First Gen Camaro Restoration - Block Party

Here, you can see some low spots on the passenger side quarterpanel. While Martin prefers to work the metal as opposed to using filler, small spots such as these are easier to be made whole with filler as opposed to spending time working the metal and possibly making the situation worse. This is what blocking a car will, do--it reveals any low spots (or in some cases high spots) in the metal.

Once Martin was finished with the long block, he moved onto the round block, which he used for touch up work and the small area by the window.

There were a couple of low spots on the door that required filler, so Martin whipped up a colorful concoction of Evercoat lightweight filler and the correct amount of hardener.

The filler was then applied to the car. Instead of lumping it on that one spot, making for a glop of filler that would have to be removed, Martin spread the filler out evenly over an area encompassing the low spot and a decent portion of surrounding metal. This helps to keep the coat thin, meaning that the filler will be sanded off the unneeded areas, and there will not be any excess on the panel.

Martin used a small serrated file to shave off the excess filler once it had hardened and dried. This is done to alleviate having to sand for months on end to get the unneeded filler out of the way.

The long block was then used to sand down the rest of the filler. The result was the removal of the filler around the low spot, with the slightest amount of it filling in the depression.

Once the sanding was completed, Martin once again used his hand, running it along the door to check for any blemishes he might have created with the application of the filler.

There was a small dent in the lower rear bumper valance that needed to be pulled out. To perform the task, Martin used a stud gun to insert six studs around the perimeter of the dent.

He then used a slide hammer to pull the dent out.

Martin then mixed up and applied a light coat of filler to the area where the dent had been...

...and then sanded it off. There was a small low spot that ended up being filled, but the dent itself was gone.

Once all of the block sanding and requisite filler applying was done, it came time to put on the front clips (both front fenders, the radiator support, and the hood) to check and align the gaps.