Filler and more filler

[Bobpipedream]

Hi all,

Well I got my e type back and removed the bonnet which is in very good shape. Very heavy though, I began to think I was losing my strength as I struggled to carry into the house. Then I looked at the front, I knew it had had a ding at some point, but I started tapping and found about a patch about 2 cm thick of filler covering a huge dent under where the bumper will be. There was more near the headlight. Huge chunks, very nicely done, but why not just tap the dent out? I did just that and it came out well. Sure a bit of filler will be required to smooth over, but they must have put 5 to 10kg of filler in...

However steel is all good, so just need to shot blast and then get some of those nice peening dollies to clean up the dents.

So with filler, I was thinking of using epoxy to just sort out the bits, what have you all used? Is lead loading worth it?

Thanks,

Bob

[PeterCrespin]

5-10kg??? That would be a couple of football-sized lumps of polyester filler surely? How could you not notice that from inside the bonnet or through the air intake?

Good policy to knock it back into shape and skim but lead is best for seams I reckon.

[Bobpipedream]

Alright, 1-2kg! I guess exaggerating a bit as I felt a bit wimpish struggling with the bonnet, obviously did not eat enough weetabix yesterday.

I will look into lead loading and give it a go. Always wanted to try it, I remember watching a guy from Rolls Royce doing it on my friend's dad's E, he also did panel shrinking with a torch and damp cloth. I tried that on 1mm stainless a few years back, but no joy. I guess too thick and too much heat dissipation.

[ChrisC]

lead loading is quite therapeutic and its a nice pub brag as you will be deemed by oldies to have done the job properly. To be fair lead IS better because it flexes and won't crack (unlike filler) but the metal needs to be scrupulously clean otherwise the lead wont stick.

There are a few books / videos out there that will show you how. I managed it on my car but acknowledge to yourself now that you will still need to do a thin skim of filler over the top to ensure a perfect paint finish.

The boring bit with lead loading is that if you overheat work you have already done the whole lot melts and falls onto the floor - again just accept that is going to happen a few times :D

To be fair modern filler is good and there is nothing wrong with using it - but its not 'proper' 8)