Need help with body seam material

[71ProjectJunk]

Been working on replacing the Mustangs lower A-Pillar, got that all welded in, and repaired part of the lower rocker. As I am looking on the other side of the rocker where the B-pillar meets the rocker, inside the door jamb (not the area that you can see from the outside of the car) there was a bit of rust right on edge of where the rocker and the B-pillar meet. I took the drill and wire wheel and went to work on removing the rust, but as I did so, I removed whatever material was there that that covered that seam. Now I have a small gap there, its not a rust hole, its just the separation of the B-pillar to the rocker. What did Ford use to cover this seam? What it just seam sealer? Did they apply the seam sealer into this gap and then paint over it? Or did they use lead of something else in there? Maybe this was welded and when a previous repair was done it was not welded and just some seam sealer was applied? Regrettably this car has been worked on in this area before, so I am not even sure that was was done there was actually correct.

 

[c9zx]

If I remember correctly, seam sealer was used there. Others will respond as well. Chuck

 

[tpj71mach]

All of the seams should be sealed, the manufacturers sealed all of the metal to metal seams before paint. I use Fusor brand 803DTM sealer. This is a direct to metal sealer but I always make sure there is a epoxy primer base before I apply the sealer. The best way I have found is to mask both sides of the seam and apply the sealer and smooth down with an acid brush, then remove the masking. This allows you to determine how wide you want the bead of sealer to be and gives a nice straight edge. The problem here is it can give a too restored look as the factory did not take this care with seam sealer. There were places on my car where the original sealer was just gobbed into corners or around welded parts like the rear bumper reinforcements in the trunk. I prefer a cleaner look even though it may not look original.

 

[71ProjectJunk]

That is what I though, that it was just seam sealer. Thanks for the confirmation.

 

[timachone]

Like previous said it is simply seam sealer. I always apply primer first, then sealer, then the paid. Here is an example as I did on the trunk.