[28 Essex]

What is the best way to fill holes in the alumin body panels on my car?

Are there any special fillers that I should use?

The holes were drilled for an antenna in the past

I was thinking of learning how to use lead but if there is a better way I'd be interested

Thanks

 

[BodymanDave]

Polyester filler will work OK. I sometime use polyester filler to get good adhesion then use regular filler over that. It would be good to weld the holes up first.

 

[julmer]

The BEST would likely be a MIG set up for aluminum and weld them closed. Probably not a job for other than a pro welder or someone with a lot of aluminum experience.

 

[28 Essex]

Thanks for the tips folks;

I just found out that my 1 car might be some sort of Aluminum alloy, and it appears to be a very limited edition car... so I don't know if It can be welded. Plus if someone who would rather restore it than rod it wants it I'd probably trade it for an all steel body.

I just found out that the Essex is 1 year older than I was told (1927), and made by Biddle & Smart.

I guess that I'll just have to work on my all steel 1928 Essex 3 window coupe first instead.

 

[Randy Ferguson]

There's nothing hard about working with aluminum if you know what you're doing! Your best bet is to find a reputable metal man in your area who has experience with thin guage aluminum. If you can find someone, he will be able to weld a patch in, metalfinish it, and you'll never know the hole was there. My suggestion would be to get on www.metalmeet.com and ask if there's one of our members in your area.

Randy Ferguson
Ferguson Coachbuilding
www.metalmeet.com

 

[daimon1054]

http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/ProductDisplay/s-10101/p-901/c-10101

These rods work well if the area is clean, I have butt jointed tubing on non structural stuff and it has held strong. I have filled hole in sheet and never had a problem if the area is clean. Also as it's melting point is below alminum you can do it without distorting the pannel.