Putting body panels back together - what goes inbetween them?

[trout]

So it's finally time to start putting these back together.
I noticed when I took them apart that there was two different materials used between the panels.
Running along the top of the engine bay there was some gooey material with a string running through it between the chassis and the fender. And There was a bondo like material between the fenders and the front air dam. They are now long gone as they were cleaned off when I removed all the rust and repainted.

Do I need to replace them? Only other car I ever took body panels off of, my Jeep, didn't have anything like that. What were they and what purpose did they serve?

[BenM]

The stuff with the string it it is 3M Strip Caulk. It's the same stuff holding the tar paper inside the doors and many other uses.

The bondo-material may be bondo? I'm not sure, but I know what you're talking about.

[priya]

I totally forgot about that stuff when I was reassembling my Eagle so none of it got put back in.  The stuff between the fenders and front air dam is not bondo, it has some flexibility.  I think its probably just a caulking that has gotten very stiff over the years.

[trout]

thanks!

I ordered some of the caulk strip. Think I may just use that at the other spot since it seems like I'll have plenty left over.

[maximus7001]

I used some white seam sealer from the local body supply, cost $8 for a tube that fits in a caulking gun.