@Chris Kiefer You're probably right, Chris. I saw Aaron's review of the PRD-817, as well as some other YouTube videos on it, and started thinking about it too much. I know that the Black Widow has a good reputation, but I tend to overthink things, and this was one of them. Thanks for the sanity check. Still, I'd love to see Aaron do a comparison video since they're not too far apart in price.

I followed the tech drawings from the 1971-72 Mustang Welding and Sealant Assembly Manual. It specified the number and spacing of spot welds. I used 1/4" plug weld holes. The quarter was welded in, with the plug welds and then also along the edge of the panel. welds along the edge of the panel. Then the roof was welded to the quarter, with plug welds and then the entire seam was welded. The engine (351 Cleveland) produces about 480 hp. so body flex and movement could be a possibilty, but I did weld in subframe connectors to help stiffen the body. I wonder if it could be poor adhesion of the fiberglass to the steel in the channel allowing movement and cracking of the filler and paint. Regardless, it's pretty frustrating and needs to come out. Then repainting and blending the dark green metallic, and I guess reclearing the entire roof and both quarter panels. Should be simple, right?

Thanks, Aaron. You've confirmed what I was thinking. It's not what I wanted, but what I expected. Oh well, time to get to it.

Greetings, fellow earthlings! My name is Ron Bell. I live in Jonesborough, Tennessee, up in the northwest corner in the Tri-Cities region. I've got almost no painting experience, but I'm eager to learn and I don't scare easily. I've got a bunch of projects (like 7 or 8) in the queue, so my wife suggested I just learn to paint them myself. I retired in 2020, and restored a 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1, but it was almost impossible to find someone to paint it. I did, finally, find a couple guys to paint it in their garage, and it came out really nice, but it was a long road to get there. Now, I am working on an 1986 F150 that is completely blown apart, and sitting in primer, nearly ready for paint. Since this is my first attempt at automotive painting, I'm going to keep it simple and do an entire truck with dark shadow blue metallic. What can go wrong? And that is what brought me to Make it Match. I found Aaron on YouTube, and enoyed his videos, his systematic approach, and real world experience. Working through the classroom modules, I've already learned a bunch, and as I get into actually painting, I hope to learn how to fix the screwups that are inevitable. The one paint job I have seen that I will never forget (unfortunately) is the first paint job on my 73 Mach 1. It was SooOOoo bad. Tiger striping, fading under the rockers, not spraying the flanges on the top of the fenders, spraying the doors laying down, clear coat runs.... it was just a aweful. I was able to get the car and all the parts back, though, and after having the car blasted, was able to redo the epoxy primer, etc, and eventually got a really nice paint job on it. That is why the wife suggested I just learn to to it myself, and that is why I'm here.

@Mike Herrin Welcome, Mike. Sounds like some interesting projects. Among my numerous projects, I've got a '62 Falcon Ranchero. I'm looking forward to seeing more about your projects.

Welcome, Randy! What part of SE Virginia? I'm in the Tri-Cities, in NE Tennessee, about 40 minutes from Bristol.

@Randy Sizemore That's not that far. You're only about 2 hrs from me, then.

I can't wait to see your Ranchero finished. I think your color scheme is going to be killer. I've got a 62 Falcon Ranchero that I plan to paint pale blue with white pearl side scoops. It is #4 in the queue, though, so it's going to be a while. Did I mention it needs a lot of work?