Trunk gutter replacement

[67 455 Bird ragtop]

Anyone ever replace the trunk gutter weatherstrip channel?? Was wondering what the best way to remove the old one was. This is on a 67 'Bird. I figure the original one was probably spot welded in. so probably have a lot of grinding to do. Fortunately there is no trunk floor at the moment. So may not be that hard to reach.

[First Bird]

Spot welds are usually best removed with a spot weld cutter. They cost $10-$20. You chuck it into a drill and it cuts sheetmetal around the spot weld. I use a center punch (pointed chisel?) to put a divot right on the weld so the cutter starts in the right place and doesn't wander. I replaced the tail panel on my 1968 Friebird. Spot weld cutter was key tool. That and a MIG welder.

Here's a detail in technique I realized by screwing up. OK - Take two pieces of sheetmetal. Put one on top of the other. Spot weld the two together. Now they're joined right? OK. Start cutting through the top layer of metal around the spot weld. When you cut throught the top layer, the pieces of metal are apart again, right? OK - here's the point of this: It is possible to cut through BOTH pieces of sheetmetal, if you keep going. And when you do this the pieces still come apart but you are left with a hole in the metal you are keeping. Sometimes you don't want a hole in the good sheetmetal. But I realized that I could use these holes when I joined the replacement sheetmetal with a technique called plug welding. Like so much in our hobby it takes 20 minutes to write this down, but it will take you 2 minutes to figure it once you get going with that spot weld cutter.
Good luck,
and Regards,

[daredvl22]

I used a HTP Quickspot II welder to do mine. Small investment, but worth every penny. I've since used it on so many other areas on the car.