Metal body fillers?

[hp3445]

I removed the vinyl top from my 86 Regal and noticed a large seam that was filled with some crappy body filler... I want to fill this seam. What do you think about this product? Lab Metal?

http://www.alvinproducts.com/Products/Products.asp?id=1

or how about USC All-Metal?

http://www.tptools.com/p/1623,239_All-Metal-Body-Filler.html

Any luck or experience with these products?

:?:

I wanted to leave the vinyl top off and repaint the metal...

 

[BIGDOGG]

I used the all metal on some of my bumpers on my 99 yukon and that stuff is hard Not sure if you have any rust in that area and or any cracks your best bet would be to weld and grind down as flush as you can. If it is just to fill a small void and smoth it out then use the all metal stuff as long as it is not to large of a gap or as long as it is not to dep.

 

[hp3445]

I used the all metal on some of my bumpers on my 99 yukon and that stuff is hard Not sure if you have any rust in that area and or any cracks your best bet would be to weld and grind down as flush as you can. If it is just to fill a small void and smoth it out then use the all metal stuff as long as it is not to large of a gap or as long as it is not to dep.

No rust, just a gap.. I was thinking about welding.. but this seems so much easier.. I know easier is not better.. but it looks less labor intensive than the whole welding and grinding thing... I even thought about lead filling.. but that is also alot of work.. the website and testimonials swear by this stuff for body filling.. but I wanted to hear from people on the site...

thanks...

 

[dyrt]

could you post a picture of the crack? I did the same thing on an 81 some years back and had some putty to grind off but no crack. I have used all metal it is pretty good but if the crack is structural i would say weld and then fill.

 

[Supe]

It's just the seam where the quarter ties into the roof.

I wouldn't weld it. You will warp the living daylights out of that area if you try to fill it with weld metal.

 

[BIGDOGG]

As long as you are just using it for looks and or cosmetics then you should be just fine. I like the metal body fillers. After you are done with the filler, on this site someone suggested some awsome primer that filles all holes and sand paper as low as 80 grit.

 

[melloelky]

hey HP,i use all metal from time to time to skim over a dressed weld.its always treated me good.its metal &aluminum encased in a resin.it uses a special liquid hardner unlike the standard peroxide hardener.it comes with a tube so you'll be fine.as far as a primer that fills a 80 grit scratch,you're asking for trouble down the road,it WILL shrink into those deep scratches in time.finish off your plastic in 320 or so you won't lose.

 

[dyrt]

ok i know exactly what you are talking about. That is usually leaded in and then painted real quick then covered with vinyl. I ground out the plastic in it and then cleaned and refilled with bondo when i did my car years ago. The body guy that did my regal i have now used a metal body filler to replace all the lead he had to remove to clean out the rust in that spot and it has help up. This is a high stress area in these cars so if i ever do it again i am going to carefully stitch weld it before i refill to keep cracks from happening.

 

[awbrooks496]

My first question would be... Where was the body filler? If it is in the sail panel where they weld the factory quarter to roof you can use USC Metal to Metal filler. It is a great product. I would get rid of all the old filler if it is in the sail panel and spread your USC. If you are putting your vinyl top back on and you are fairly good at body work you can probably feather it out in the Metal to Metal filler. If you aren't you will want to skim over the USC with a two part putty. YOU WILL REALLY WANT TO PUTTY IT IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON LEAVING THE TOP OFF. Make sure you read the directions on the Metal to Metal for the mixing instructions. It has a liquid hardner and I have seen lots of guys put to little in it, and it takes forever to harden.

 

[awbrooks496]

I should probably read everybody else's responses before I open my mouth. I WOULDN'T prime over any filler unless it has been finished off with at least 240. Really!!! You will end up with more work later.