fordcortina.com.au
Tuning & Tech Center => Technical/Mechanical - sponsored by myrackbiz.com => Topic started by: BigNorm on October 17, 2011, 01:54:13 AM
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ever tried to repair a cortina piller and couldnt get the weld to stick? its probably cos u'r trying to weld to lead. back in thier day ford used lead and brass to shape the pillers on the body. i had to unstitch a rear qtr so i thought i'd take a few pics and show u how they did it.
this is the "BEFORE" shot:
(http://fordcortina.com.au/gallery/albums/userpics/10135/normal_20111016_Cortina_2dr_007_%28Medium%29.jpg)
you'll know you've hit lead around the piller corners because its softer than steel, about the same hardness as bog and the sander rips straight thru it. its not a good idea to sand the stuff without some form of facemask as apparantly lead is bad for ya.
paint sanded back on C piller and lead outlined:
(http://fordcortina.com.au/gallery/albums/userpics/10135/20111016_Cortina_2dr_011_%28Large%29_%28Medium%29.jpg)
its not difficult to remove if need be and the only way to remove it is to apply a bit of heat and hit it with a wire brush. they stack it on pretty thick;
(http://fordcortina.com.au/gallery/albums/userpics/10135/20111016_Cortina_2dr_015_%28Medium%29.jpg)
this is what you will find once u've cleaned out all the lead. it looks like the roof is only held on by lead and doesnt look pretty;
(http://fordcortina.com.au/gallery/albums/userpics/10135/20111016_Cortina_2dr_016_%28Medium%29.jpg)
qtr panel unstitched, time for an ale;
(http://fordcortina.com.au/gallery/albums/userpics/10135/20111016_Cortina_2dr_017_%28Medium%29.jpg)
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Lead is quite an art to apply, and even though I've been shown by a few old school tradies I still suck hardcore at it!!! The best way to learn is ^^^that way!!! Trial and error, and a good teach to watch and point out the errors!
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its amazing that the principle of lead wiping involves putting water and acid onto bare metal yet it doesnt rust, lift or seperate. the closest i've ever come is having a demo back in the 80's by my grumblebum tafe teacher who moaned and groaned thru the whole process about because of the oh&s they have to phase it out and how bad the technology of bog is and it'll never be as good.
i've got a 53 f100 sitting in my backyard which looks like its been sitting in the rain for the last 40 years. the whole shell is rusty but the lead around the base of the pillers is still intact.