What to use, for filling in pits.

[Chlngrcrzy]

I need a little feedback from you all. I have areas on my roof top that have these pits. They are not rusted through and if i tried to replace and patch all of these areas i jsut as well as chop the top. So what i was thinking was to clean the rust out of them, and then fill them in with something. Can i use Por 15 or Rust bullit, on the top and then finish filling with a filler? A vinyl top will eventually be covering it. I also thought about lead, but it would be a lot more work. As long as i can get the pits cleaned out and filled in, i should be okay, right?

[Wang]

 bad question with some trick answers...  Pits as you show can be perforation,(rusted all the way thru) and you just dont realize it. If they are that deep, you have to remember that there cannot be that much metal left.

With that said, lets move on.   

Any place on your car that is a lower area such as bottom of a door , quarter, lower fender, rocker... AND if it has pits like this,,,you need to replace the metal. PERIOD.

Roof, and upper flat areas can withstand more 'cheating'. BUT it IS necessary to be certain the metal is clean all the way down into the pit. If it is not , your time has been wasted.

Once clean, use your choice of body filler. (I will remind you, ONLY if it is NOT perforated) Smoothe and prime as needed. I Highly recommend an Epoxy primer as the first coating technique after mudwork of this kind, then follow up with  a high build 2k primer. 

[426HEMI]

With pits like that I personally would use fiberglas.  It would give it strength and also seal it.  If you use bondo then bondo will attract moisture and it will rust more.  Just my thoughts and what I do.  Only other thing is they used lead in the past to fill things like this.

[Bullitt-]

On one of the shows on TV the guy used a brazing torch & bronze, I think, welding rod....the technique used in body work before the mig welder became popular.

[426HEMI]

The only thing with Brazing is the heat factor is warpage.  I have done some of this but prefer using fiberglass

[Bullitt-]

Problem I've heard with adding glass to metal is that there are different expansion rates & will eventually separate/crack...

[426HEMI]

I never had anyproblem with it.  I was in Southern IL and in Chicago with my car and I had no problem at all.  I was in Extreme COLD and HOT weather with it and it was a Triple Black Challenger and I had used the Glass in all different places on it.  I would do it again also.

[Bullitt-]

That's good to know, Was there any special preparation or sealer you put on the metal prior to adding the fiberglass?

[426HEMI]

I used metal prep is all I wanted it as clean as possible to and make sure it is scuffed and no rust left.  It does take some work to work it down but it stays.  Bondo will expand and contract but fiberglass does not.  Just from my expierence.  Gordon

[426HEMI]

Plus I have been doing body work for close to 40 years.

[Bullitt-]

Plus I have been doing body work for close to 40 years.

Knowing what your doing goes a long way. 

[426HEMI]

While growing up I lived next door to a Body Shop and learned how to do body work the right way and the way that it lasts for ever.  The had the Triple black challenger for 7 years and never had a problem with the body work that I did.  I have not had the car for several years now but I bet that it still looks great.  I wish I still had the photos of it.  I have one where I had it stripped and one where it is done.  I will have to scan in the pictures and then post them.  I am also ASE certified in Body work in a couple of area's.  I hope to some day get into just restoring e-bodies and maybe some other mopars and maybe that will happen in a year or two.

Gordon

[BIGSHCLUNK]

I'm goin' way way out on a lim here... I've heard of a por15 filler that goes over the por15 just for pitts and the like. Never tried it (not yet anyway) but my body guy told me about it.  Go easy on me I'm just a lowly parts dealer.... 

[426HEMI]

I'm goin' way way out on a lim here... I've heard of a por15 filler that goes over the por15 just for pitts and the like. Never tried it (not yet anyway) but my body guy told me about it.  Go easy on me I'm just a lowly parts dealer.... 

I have not used that product yet.  I have seen it used on TV but I have yet to use it.  I am just speaking from what I have done and seen.  May try it some day but most likely will not on my car.  I want it to stay after I fix the next one because I will not want to get rid of it.
Gordon

[Aussie Challenger]

  Cleaning out all rust is a must, don't forget that when you put the vinyl roof on, any moisture on the roof area will sweat and cause more rust to form.   

  Bondo can absorb moisture so sealing the finished roof is a must.