Body / Glass: There's rust under my leaded seams!

[StudeMann]

I started to clean up the groove for the weatherstripping around my trunk and noticed surface rust in the locations of the joints between the rear quarters and the main cabin. As i chiseled back the lead body solder I discovered that the surface rust actually continued all the way through under the leaded joint.

I have now chiseled the lead back beyond the joints to where it is fully adhered to the steel. It makes me wonder if they failed to clean the joints properly before they applied the lead body solder.

Has anyone else encountered this before?

[rockne10]

I have. Moisture can be attracted to the seams from inside the body; either excess interior humidity in a closed car or an actual leak from elsewhere, like a window seal. That interior seam is not leaded and rust will develop.

[StudeMann]

That makes sense. It was probably from water collecting in the groove beside the rubber seal and seeping along the seam. The lead was not really adhered to the side of the groove but looked more like it dripped over the edge into the groove.

Jim

[David]

How are you going to fix the joint now? Will you redo the lead?

[8E45E]

Has anyone else encountered this before?

Yes, I have seen the effects of this before, but not on a Stude. Here is a 'survivor' 1960 Imperial LeBaron with the same problem:

http://forum.studebakerdriversclub.com/showthread.php?49035-Orphan-of-the-Day-02-25-1960-Imperial-LeBaron&highlight=imperial

Craig