Re: what is it

Posted by HH56 On 2016/11/20 12:36:01

I believe that was a sound deadening material to keep the wheel well and outer fender from oil canning and touching and also to keep the fender from drumming. In some cases it may have also been a kind of seal to slow any dust or fumes in the trunk from passing thru the wide open channel between the two into the inner parts of car. Have also seen big gobs of body putty used in that area in addition to the factory rope like material. The putty may not have been factory applied and maybe was more of a reinforcement by a dealer. Pre 51 Clipper style bodies also have similar stuff at the rear of the trunk floor to fill a void between the floor panel and the outer skin.

With the different body construction today not sure if it is still used much but there are some modern equivalents such as form rod advertised for the same purpose at some restoration material places.