Body Repairs: Deck Lid Weather Strip Channel

The upper deck lid weather strip channel is part of the body and is spot-welded to a brace that spans the wheel wells. The weather strip channel was rusty and there was some sloppy repair work done at the right corner, so it had to be replaced.

• I located the spot welds and drilled them out.
• After the spot welds were drilled out, I cut along the forward edge of the channel and removed the rusted out metal.
• I cleaned up the surface with DX 579 and then using 20 gauge AKS steel, I tacked in sections of the channel and then welded it solid.
• To form a 90 degree bend for the channel, I used a tip from Ron Covell's column in Street Rodder Magazine. I cut a slot in a piece of bar stock the depth of the channel leg. Then, every 1/4 inch or so, I made a 20 degree bend and repeated this step 2 additional times. Once the channel leg was bent to 60 degrees, I used a hammer and dolly to get it to 90 degrees.

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