Filler Over Lead

[rancheroo]

The Mustang I'm working on had an inch long verticle crack in the quarter panel right at the rear edge of the back window. In order to weld it up, I melted away about an inch of the lead seam where the roof meets quarter.

My question is, can I use a filler to build this area up so that it blends into the lead? Also need to put some kind of filler on the lead to smooth out wire brush marks & scraper gouges. Any issues there?

I really don't want to end up having to melt out the entire lead seam & use filler in it's place.

Rick

[NATEMC]

I have always just used an "all metal" filler over those lead seams. Then a thin coat of regular filler to make it smooth. Of course you want to rough up the metal and the lead so the filler has a grit to hang on to. Be very careful about how you make the grit in the lead, they say never to use a grinder, not only because of breathing the dust but just having the lead dust on your skin is bad. I try to use a file any time I work lead.

I am not saying that this is the best way to do it, just what I do. Ive never had any problems but I will be watching this thread to hear other peoples recommendations.

[JohnnyK]

I too am in the same boat. I was going to use short strand fiberglass and top with filler. Would that work as well?

[Len]

As long as the leading was done properly you should be able to just grind it a little like you do on steel and apply any decent body filler. It's the same for applying filler over fiberglass just grind to so that it's clean and textured then press the filler into the texture as you spread it.

[rancheroo]

Thanks fellas. Like I said, I had to melt away the lead seam in order to weld. The lead is close to a quarter of an inch thick, so I scuffed it up real good with some 60 grit & filled it with metal to metal & it looks great. Thanks for your help.

I know that there are folks out there that think metal to metal is a gimic, but I've never had an issue sealing/filling patch panels wit it.

Thanks again, Rick