[steve]

got any tips on welding body panels? last time i tried it was a pain the arse, either blowing holes through the tin or not doing much at all.

Just thought i'd try do some rust repairs on the lwb this weekend.


(ooo first tech thread)

[royce]

the best way I have found to do it if you dont have top notch welding gear is to try and overlap the patch panel and just tack weld it in, work you way around it bit by bit letting it cool in between till its pretty well stitched in, try to do actual beads is pretty hard becuase the way gasless wire penetrates

[steve]

yeah, that's what i did before, overlaped the patch, it was only a small hole in the floor so it didn't matter and i just sprayed it with tar afterwoulds. Same for this job too i guess, just small areas of the floor.

[Bruce]

Yes I have done quite a lot of welding patches into cars as rust repairs. You using a mig welder hey Steve. Turn welder right down, start your tack weld onto the peice of steel you are using then flow into car. Its a little tricky but thats the best way I have found. then just tack every 5 to 10mm or so.

[steve]

i have a gasless mig, it has MIN/MAX switch, and a wire speed dial.

i'll try it on MIN and slow the wire down... doesn't sound very exciting though

[royce]

Thats a good tip Bruce, can tell you owned a Corty

I think if you are doing flat bits it helps to get some new steel in a bit thincker as well

ive seen hot rodders use vice grips with some bits of steel to make a thingy that puts a fold in the patch panel to make it sit flush better, you jsut crimp all the way round the edge so it will sit in the whole better

like this, I love paint

[Bruce]

I used 1.2mm Zinc steel. I used to cut and shape the steel about 1mm smaller than the hole I was filling, then used Magnets to hold the steel in place. Then away you go.

[steve]

i did a couple of holes today. The thicker patch worked alot better than a peice of normal body panel for a patch.

I used the ear bits that normaly hold the standard sierra bumper on , notice the little nut still attached to the patch

I forgot to get a photo of the actual weld before i tared it, but it wasn't too bad, though i got a photo of the other side

[royce]

looks like it penetrated OK

[Bruce]

Good job Steve. Yes mate it's always better to use thicker steel for your repair, that way you can flow the weld from thick steel to body.
I can come and play and help if you want anytime. I was busy today sorry otherwise I would of poped down.

[steve]

oooo ok Bruce, i have to flip the car over and do the other side which has more rust

There's a couple of areas where it may be awkward because of the shapes, like an area around where the floor meets the rear wheel arch and petrol tank filler, someone took the car offroad and tore a hole there and there's a bit of rust too. , it doesn't need to be pretty, but would be good to cover the hole up.