re-applying seam sealer. A good idea?

[Jonny Rochester]

It will be for a road driven race car. (AE86. Oh dear, wrong forum)

Shell is stripped bare, no sound deadener, most seam sealer removed. I have now got a full roll cage and a lot of stitch welding has been done all over the place. Most is still bare metal right now.

I will start preparing for paint soon, but havn't painted a whole car before. I am now thinking maybe I should wipe seam sealer back into all the cracks (may hide some welds also) which may stop rust etc. On the side of one seam sealer product, it says it can be applyed to bare metal.

A friends race car was sand blasted and painted white. A couple of years on, you can see the colour of rust coming up on all the edges and joins. Not something I want.

[oldcorollas]

as long as you can seal the whole seam. seam sealer is there ot act as a physical barrier to (mostly) water entering and wicking in the seam. but it will still get in from the other side.
you could also use a brush and physically paint in the seams as well... POR15 the seams?

[web]

Or do both, say apply the sealant between coats of paint, but don't forget to leave drain holes!

[machschnell]

terrolan hell, sounds funny but its what we use at holdens to seal between panels, white easy to paint over, brushable/ pokable into cracks and air dry, the only problem apart from water ingress into seams if you dont seal is sqeaking of panels