Caring for body fillers 1978 Eldorado

[MaR]

J.Skelly,

I have not done any work in this area, MaR has, I was commenting on the fillers he has made.  It was suggest that since I have an original set on my 78, carefully remove them and have the 3D printed.

I have a good set of 77-78 fillers already. I would not touch one screw on your fillers as there is a very high chance that they will just fall apart.

[dennisspeaks]

MaR,

You have a good set of 77-78 Fillers for Eldo that you made?

No I would not mess with the fillers on my car but I would on the parts car, it has original fillers too and would have made a better car than mine except the mice got into it.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Don't wax them which will accelerate decomposition. A sticky/gummy film will begin to appear when they're nearing the end. Only use a silicone free polish to periodically remove it - gently. The colder the environment the longer they last. Still a few around with perfect original surviving fillers- two years I had one - a '79 CdV that had spent its entire life in Denver, Co.

[dennisspeaks]

Eric,

Thanks for the tips, I have barely touched them, still kinda dirty, that's the only good thing about it being winter then the cold to preserve them.

My last 78 I experienced exactly that sticky experience and they literally fell apart before my very eyes.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

Years ago I was negotiating the price on a '77 CdV on which the seller failed to understand my concerns about the silver fillers between the rear bumper and outer trunk wall who didn't seem to think they were failing. Then at that very moment with the trunk open in the bright sunlight, a chunk fell out to the ground right before our eyes. When I washed the car having encountered light rain a few times on the 8 hour ride home, the fillers literally crumbled into pieces the shape and size of peanut brittle.

[76eldo]

Old original fillers are junk.
Think of them as old cracked tires that still hold air.
Just get a set and have them painted at a body shop and read up on installing them.

[dennisspeaks]

76 Eldo,

Yes they are, but as long as they hold air I will keep on rollin' till the wheels or this case the fillers fall off.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

If they haven't become sticky, they could still last for years. 

[The Tassie Devil(le)]

I know they are there to fill the gap left during the design of the energy-absorbing Bumpers, but if one is not intending to have a crash, what is wrong with crafting replacements out of steel (Tin)
and simply painting them.

Wonder how many of these original fillers have ever been destroyed in an actual bump?

Or, better still, how many owners of these cars have used their cars as battering rams?

Bruce.