Help with sanding sail panel area on quarter panels

Discussion in 'Color is everything!' started by 72 skylark custom, Jul 16, 2018.

  1. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    Trying to do body work on the sail panels on exterior of car where the vinyl top trim holes used to be. The quarters are a tiny bit warped from previous owners attempts only around those trim holes. If I take a piece of straight metal stock it looks fine and straight but to the touch it feels like there are a few tiny high and low spots on both sides in generally the same area. I would like to know how these areas should look because I want them to look very straight and smooth as the car will be black, but I would rather not have the car shipped out to a body shop. This is my first real attempt at body work, if I can upload pictures I will definitely try to upload them later to show what I have so far
     
  2. 70staged

    70staged Well-Known Member

    honestly, if this is your first real attempt at body work, I wouldn't be painting something black. Even the slightest flaw will show up. Anyway a suggestion to help you, would be to find a body shop near you and ask one of the guys there to swing by your place to give you a quick hand at the sail panels and give him a little cash for the help. He would be able to explain and help you to get that area correct. Sorry I can answer your original question
     
  3. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    That's okay you gave me an answer though to help and that is much appreciated. I will try to find someone local, because it's taken a few months to get where I'm at now
     
  4. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    If I'm reading it correctly are you working the area where the studs are for the top trim?
     
  5. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    Yes the where the vinyl top trim attaches to the quarter panel
     
  6. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Tricky area for sure, but that area is not flat, it's a compound shape , most the cars adhesive has released on the inside structure where it was bonded and the 1/4 has a bulge and they have a slight dip where it approaches the drip rail. Best way to tackle it work down to the studs and up to the studs. other option is remove the studs work the area, then rivet the retainers back on. Wouldn't be my choice
     
  7. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    Remove the studs?
     
  8. copperheadgs1

    copperheadgs1 copperheadgs1

    Factory used molten lead there. Even factory work was iffy at best. On vinyl top cars they cared even less.
     
  9. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    Oh okay, it's just a really hard shape to make. Like hugger said it's not flat it has that subtle curve to it from the sail panel to the quarter. I'm surprised they didn't really care about leading those areas
     
  10. hugger

    hugger Well-Known Member

    Yea by removing the studs you can, put better strokes on it and get it where you want it, but then you gotta either screw or rivet the retainers back on, that's why I say work it down to the studs best you can, and let the trim and top do their thing by disguising it
     
  11. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    Well I am not putting the vinyl top back on the car. I like the look of the car a lot better with out the vinyl top
     
  12. Philip66

    Philip66 Well-Known Member

    Buying and selling cars over the years, and at many car shows you will see a car that used to have a vinyl top that someone removed. Many times they will get it right and somebody like Hugger did the work and you can’t even tell it ever had a vinyl top on it. But....you will also see cars where they didn’t do the best job, and you’ll see those tell-tale divots and shadows where the studs used to be. It could be that it looked and felt great at the time they did the work but as everything dries and cures, and the body filler shrinks a little that’s when they show back up!

    As Hugger said, it’s a tricky area where there are two different transitions. Take your time, (looks like you already are!) work as large of an area as you can so you don’t end up with little transitions all over the place. Each high and low spot will catch the light differently and what feels smooth to the touch can be wavy to the eye. Use a guide coat: a dark primer or sealer that’s covered with a lighter coat to reveal imperfections as you’re sanding. Buick made some of the most beautiful body lines on these cars and when done correctly they can be jaw-dropping.
    The opposite is also true!

    I applaud you for tackling this job and I wish you nothing but the best! Don’t be afraid to ask for help as often as you need it. When you think you’re ready for paint, go over the whole car again. And maybe even again!! As they say, “Painting a car is 95% preparation and only 5% actually painting the car!”

    Take lots of pictures of your progress, for yourself and for all of us on here.

    Good Luck!!
     
  13. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    Thank you very much! I will be sure to try and put pictures on here as soon as I can figure out how, as the website doesn't let me put pictures on here no matter what they are... haha I will continue to use this thread about this but thank you all for your help I'm sure I'll be asking more questions in the future
     
  14. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    I know its been a long while since i posted on this thread but i wanted to give an update on this area of the car that i had been working on for a very long time now 1546887945278175340293.jpg 1546888007065490811086.jpg
     
  15. 72 skylark custom

    72 skylark custom Well-Known Member

    Its taken a while but i also figured out how to post pictures on this lol
     

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