Lead

One of the top Pebble Beach award winning Ferrari resto shops, Bob Smith Coachworks, says lead is outdated and they use marinetex bondo. But never more than a 1/4 inch in thickness.

Jeff
6559

Well I have heard that before, but not for reasons which are better, more that people don't want to mess with it, say it's just too toxic, etc. It seems that "outdated" means people are not willing to do it anymore. I know they say in Jaguars, if you don't use lead in certain areas, anything else will crack since it needs to flex. If done right will last forever:
http://www.classicjaguar.com/bkbs6.jpg
http://www.classicjaguar.com/ltbb263.jpg
http://www.classicjaguar.com/ltbb264.jpg

Lead is the way it was done in the old days, try and find a bodyman that has the skill to do it today (far and few between). If flexing is your concern braze in brass welding rod, that's how BMW, and Mercedes join the qrter to the rear package tray. IMHO a qrter inch of bondo is too much, the body work needs to be ruffed out further.
Mark

Pantera, lots of factory lead. I restored using lead, got stuff from Eastwood, they also have a video. A friend gave me a demo, I tried on 2 test pieces, then went to the car. I found it easy on horizontal panels, more of a challenge on vertical and outside edges. A rotisserie made the job MUCH easier.

Lead is an old age technique that some say out dated due to the fact that the talent is not always available, but the skill is still out there and in NYC the trade schools still teach lead working and this seperates the Engineers who dont have the talent and the Trades people who do. The skill is there but exspensive and for the record the composition is really more like 50/50 lead and solder made up of tin and some other misc metals. Plumbing supply sells the lead ( solder ) .