Sanding Rounded Body Lines ('73 Firebird)

[firstyearta]

First off, I am by means no professional body and paint man but I have done my fair share of both over the past 20+ years. The car I am working on is a 1973 Firebird. I understand how to get nice straight body lines but the problem is the body line in the center of the body is not a crisp line, it's slightly rounded. I have blocked the panels down to the point I actually have a crisp line, but now I need to go back and round it off but I can't for the life of me figure out how to do this with out destroying the nice straight lines I have. I'd GREATLY appreciate some ideas on this.

[Len]

First off, I am by means no professional body and paint man but I have done my fair share of both over the past 20+ years. The car I am working on is a 1973 Firebird. I understand how to get nice straight body lines but the problem is the body line in the center of the body is not a crisp line, it's slightly rounded. I have blocked the panels down to the point I actually have a crisp line, but now I need to go back and round it off but I can't for the life of me figure out how to do this with out destroying the nice straight lines I have. I'd GREATLY appreciate some ideas on this.

Where on the car? Pictures?

[firstyearta]

Center body line between both wheel wells.
Here's a picture of the car:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/2356310...7625604161317/

[Len]

My best filler man (Mike) uses a piece of tape to mark the center of the peak then applies filler on one side, board or block sands then moves the tape and fills the other side then sands that side. You want to be sure to use a guide coat so that you can see exactly what you're doing.

LINK

You would make the peak then round it off using a 16" or longer block.

[firstyearta]

That is exactly how I got the nice straight peak. I was afraid if I sanded the peak off with a long block it would just make it flat or make the straight line wavy.

[Len]

That is exactly how I got the nice straight peak. I was afraid if I sanded the peak off with a long block it would just make it flat or make the straight line wavy.

It probably would make it flat if you sanded straight back and forth but to round it off evenly you should sand along and around it at the same time kinda like //// then \\\\ but a little more horizontal than these lines and use 80 grit to do the shaping then finer grit to remove the 80 scratch before priming.

[firstyearta]

Okay, great. I'll give it a shot and hope for the best.