What to use for quarter panel sealer on stepdowns?

[Deleted User]
[Deleted User]
edited November -1 in HUDSON
Hi Folks,

I put one of the quarter panels on my 51 Pacemaker Conv. and I had some trouble with the sealant I used between the quarter panel and the body. I had this stuff I got at wal-mart. I think it was meant to seal windows in homes. It is like a thick putty that comes in a roll and it has like5 small strips side by side on the roll. I thought if I used one strip and rolled it out real flat before applying it it that it would let the quarter come up real tight to the body and look right. Well, it didnt work very well. It's like the quarter panel is too far from the body and you can see the gray putty down in the crack and it looks kinda ugly. Do you have any suggestions on what to use and how to do it? Thanks. Rob :)

Comments

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    I don't own a StepDown so am not acquainted with the area to be sealed, but have you considered "Dum-dum", such as 3M's strip caulk? It's thick, workable, and black (so it 'disappears" from view).



    http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/mediawebserver?mwsId=66666UuZjcFSLXTt4xMcNxfXEVuQEcuZgVs6EVs6E666666--
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    Jon is correct heres another thread where we get into the specifics a bit more.

    http://classiccar.com/index.php?option=com_jfusion&Itemid=62&jfile=showthread.php&t=3003&highlight=quarter+panel+sealer
  • 402Bowtie
    402Bowtie Member
    Hey Dan,



    On the earlier thread in 2005 You asked this question......



    "What I'm wondering is where do you get the larger replacement foam pieces for the lower areas of the installation of the rear quarters and rocker panels?"



    I am to the point of placing the rear quarters on so will use the 3m strip caulking on the upper edge of the quarter panel, but did you ever get your answer for the above question for the lower area?



    Rob. Maybe you have that lower part of the panel figured out? Something that will keep the moisture and dirt out plus not hold moisture and rust out that area. I could slide my fingers up in between the panel and the frame area, so something would have to seal that area. Thanks for bringing this question up. Bill
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Rob Fayette wrote:
    Hi Folks,

    I put one of the quarter panels on my 51 Pacemaker Conv. and I had some trouble with the sealant I used between the quarter panel and the body. I had this stuff I got at wal-mart. I think it was meant to seal windows in homes. It is like a thick putty that comes in a roll and it has like5 small strips side by side on the roll. I thought if I used one strip and rolled it out real flat before applying it it that it would let the quarter come up real tight to the body and look right. Well, it didnt work very well. It's like the quarter panel is too far from the body and you can see the gray putty down in the crack and it looks kinda ugly. Do you have any suggestions on what to use and how to do it? Thanks. Rob :)
    Walt here; Use a small roll of 3m strip caulk. right along the middle and just over the bolt holes. Both parts must be painted first. When tightened a small share will come out over the bolt holes, just use a tooth pick and clean it off. My rear quarters, coupe, are installed this way, 12 years later and 130,000 miles the caulk is still soft. Parked in the hot sun will let some raise up, the tooth pick goes to work and remove it. Check out my car at the National at Spokane. No water has ever leaked into the trunk area.
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    402Bowtie wrote:
    Hey Dan,

    On the earlier thread in 2005 You asked this question......

    "What I'm wondering is where do you get the larger replacement foam pieces for the lower areas of the installation of the rear quarters and rocker panels?"

    I am to the point of placing the rear quarters on so will use the 3m strip caulking on the upper edge of the quarter panel, but did you ever get your answer for the above question for the lower area?

    Rob. Maybe you have that lower part of the panel figured out? Something that will keep the moisture and dirt out plus not hold moisture and rust out that area. I could slide my fingers up in between the panel and the frame area, so something would have to seal that area. Thanks for bringing this question up. Bill

    Bill - no I've not gotten an answer. My guess would be some kind of closed cell foam so it doesn't hold water.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    rambos_ride wrote:
    Bill - no I've not gotten an answer. My guess would be some kind of closed cell foam so it doesn't hold water.



    If we are talking about the pieces that space the panel away from the frame so the panel doesn't distort when attached with the hardware...I sawed strips from a sheet of Masonite. I tested some scrap in a bucket of water for about a week and found that it didn't absorb the water. Just to be safe, after the pieces were cut and drilled.. I coated them with some left over varnish. Getting the proper thickness is essential to make the panel fit smoothly.
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    SuperDave wrote:
    If we are talking about the pieces that space the panel away from the frame so the panel doesn't distort when attached with the hardware...I sawed strips from a sheet of Masonite. I tested some scrap in a bucket of water for about a week and found that it didn't absorb the water. Just to be safe, after the pieces were cut and drilled.. I coated them with some left over varnish. Getting the proper thickness is essential to make the panel fit smoothly.

    Dave-

    You've opened up a whole new ball of wax. The thread started with the question of what to use along the TOP of the quarter panel. You have brought up what one should do along the BOTTOM of the quarter (possibly the top, if it's messed up). Correct me if I am wrong.

    Some shimming is required along the bottom of the panel, to eliminate any "waves" along the length of the quarter panel. I'm sure many folks don't even know about this particular step-down quirk. Incidentally, your method is as good as any.
  • SuperDave
    SuperDave Senior Contributor
    It wasn't my intent to set the thread astray.. I was just responding to 402Bowtie and Rambos ride. It seemed like it was sort of "on topic" since it applied to installing a quarter panel..
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    In the previous thread the actual instructions say to use " permagum ". For those of you that are sticklers for authenticity.....permagum is still used in my trade ( Refrigeration ) and can be bought either from any HVAC guy locally or from one of their suppliers.....cheers
  • 402Bowtie
    402Bowtie Member
    RL Chilton wrote:
    Dave-



    You've opened up a whole new ball of wax. The thread started with the question of what to use along the TOP of the quarter panel. You have brought up what one should do along the BOTTOM of the quarter (possibly the top, if it's messed up). Correct me if I am wrong.



    Some shimming is required along the bottom of the panel, to eliminate any "waves" along the length of the quarter panel. I'm sure many folks don't even know about this particular step-down quirk. Incidentally, your method is as good as any.



    Hi Russ, I apologize for changing the subject a little bit. That was my fault.:o The timing on this thread was perfect, with my brother and I doing a test fit on the quarter panels.



    The 3M caulking strip sounds like the way to go to seal the upper portion of the quarter panel. With it being soft and pliable it will last for years. Plus Walt and Jon supporting those thoughts.



    Dave thanks for your input. When the panel was removed originally, there was the old hard foam strip along that bottom edge of the panel and rust starting to eat into the frame behind that foam. I just want to do it right once and not have to worry about it. The Masonite sounds like a good way of doing it.



    The Forum is great because we can get the correct info in just a few minutes or days. Thanks guys for all your help. Bill
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    No, no, Dave: you did great, the subject was very much on topic.

    No offense intended.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Thanks for the advice on using 3m strip caulk. I will try that next once I dig out the stuff I tried to use. Between the trunk floor and the quarter panel I just cut a piece of foam rubber on the band saw, painted it red to match the trunk floor and glued it onto the upper frame edge with spray contact cement. I'm sure I didnt use the correct type of foam but I dont know where you would get closed cell foam as Dan mentioned. I do intend to keep an eye on the foam I used to try to prevent rust there because it does indeed happen. As far as trying to prevent the waves at the bottom of the quarter panel, I tried as hard as I could to get it right and it still looks wavy. When I first straightened the quarter panels I did it on the bench and I fashioned a piece of wood that matched the arc of the quarter panel along the bottom edge. I used the wood as a jig to hold it in place as I spent many hours boarding the bondo. then when I did a trial fit on the car the bottom edge looked wavy so I a attached the bottom edge just the way it would be when the car was finished and once again spent hours doing more bondo and it really did look good. I painstakingly kept track of exactly how it was attached along the bottom keeping track of every single washer and shim. Then I removed the quarter for painting and buffing. Then I put the quarter panel on exactly the same way it was before and now its wavy. How frustrating! I give up...LOL.

    Thanks again for your guys help. I dont know what I would do without the help of the forum guys. Rob
  • ratlee2
    ratlee2 Expert Adviser
    Just thought I would share my experience. I used the recommended 3M strip caulk but found a free and handy tool for removing the excess that sqeezed out. I used those fake credit cards they send in the mail with the applications to get you to open the junk mail. It worked great since it was thin, flexible, and didn't scratch the paint. Best of all, it came with a low interest rate since I shredded the application.



    Rich
  • RL Chilton
    RL Chilton Administrator, Member
    ratlee2 wrote:
    Just thought I would share my experience. I used the recommended 3M strip caulk but found a free and handy tool for removing the excess that sqeezed out. I used those fake credit cards they send in the mail with the applications to get you to open the junk mail. It worked great since it was thin, flexible, and didn't scratch the paint. Best of all, it came with a low interest rate since I shredded the application.

    Rich

    That's funny, right there.

    Rob-

    Sorry you're having trouble with the quarters. You are on the right track, just figure out your shimming you need on the final fit and then leave it alone. They really are a piece of work trying to get them right. I would recommend you remove the foam and go with the 3M strip-caulk. If the foam you used is open-celled, you are going to get water in the trunk, even from washing the car. As this is a convertible, which are prone to leaking anyway, I think you would be better off with a better sealant there. A Popsicle stick, coffee stirrer (smaller radius) works very well (probably about the same radius as a credit card) for smoothing the top of the quarter area.
  • [Deleted User]
    [Deleted User]
    Thanks for your encouragement Russel. Maybe you can give me some tips, when I see you at the National in Spokane, about getting the bottom edge straighter than it is.

    As far as the foam rubber goes, I used that where the trunk floor meets the quarter panel, not along the top edge of the quarter panel. If I read your post correctly you were referring to not using foam rubber along the top edge. I have some 3M strip caulk on order,as you guys recommended, from AutoBody Toolmart online ,and will use it along the top edge of the quarter panels after I dig the goop out that I tried to use. Rob
  • rambos_ride
    rambos_ride Senior Contributor
    Rob Fayette wrote:
    Thanks for your encouragement Russel. Maybe you can give me some tips, when I see you at the National in Spokane, about getting the bottom edge straighter than it is.
    As far as the foam rubber goes, I used that where the trunk floor meets the quarter panel, not along the top edge of the quarter panel. If I read your post correctly you were referring to not using foam rubber along the top edge. I have some 3M strip caulk on order,as you guys recommended, from AutoBody Toolmart online ,and will use it along the top edge of the quarter panels after I dig the goop out that I tried to use. Rob

    Rob,

    Sorry, if I wasn't clear on the closed-cell foam use...it would be in the area you outlined " I used that where the trunk floor meets the quarter panel, not along the top edge of the quarter panel."

    There's a big gap where there was a piece of foam originally.

    The closed cell foam won't hold water.
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