GM A-Body rear valence seam help & ?'s

[resto-mod]

I have had quite a few GM A-Body Convertibles (5), but have never known the "factory correct" look of the rear valence panel. I know the hard tops have seams from the rear window to the trunk, but I would like to know what is right on the converts.

All the A-body converts that I've bought and/or owned that have had the area where the seam should or would be, have either bubbled or have cracks in the paint.

Is it correct (factory) to have the seam visible or were they smoothed from GM? I would prefer it be smoothed, but would need to know if anyone has had experience in keeping the cracks & bubbles from appearing anywhere from 1 month-10 years later. Any input would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

[derekf]

Pretty sure my 65 has the original paint, and it's got some sort of filler in those seams.

[gearheads78]

My 66 is original paint. I think there is a seam back there where they meet. I will look tonight when I get home if I think about it.

[resto-mod]

Anybody have (or know of ) a 69-72--- GTO, Chevelle, Cutlass-- Convertible that has the original paint? I'm just darn curious whether the seams are there or covered from the factory. As always photos or links would be apprieciated. Thanks for the input on the 65 & 66, but I think that body style may have been prepped differently.

[gearheads78]

I don't know for sure but I am 90% positive the late models are filled smooth with lead.

[724tim]

did not have any seams with the original paint
but just had to put the seams in when the car was repainted the drivers side kept cracking out

[Damon777]

I plan on checking mine (69 vert) out this weekend. It is still wearing factory paint, so I'll look at the seams if there's anything left there.

[resto-mod]

Tim & gearhead,

Thanks for taking a look at yours. Tim, you just reinforced my thoughts. Did they make them smooth from the factory and let them crack and nobody cared? I don't get it. I want to have them smooth if that's the way they came, but I'd rather put a seam in if it's just going to crack and look like ass 6 months later.
Gearhead, I'm not sure about the filling with lead back then, cause I can't see anyone removing lead to put a seam in. If it was smooth with lead in '69 why are they cracking now? Has anyone heard of a fool-proof way to stop the cracking? My bodyshop guru said he could weld a metal plate to the inside of the trunk area, but feared it would just crack in a different spot when it flexed on acceleration.

[724tim]

Tim & gearhead,

Thanks for taking a look at yours. Tim, you just reinforced my thoughts. Did they make them smooth from the factory and let them crack and nobody cared? I don't get it. I want to have them smooth if that's the way they came, but I'd rather put a seam in if it's just going to crack and look like ass 6 months later.
Gearhead, I'm not sure about the filling with lead back then, cause I can't see anyone removing lead to put a seam in. If it was smooth with lead in '69 why are they cracking now? Has anyone heard of a fool-proof way to stop the cracking? My bodyshop guru said he could weld a metal plate to the inside of the trunk area, but feared it would just crack in a different spot when it flexed on acceleration.

my driver side was the only side that was cracked
my body guy smoothed it over but after it was primed and sat around for a while you could see a hair line crack starting to come through so we decided to go ahead and cut in the seams

I'm guessing from having polyurethane bushings the car can not flex any more along with solid motor mounts and the poly tranny mount

[nekkidhillbilly]

my buick has no seams

[resto-mod]

It's odd to me that nobody, including myself, knows for sure if the seams were there, or not, from GM. After a week of research, I ended up going both ways. On my '71 Chevelle I went ahead and filled them in, under the body guy accepting the challenge of doing it again for free if it cracked. On my '70 GTO, I decided to run with seams w/ seam sealer as a flex point. It will be interesting which, if either, will crack. I keep this updated.

[wayne70]

You should post this question over at chevelles.com i am sure someone there will have the info. you seek.

[Damon777]

I plan on checking mine (69 vert) out this weekend. It is still wearing factory paint, so I'll look at the seams if there's anything left there.

I did look at these and mine are smooth from GM.