gummy residue on fender removal

[vintage_car]

I removed the drivers side fender and there is this tacky gummy sealer that was on the fender? What sort of sealant is this and do I need to reseal the fender when I bolt it back on the car? If so, with what?

[Mike Self]

gummy stuff original?). You need to replace the sealer so that dirt, moisture etc doesn't get between the fender and the body shell. The old stuff will mostly pull off; clean the remainder with mineral spirits or WD40. Don't use a scraper as you'll scar the primer underneath and then you really will have rust there.

Any automotive body shop supply store will have a flexible seam sealer available, either in squeeze tubes or in caulking gun tubes. Don't be chintzy with it either--make sure you seal the seam well.

cheers

mike

[vintage_car]

I don't know if it had ever been off or not, my guess is no. As for a sealer, would a weather stripping sealer work?

[Mike Self]

referring to the type of sealer you'd use on a house. The answer is yes, so long as it's good quality and isn't all silicone...a butyl sealer is really messy to use, but will stick to the metal better than silicone--at least in my experience.

Ask around at a builders supply store as to what would be the best stuff to seal seams on a metal roof...

cheers

mike

[SteveJ]

For the seam sealer, go to an auto body supply shop (or a really good auto parts store) and get the good stuff. 3M makes some paintable sealant that I used on the one side of my trunk when I was refinishing the gas tank.

Clean out all the old stuff that is not sticking, clean up any rust and apply some rust converter, then apply the sealant generously.

[Ravensix]

I've got 3m seam sealer that I used for other areas on the car, but I wonder if it's better to use that or butyl tape. Id like to see other alternatives people have used. I think butyl would retain dirt and rocks that get flung in, but a seam sealer, maybe modern car windshield adhesive, could just be rinsed to remove debris, and also might provide a better seal.

[nbcbird]

IMO there are no alternatives to a good poly urethane seam sealer (3M, Wurth etc.).  You need something with high adhesion that remains somewhat flexible--I use Wurth Bond+Seal .  Avoid products designed for home use like acrylic, silicone, butyl type caulks. 

[jgerock]

Seam sealer remnants from fender removal of my 69.  I was surprised it stayed flexible after all those years.

 

I'll look for some good stuff to fill in the seams from below while the front is up in the air.  

[Ravensix]

Was it hard to remove the fender?

[jgerock]

Was it hard to remove the fender?

Not really. 

[Ravensix]

So, the consensus is to use a polyurethane seam sealer instead of butyl tape?

[nbcbird]

Yes (butyl tape doesn't have enough adhesion, is too flexible, and may not fill all the voids evenly).  Use what the factory would apply.  Good luck.