Unusual repair
 

I am starting a ground up restoration for my 30 coupe. After having the body media blasted I was surprised at all the damage that was Suddenly visible. There was the usual rust through, cracked fenders and miscellaneous dings etc. the big surprise though was a weld seam on both quarter panels just above the belt line that runs from the door opening all the way around to the rear roof panel. The apparent weld is highly visible from the inside and somewhat visible on the outside. Any ideas what this may be? I'm only able to attach one pic

Re: Unusual repair
 

Factory Seam

Re: Unusual repair
 

Good evening Ray,
"MAYBE" the car had been rolled over & someone welded on a new ROOF??
I discovered that Vermins' cowl had been replaced, they cut the sub-rails right in the middle of the sill plates. Never know what these old buckets have been through!
Bill W.

Re: Unusual repair
 

My 30 coupe looked like your's also.

Re: Unusual repair
 

Mine too.

Tommy-

Re: Unusual repair
 

The outside seam was leaded.

Re: Unusual repair
 

SO, Michael, that's probably why I've seen CRACKS just above the belt moulding, at the "B" post!! !
Bill W.

Re: Unusual repair
 

Could very well be.

Re: Unusual repair
 

I also had a welded seam on both sides of the rear panel on my fordor.

Re: Unusual repair
 

Factory Flash Welds where the panels are put together.The 30 Coupe I just finished is the same. A neat process where the factory fits the panels together and then passes a current through them and at the joint it makes a weld.

John Poole

Re: Unusual repair
 

Ray,
All the coupes were seam welded here at the factory. I have two apart for restoration for folks right now and yes, it is normal from the factory that way. Following blasting the lead is out of the ends of the seams a the front door edge and back where the back panel and seam jount is for the thin body sandwich moulding. It always amazes me how well the seam is finished around the body and the ends are rough... even dinged in and filled with lead. They all are leaded in the leading/trailing edges so don't sweat it. Just use a good grade of filler as a replacement if needed.

Larry Shepard

Re: Unusual repair
 

Its a factory electric weld seam, and not a repair.