Re: Preservation /vs/ Appearance

Posted by Tony Parisi on July 24, 1998 at 17:42:26

In Reply to: Preservation /vs/ Appearance
posted by Fred Murphy on July 24, 1998 at 10:18:25

:Just started working on restoring body panels on my Town Sedan and some of the body parts have typical rust pitting,holes,and broken and ripped metal.I have just recieved my second pair of front fenders and have two pairs of rear fenders.Both sets are original and have simular problems.To finish these pieces off to look presentable not perfect looks like it will require welding and body filler.Is there any other way to repair pitting than a thin coat of body filler or building the primer heavey enough to fill pitting.With repairing most of the dents they still would show some wave under black paint.I don't like using body filler but the alternative would be to purchase reproduction metal fenders.It would have cost me about the same for two sets of original virsus a set of reproduction.What's a better call patched originals or reproduction? What say Yee!

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I say...use the originals if at all possible.I had to use repro steel rear sedan fenders and they really don't fit as the originals would.My advice is not to try to patch holes any way other than by welding and then sealing the welds.If you try to use fillers, they eventually will bubble the paint by moisture from beneath.Fiberglass mat properly used will work also, again make sure that it gets sealed on the back side.Body fillers i.e. Bondo is only supposed to be use in very thin coats and not to fill large dents as it can break free in time.My advice is not to skimp on these repairs if you want a lasting job that you will feel good about.On my car, all of the bad metal was cut out and replaced with new metal patch panels that were welded in.Now the body and doors are just like new...and I feel good about what others won't see.Also a local bogy shop may be a good source of advice even if they don't do much of the work.I found one that became interested in my project and was super happy to help with both advice and some monor work.As a reward I gave him the painting job...which he did at a very fair cost.

good luck.




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