[64speed]

This might need to be in the body section but I get much more traffic here and I’m kinda worried. AMD did the quarter panel install at their installation center in Cleveland GA 8 years ago now. The car had been hit so everything from the doors back has been replaced. The seam where the filler panel between the back glass and the trunk lid has developed a tiny crack where it was leaded together. Any idea what could have caused it?

[chuckies76ta]

Too much H/P. Usually causes hair line cracks. Shrinkage of filler/paint product. Another think I was told long time ago was, shocking the paint/body from wheel hop. Of course it' could be a sign of metal moving under the paint.

[steve25]

Many times that takes place because of inexperience in using lead, or a rush leading job.

If the whole area surrounding where the lead is going is not hot enough then the lead cools and re-sets too fast and is more brittle then it should be.

[tjs72lemans]

Many cars at that area develop problems. And it's not from too much torque. Over time, just the lead itself can develop issues with bonding to the original metal under it. I bought a 72 vert Lemans that had new paint on it and never been driven (no motor in). The rear lead on both sides had a crack just from the guy trailering from Kentucky to WI. The guy never painted the hood or passenger door as well as valances, so I ground the lead out. I made steel patches to weld in and skim over that and repainted whole car. 2500 miles and no cracks.

[Schurkey]

Rotted body bushings and weak body bushing hardware can also make that worse.

[64speed]

Brand new body bushings

[HWYSTR455]

Originally Posted by tjs72lemans

Many cars at that area develop problems. And it's not from too much torque. Over time, just the lead itself can develop issues with bonding to the original metal under it. I bought a 72 vert Lemans that had new paint on it and never been driven (no motor in). The rear lead on both sides had a crack just from the guy trailering from Kentucky to WI. The guy never painted the hood or passenger door as well as valances, so I ground the lead out. I made steel patches to weld in and skim over that and repainted whole car. 2500 miles and no cracks.

I'm pretty sure that's what my body guy (old timer) did on my 'bird, removed the lead and welded a plate/cover in. He was saying that's a better way than lead and I figured he knows.

Had a guy in the early 80s that was very good at leading in the roof/quarter mating area and it lasted about 6 years and started to show. He had done 100s of cars and even he said it will always start to show in time. Mine shrank some too and became wavy. There was a hairline crack in the skim coat.

But, after that, it stayed like that and didn't get worse for over 30 years.


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[64speed]

Is this just a flaw I have to deal with as an annoyance or do I need to get this fixed immediately

[chuckies76ta]

I would just leave it.

[grivera]

Originally Posted by 64speed

Is this just a flaw I have to deal with as an annoyance or do I need to get this fixed immediately

Can you post a pic?

[HWYSTR455]

I will look and see if I have a specific pic too. I have so many pics tho, might take me a little while...


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[HWYSTR455]

Just to say, I lived with it for years, but that's a personal preference thing.

I guess it depends on how bad/noticeable it is. So yes, a pic would help.


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[HWYSTR455]

All the pics I have are scans of actual prints, and are too grainy when you zoom in, sorry.

But i did look.

The original work was done in like '83, and I had one repaint in like '98, so nothing I have will be digital.

The paint job I had done was kind of a 'scuff & shoot', and after af ew years the area in question became noticeable, but the crack was just a small line and waves under the paint.

As an FYI, they would probably have to shoot the whole back of the car to fix it. At least to do it right, anyway. It's very difficult to blend an area and reshoot it as a spot, and can come back years later worse than it is now.

When you shoot a whole car, the paint kind of 'flows' into one continuous coat. Any 'disruption' to that coat can become obvious. Paint 'shrinks' too, and that take time. So you might not see it at first, but a while down the road. Sometimes years.

But you can talk to your body guy, since technically, it's an imperfection. If he's a really solid guy, he will warranty it. If so, be prepared for him to have it for a while.




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[64speed]

Here is a picture

[GtoFM]

From what I’ve heard, this is typical on ‘64-5. They may not have replaced that joint and just used filler. This is a pic of mine and the LH side is the same. I may need to sweat out the lead.

[HWYSTR455]

They may not have to do a large section to blend that area, but not sure, you should show it to and ask your body guy. Technically, it is warranty work.

If you don't want to go through the trouble, that could even be touched up. A 'dent' repair place may be able to do it, it's good the paint is new, and you have the paint code.

The body guy may even have leftover paint. Usually a good body guy will save whatever paint is left over and provide it with the car at pickup.

Still say the first thing is to talk to your body guy.


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[64speed]

It wasn’t done by my body guy. It was actually done by AMD. I will call them. I have a quart of paint

[HWYSTR455]

I would still talk to your body guy first, it was his responsibility to check any and all work before prep & paint. AMD didn't paint it.

AMD will just strip and fix it, it would be your responsibility to get it finished if you went to them.



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[64speed]

Is it gonna hurt anything to push it down the list a little because I have a lot to do to the car to “finish” it. Is it gonna hurt anything?

[HWYSTR455]

Not really, and other stuff may crop up too. I still think a phone call would be in order though, plant the seed so to speak.



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