I am doing some minor cancer repair to both quarters & there are hair line cracks on both quarter seams where they meet the back deck (about a 5" seam on each side just below the lower corners of the rear window to the corner of the trunk opening).

Should these seams be visible or should they be filled over. I have seen some cars with & without the seams. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I love to give home made gifts, which one of the kids would you like?

Jim graemlins/thumbsup.gif

A.C.E.S. # 4996 ( aces member id kinda matches my 496 stroker )


Frame off red 71 Chevelle SS496 (balanced, blueprinted & decked 454 block, bored .060 from 4.25 to 4.31 & stroked from 4.00 to 4.25, edelbrock aluminum heads, 10.2:1CR, hydraulic roller 550 lift cam, eagle crank, true fulcrum roller rockers, billet double roller chain, airgap intake, demon 850dp with no choke, MSD 6AL, jet coated super comp hookers, flowmaster 40’s, TH400 with extra clutches, shift kit & 3000 stall) Convertible with white stripes, top & interior loaded with factory options: TH400, cowl induction, power windows, locks, cruise, tilt, top, trunk, 12 bolt 373 posi, A/C, AM-FM 8 track, power drivers bucket seat, mirror map light, trunk, hood, glove box lights, on the wheel GM air pressure gauges, Delco Jac Pac 175 (under hood vacuum powered air compressor) with under dash Delco air pressure controller/regulator, complete with Jac Pac 175 air shocks.

http://chevelle.ogleonline.com/jim.htm

I am doing one now also. They were leaded in without a seam, but I have also seen them with. I will redo mine without the seam. I like the way it looks.

If you want to make it original it should be filled flat. The convertibles use a lap joint which is arc welded from the outside and covered with lead. The coupes and sedans use a flanged joint which is spot welded inside the trunk, hence the visible seam.

The reason for the hairline cracks is that the original lead work is lousy, so rust comes creeping from inside the trunk. When fixing it, you should make a full weld seam to the joint and then fill with lead or fiberglass filler to your liking. I used lead myself.