jody

I have an '87GT and I have been picking away at it slowly as it was a basketcase big time when I got it,..and pretty much still is. On the drivers-side rear quarter the window post that seperates the hatch and the 1/4 window, I have a problem. On the outside the car is pretty solid, considering I live in a major rust-belt area. I noticed a "crack" looking spot close to the roof, so I assumed a poor past repair and rust was coming back. No big deal, figured, grind it out, cut out the area, weld in a new patch. so I clean it up, and I have a hole to repair. Make a patch, start tacking it in. Smoking, spitting like crazy. WTF? Try it again, same thing. Low and behold a greenish colored residue, I thought no F-ing way. I scraped it with a screwdriver and low and behold the area is full of lead. I couldn't believe it. Is this still common practice when this car would have been new, or something a previous owner had done? I know little of the car's history other than the guy I got it from pretty much knew where the gas filler was and that you pulled up on the door handle to open the door. I scaped away and it goes right to the 1/4 window trim, so I am looking at having to pull the window, and somehow get rid of all of this solder before anything can be welded. Anyone have suggestions on the right way I should go about this repair, anyone tried soldering? I don't like the idea of handling lead, and don't like the idea of grinding it. I appreciate any and all input, I would really appreciate it. Thanks in advance, and I love these forums !

JD1969

What your dealing with is the factory C-piller weld, it is where the roof and c-piller are welded together. The factory did use lead here.

jody

Thank you, I was figuring on that. Now got to figure out how I will fix this. Thanks!

corvetteguy

As lead melts with a propane torch, a little
heat and some scrapers should pull it off.
I think they make a lead sponge that soaks
up the final lead.