Calling anyone who has shaved their cab seam (and even those that haven't)! - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

foamypirate · 04-19-2012, 10:03 PM

How the heck do you get the seam sealer out? I can't get a wire wheel in there, and it's pretty solid stuff. I tried aircraft stripper, which seems to soften about 0.01mm at a time. At the moment, I've resorted to scraping it out with a screwdriver, very, very, very slowly, but this won't get all of it out. The stuff also gasses out when you weld over it (I tried a test spot weld just out of curiosity). It just bubbles the weld out while it's still soft and cooling...

Tips and suggestion are very much needed (and appreciated)! Is there some neat tool I'm missing?

RandyP · 04-20-2012, 07:54 AM

3m 07471, we call it a crud cutting disc, is basically a course scotch bright made to go on the end of a high speed rotary tool. Then we used 3m 08116 panel bonding adhesive to fill the seam. Let that dry, smooth, put a skim coat of mud on it and block it out smooth.

**old Rusty C10** · 04-20-2012, 08:39 AM

my truck just went throught the body shop. they have a sanding disk like 40 grit its small like 2" and it works on their air sander.. they use that to scrape all that junk out.

Jonboy · 04-20-2012, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandyP

3m 07471, we call it a crud cutting disc, is basically a course scotch bright made to go on the end of a high speed rotary tool. Then we used 3m 08116 panel bonding adhesive to fill the seam. Let that dry, smooth, put a skim coat of mud on it and block it out smooth.

I did mine just like this. The only difference I did was to put tape over the glue while it is drying, to keep it from running.

esbstuff · 04-20-2012, 09:58 AM

WORD OF WARNING ABOUT PUTTING MUD IN THIS SEAM>>>

Most of the time (95%) this seam is not fully welded from the factory. For those of you who don't know, this IS a welded seam, with just seam sealer on the outside to fill the gap. The INSIDE has the spot welds where the 2 pieces are welded together, the roof skin and backl panel. The reason you can't see this seam from the inside is the inside roof skin is installed AFTER the seam is welded. The seam that runs accross the back of the truck is almost never completely welded. Just last year I did a roof skin swap from a 79 to an 87 truck. NEITHER seam was completely welded!!! BTW since this seam is hidden once the inside roof skin was installed, we used Panel Bond on the seam with great results.

With that being said, the first time you 'flex' the cab (like going through a ditch) and have 'mud' in that seam, it will crack or even fall out. If you want to fill that seam, get all the seam sealer out, then spot weld the gap. Then you can grind and fill as needed.

foamypirate · 04-20-2012, 12:12 PM

Thanks for the input guys! Since I plan on welding the seam, it sounds like a small disc and some careful grinding are the way to go.

Gordonr1973 · 04-20-2012, 11:19 PM

I cleaned it out as best I could then spot welded it.

Hoping it holds up well over time....

04-19-2012, 10:03 PM	#1
foamypirate Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pflugerville, TX Posts: 594	Calling anyone who has shaved their cab seam (and even those that haven't)! How the heck do you get the seam sealer out? I can't get a wire wheel in there, and it's pretty solid stuff. I tried aircraft stripper, which seems to soften about 0.01mm at a time. At the moment, I've resorted to scraping it out with a screwdriver, very, very, very slowly, but this won't get all of it out. The stuff also gasses out when you weld over it (I tried a test spot weld just out of curiosity). It just bubbles the weld out while it's still soft and cooling... Tips and suggestion are very much needed (and appreciated)! Is there some neat tool I'm missing?

04-20-2012, 07:54 AM	#2
RandyP Getting Old; Going Broke Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Owasso OK Posts: 2,764	Re: Calling anyone who has shaved their cab seam (and even those that haven't)! 3m 07471, we call it a crud cutting disc, is basically a course scotch bright made to go on the end of a high speed rotary tool. Then we used 3m 08116 panel bonding adhesive to fill the seam. Let that dry, smooth, put a skim coat of mud on it and block it out smooth. Attached Images __________________ *Why is every used 350 sbc out of a corvette?* There's only two things that excite a man, expensive toys and real expensive toys. *VEGETARIAN: That's an old Indian word meaning "I don't hunt so good."* When the going gets tough, switch to power tools.

04-20-2012, 08:39 AM	#3
old Rusty C10 Robert Olson Transport Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: recent transplant to NC USA Posts: 20,310	Re: Calling anyone who has shaved their cab seam (and even those that haven't)! my truck just went throught the body shop. they have a sanding disk like 40 grit its small like 2" and it works on their air sander.. they use that to scrape all that junk out. __________________ Bob 1951 International running on a squarebody chassis "If a man's worth is judged by the people he associates himself with, then i am the richest man in the world knowing some of the fine people of this board" http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/a...t.php?f=25&a=9 (you can review the site rules here!) PM Me for your vehicle/parts hauling needs in the North East US or see my Facebook page Robert Olson Transport Live each day to the fullest.. you never know when fate is going to pull the rug out from under you... I hate cancer!!

04-20-2012, 09:58 AM	#5
esbstuff Registered User Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: St Robert, Mo Posts: 730	Re: Calling anyone who has shaved their cab seam (and even those that haven't)! WORD OF WARNING ABOUT PUTTING MUD IN THIS SEAM>>> Most of the time (95%) this seam is not fully welded from the factory. For those of you who don't know, this IS a welded seam, with just seam sealer on the outside to fill the gap. The INSIDE has the spot welds where the 2 pieces are welded together, the roof skin and backl panel. The reason you can't see this seam from the inside is the inside roof skin is installed AFTER the seam is welded. The seam that runs accross the back of the truck is almost never completely welded. Just last year I did a roof skin swap from a 79 to an 87 truck. NEITHER seam was completely welded!!! BTW since this seam is hidden once the inside roof skin was installed, we used Panel Bond on the seam with great results. With that being said, the first time you 'flex' the cab (like going through a ditch) and have 'mud' in that seam, it will crack or even fall out. If you want to fill that seam, get all the seam sealer out, then spot weld the gap. Then you can grind and fill as needed.

04-20-2012, 12:12 PM	#6
foamypirate Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Pflugerville, TX Posts: 594	Re: Calling anyone who has shaved their cab seam (and even those that haven't)! Thanks for the input guys! Since I plan on welding the seam, it sounds like a small disc and some careful grinding are the way to go.

04-20-2012, 11:19 PM	#7
Gordonr1973 Home Built '87 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Calgary, Alberta Canada Posts: 1,829	Re: Calling anyone who has shaved their cab seam (and even those that haven't)! I cleaned it out as best I could then spot welded it. Hoping it holds up well over time.... __________________ Gordon 1998 White Chev ext cab 2WD (Summer Project) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=408424 1987 Chev Silverado SWB (Winter Project Rebuild) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=424833 Truck Club http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=466969

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