Hi guys im restoring a camaro. My first full on project. I have took all of the paint off and there is filler in some panels. But around the rear quater panel there are raised spots that look like brass? Then right by it you see steal.. Does anyone know what im talking about? They are raised spots and i will file them down but just curious of what it is?
thanks
kevin

 

Likely brazing, they use this welding method on surface welds (and exposed welds) on all kinds of cars. I think the C-pillars to roof will be done this way on a third gen.

 

Ok and to tell you guy the truth its not a 3rd gen... Its a 1st.. But the guy i bought it off of said it looked brand new when he bought it in 78 so i dont know what they did in the late 70s for body work..
thanks
kevin

 

Brazing (brass) was used heavily in the 60s and 70s and there are a few cars today that use it. There are several filler metals that can be used, sometimes on the older stuff you will find lead. It is a dying art as new non-metalic materials eg. plastic aluminum, ect. are being used more and more. As stated, thirdgens have it in the quarter panel to roof (c-pillar). Brazing was used by the factory and was/still is recomended for some quarter panel replacement seams, in other words, it could be factory or a repair. If it was a repair and they brazed chances are they did it correctly. The older sheet metal is thicker and can be metal finished (filed) with no issues.

 

Ya it looked like it was perfect when they redone it. Shame to by a kid a car and they beat it up then let it sit forever. Thanks for the info. I was trying to beat it down but that wasnt really working out to good ha but the file worked good.

 

pics....

 

I'm thinking they're those studs they spot weld onto panels used to pull dents with a slide hammer. After the dent is pulled, they grind off the studs.

 

Chances are they were holes drilled to screw in a dent puller (back in the day). When the dent is pulled the pros would braze over the holes with welding rod then bondo or lead over them.

Nowadaze they don't drill holes and break out the Uni-spotter that welds small studs around the dent area then attach the slide hammer and pull them out. Then they grind off the studs and use bondo if necessary.