[DeTomaso] Cracking at typical/atypical areas?

[gow2 at rc-tech.net]

It looks like the lead was removed and filler is what cracked. When
stripping these cars there Detomaso used a ton of lead. Even my door jambs
were "carved" from lead.

Lead get's a bad wrap but when done correctly it still has viable uses and
a joint which has some flex is a perfect place. Many cars such as old
Jaguars had spots that flex and lead is the only thing that can withstand
minor flex without cracking. Even modern fillers are a sure bet for
cracking when flexed.

In stripping my car after 40 years the original leaded joints were still
in amazing shape. A testament to lead. It is exactly why some of never
realized jut how much lead is in a Pantera; because it works well even
after 40 years.

Today's "lead" fillers are generally not lead but other pliable mixes
which work the same for the same reasons. People say lead is a poor
substitute for filler but in reality they shine where fillers don't. You
may use filler for a defect in a door for example which you are not going
to do the proper repair but your not gong to put lead on the face of a
door; that's not what it's for. A pillar which may flex is a prime example
of where lead will shine.

My door jambs were full of lead form the factory; carved from lead if you
will. I never knew it till I stripped it because they looked great even
after 40 years. This doesn't exactly show the lead removed but if you
scroll down to the door jamb you can see the amount of effort which was
done to put the door jamb in the proper position without lead; an effort
to get better door gaps then Pantera's generally have:

http://www.rc-tech.net/pantera1/door/door.htm

Gary





>
> They ARE typical, but I'll reply anyway.... :-)
>>From personal experience, the cracking in the "corners" of the body like
>> the windshield and tail light openings are the original lead filler
> that has work hardened from flexing and cracked.  The body hasn't cracked,
> just the lead filler.  If I were doing this all over again, I'd remove
> the lead and use a plastic body filler...Bondo.  The crack at the top of
> the door is indeed a crack in the sheet metal where the window frame
> has repeatedly flexed over the years.  There is a lot of strain on this
> area from people pulling on it, bad fitting weatherstripping, and just the
> years of use.  It's not a real strong part of the design.  The radial
> cracks around the rear emblem area look like they are in bondo.  That's a
> single thickness panel and shouldn't have any filler in it unless a repair
> was made.
>
> Michael Frazier
> Gruppo Rompiculi Corsa
>
>
>
>> From: coreyjprice at gmail.com
>> Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2011 22:15:36 -0600
>> To: DeTomaso at realbig.com; pantera2077 at yahoo.com
>> Subject: [DeTomaso] Cracking at typical/atypical areas?
>>
>> I was able to photograph all of the current cracks on #1998's bodywork.
>> Please comment/reply if any are NOT typical. I'm fairly new, so if
>> there's a good article somewhere, please share. I think a couple have to
>> do with the fillers used.
>>
>> http://pantera1998.blogspot.com/2011/10/areas-with-cracks-already.html
>>
>> Corey
>>
>>
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