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leading up rockers and quarter seams?? #2744780
02/19/20 10:17 PM
02/19/20 10:17 PM
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northeast ohio
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hulmule Offline OP
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So being the cuda got new quarters put on I'm hearing different things. One person tells me I need to add lead to fill in the seams. Others tell me just use all metal and be done with it, thoughts??


1969 Dodge Coronet R/T Convertible
1979 LiL Red x2
2012 Yellow Jacket
2006 mega cab
1977 Trailduster
1979 Trailduster
Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: hulmule] #2744788
02/19/20 10:39 PM
02/19/20 10:39 PM
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INDIANA
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Paul Jacobs Offline
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Leading is my preferred way-we know it last 50 years, does all metal?

Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: Paul Jacobs] #2744804
02/19/20 11:35 PM
02/19/20 11:35 PM
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northeast ohio
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hulmule Offline OP
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been watching videos. my buddy wants to sand blast the places to lead. Cant we just grind down? I see they want a ruff surface anyway. 36-80 grit. Do you wipe with a degreaser (330). then apply the tinning , then lead. Tips on cleaning on anything ?


1969 Dodge Coronet R/T Convertible
1979 LiL Red x2
2012 Yellow Jacket
2006 mega cab
1977 Trailduster
1979 Trailduster
Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: Paul Jacobs] #2744836
02/20/20 07:28 AM
02/20/20 07:28 AM
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Nebraska
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4406bbl Offline
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Lead is the only way to go if you want it to last and not print or telegraph the seam thru. All metal is the last thing I would use, duraglass would be a better choice.

Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: hulmule] #2744872
02/20/20 10:19 AM
02/20/20 10:19 AM
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Nashville, TN
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MOPARMIKE69 Offline
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I have a step by step "how to" post about how to lead a seam. Go to https://moparconnectionmagazine.com/get-the-lead-out-leading-the-seams-of-comeback-cuda/. Not too hard and we tell you where to get everything needed to do the lead.

Last edited by MOPARMIKE69; 02/20/20 10:26 AM.

69 Road Runner vert
69 GTX hard top
70 Road Runner 4 speed
70 Hemi Cuda vert
Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: MOPARMIKE69] #2744894
02/20/20 11:34 AM
02/20/20 11:34 AM
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north of coder
moparx Offline
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is 70/30 the solder to use ?
anybody use 50/50 ?
beer

Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: moparx] #2744962
02/20/20 03:18 PM
02/20/20 03:18 PM
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Nebraska
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4406bbl Offline
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Originally Posted by moparx
is 70/30 the solder to use ?
anybody use 50/50 ?
beer


I have always used 70/30, thats what I was taught with, and still have about #25 of stix bought in 1981, so I know it lasts. I hear shops say the new bondos with kevlar are just as good, I doubt it.

Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: 4406bbl] #2745003
02/20/20 05:22 PM
02/20/20 05:22 PM
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Eagle, Idaho
Neil Offline
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You'll want to use lead as it will outlast any filler + it will expand and contract better than filler so you don't end up with lines in your paint, which will happen as I have seen it.

Lead work is something you may have to do yourself depending on who your painter guy is. Any sort of modern collision repair body shop won't touch the stuff. Guys that do insurance work will reject the idea because they have no idea how to do it and have no need for that skill in a world of bondo sculpting.

Local body supply shops don't even sell autobody dollys any more. They rough the damaged areas back into the general shape with hammers and pullers and cover it with bondo and then spend hours sanding it all back off.

Last edited by Neil; 02/20/20 05:26 PM.
Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: Neil] #2745017
02/20/20 06:17 PM
02/20/20 06:17 PM
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hudsonhornet7x Offline
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I fully weld my seams.

Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: hudsonhornet7x] #2745089
02/21/20 12:15 AM
02/21/20 12:15 AM
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Nebraska
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Originally Posted by Warhawk
I fully weld my seams.


It will still print thru eventually. I agree to fully weld then lead it.

Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: hudsonhornet7x] #2745095
02/21/20 12:51 AM
02/21/20 12:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Warhawk
I fully weld my seams.


On a quarter with long a long seam using a stitch welding practice, there's always some porosity/pin hole. Unless you repetitively keep going over those areas. That's where leading comes in. It will flow into those areas, whereas filler may just skim over them.

You want a solder with a large temperature differential wrt Solid & Liquid states.
Soft enough to paddle move, without flowing off.
But with a reasonable tensile/shear strength.
That's usually means middle ranges: usually 30/70 > 50/50.

WRT surface prep: A real ruff surface, while a plus for filler, not needed for lead.
Media blasting, while useful; requires very good cleaning prior to tinning.
Otherwise there will be voids in the tinned finish (i.e. embedded particles).
Just visualize a typical copper pipe joint prep: clean but not ruff nor mirror polished
WRT weld seams: Only MIG, No Flux-Core (again: cleaning of voids).
Wiping: Any good solvent which doesn't leave residue.

Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: PhillyRag] #2745309
02/21/20 08:49 PM
02/21/20 08:49 PM
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northeast ohio
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hulmule Offline OP
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So while im doing this wander if I should do the dutch panel seams. I know it wont look original but im looking for practical. Thank you for all the input. I sure do need a lot for restoring this cuda. May use lead in the door and other spots.


1969 Dodge Coronet R/T Convertible
1979 LiL Red x2
2012 Yellow Jacket
2006 mega cab
1977 Trailduster
1979 Trailduster
Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: hulmule] #2745374
02/22/20 03:23 AM
02/22/20 03:23 AM
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Originally Posted by hulmule
So while im doing this wander if I should do the dutch panel seams. I know it wont look original but im looking for practical. Thank you for all the input. I sure do need a lot for restoring this cuda. May use lead in the door and other spots.


Why not; convertibles had them filled as a necessity. Smaller area you can use the home type propane torch. Cheaper, easier to handle than Acet. torch. Practice on scrap with the propane, then move on to Acet foe larger areas. Use a nozzle that has a "softer" wide-broad flame. Stay away from using any Air-Powered sanders and such when "grinding-sanding " lead: it will make it Really Air Born. Vixen files & Hand sanders typically just let the heavy lead chips fall to floor & easy to sweep up.. But always wear some form of decent mask, gloves, long sleeve shirt, etc. You really don't need a Full-Blown-HazMat setup.

Practice on horizontal metal first, to get the "hang" of applying-spreading the lead. Then maybe some angled. Vertical is the tricky one to manage. Don't be alarmed if "globs" fall onto the floor. Have plenty of lead handy. As with welding: you really can't learn it by watching videos.
Go To It.

Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: PhillyRag] #2745425
02/22/20 10:07 AM
02/22/20 10:07 AM
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Little Detroit Offline
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leading is only real choice, for one specific reason , It Seals , if properly applied , its a simple old school procedure that relatively easy just a few simple rules too follow.
1. keep every thing clean thru every stage
2. use a lead file not a grinder
3. only use 70/30 body solder (lead )
4. use a good cleaning agent recommended for lead work. I make my own its simple and by far way cheaper and better than what you can buy. #3 equal parts of Alcohol , Ammonia and water put in 1 gal container skake it up pour in to a spray bottle .
5. sand all paint or coatings off of area to be leaded, be sure to take coatings off way further than you think you need, clean the bare metal with home made solution or metal prep of your choice, scrub with scotch bite pad and solution ,rinse with solution wipe off with Bounty paper towels ( bounty wont leave any fuzzies when wiping)
6. buy tinning paste is the easiest way to tin your metal before leading. Eastwood sells the tinning paste also buy a lot of acid brushes to apply paste. after coating the are to leaded with paste take your torch (nap gas will work fine) apply heat to tinning paste until it changes from grey color to brite silver like solder. be careful not get to close or stay in one area to long , just spread heat evenly over the entire tinned area, once it turns silver let cool for a few minutes , break out cleaning solution scotch brite pads (red ) and a good stainless steel wire brush , always use stainless steel brushes as they will not contaminate the surface , scrub surface with wire brush and solution until clean , then scrub again with solution and scotch brite pad then rinse with solution and wipe clean . be sure to get all black spots out as they are acid that cause problems later. (clean ,clean , and clean again between all stages)
7. you are now ready to apply your lead.
8. you will need a maple paddle and paravane wax ,you can purchase threw eastwood be sure to order enough wax (probably 2 small containers from eastwood) heat the wax until liquid and coat the paddle so that you can spread the lead push to wear needed.
9. with torch in one hand and lead stick in the other( keep paddle and wax with in reach) warm the body metal to be leaded , then heat the lead stick or warm it till soft approximately 2 inch's above the end of the lead stick and press on to the metal.put lead aside temporarily warm the lead and push around to where desired ,repeat leading process if more is needed. by this time you will probably need to apply more wax on your paddle . if you think you have enough lead , then gently warm the lead until it "STARTS" to turn color from grey to silver ,take your paddle with plenty of wax on it (crucial) run the paddle across the lead while applying warm heart as needed to smooth out the lead . once you think you achieved the level you needed let cool for a few minutes ,then clean with solution and wire brush and scotch brite pad , once clean take your lead file and file down to desired level, gently warm the lean again to see if any of the acid from the lead comes to surface, repeat cleaning process. if more lead is need repeat the process ,remember when adding additional lead to heat 2 or 3 inches above the end of the stick and gently warm the lead as you push it with the paddle and remember to use plenty of wax . repeat filing and cleaning process as needed. your last stage should be warming to draw acid to surface ,filing to finish then cleaning process . to prep surface for paint or thin coat of body filler the leaded surface must be paint with 3 coats of epoxy primer. hope this helps

Re: leading up rockers and quarter seams?? [Re: Little Detroit] #2745426
02/22/20 10:20 AM
02/22/20 10:20 AM
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North Dakota
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Little Detroit, yes, that helps immensely. up


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