY close to OE.

Here's a link - https://www.hardwareworld.com

Later,
Buddy

[JayDubBlazer]

Keep us all posted, I am interested in doing some fiberglass work this summer if it isn't too difficult

[65-72 chevytoys]

Mine needs some work too. I will be watching to see how it goes and to get some tips before doing mine. Good luck with the project.

[DANTES JIMMY]

might sound stupid but if you are foam filling it any way (wich i think is an awesome idea) how about putting in a metal or wood frame around it on the inside and then fill it with foam it will rattle until the foam sets but wouldnt that really stiffen it up
it would be like using rebar on concrete kinda reinforce the foam
i have also considered replacing the side struts with gas charged struts off of a late model something or other they make them in all sizes and stroke
just a thought i need to do this to my hatch also so i will be watching this thread closely
just puttin my 2 cents on some thoughts i have had for mine when i get ready to tackle

[tdkosta]

Any progress with the shop and or hatch repair?

[Angelse68cal]

Cool keep the play by play pics coming.

[EFI70Blazer]

Sorry, no more progress yet. Been ripping out fence and cleaning out all the stumps. Hopefully will have a shop going in sometime in July.

[69-72]

You do know you can buy a brand new hatch for $400-$500 bucks right?

[BUDDY]

Originally Posted by 69-72

You do know you can buy a brand new hatch for $400-$500 bucks right?

Come on! That's not the point. Besides 4-500 bucks is a lot of money to me. If he's anything like me he has more time than money. If I could spend a few weekends & a few bucks on supplies to come up with the same results that you could get for 4-500 dollars, I'd be ahead, not only in money spent but also in knowledge & experience.

Later,
Buddy

[EFI70Blazer]

Originally Posted by 69-72

You do know you can buy a brand new hatch for $400-$500 bucks right?

Yep, but you can buy a lot of fiberglass for $500 and i don't really have the money anyway. For $50 in fiberglass i should have my hatch repaired back to new.

[69-72]

Chill out, I was just making sure he knows, some people don't.

[tdkosta]

From what I've read on some past posts the repops aren't a great fit and you've got to do some work to get them to fit, so either route you take there will be some work involved.