AHamilton
Well-Known Member
Yup, do it in sections and not all at once.
shaving my drip rails, 73 dart
- Thread starter snapetwo
- Start date
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1968FormulaS340
Well-Known Member
I'm not excited about the butt weld without a backing going on there.
snapetwo
Well-Known Member
You talking on the seam?
1968FormulaS340
Well-Known Member
Yup. On a unibody constructed car the body is the structure. Shaving the drip rails is fine as long as you replace the strength.
I think you are trading structural integrity for cosmetics.
snapetwo
Well-Known Member
Na, the welds are penetrating both sides just fine.
Also there is no way to put any backing plate without opening the gap more(that would alot more work to, trying to get it all back in line)
Also, I will be installing subframes to that will help.
Good catch though, structural stability for cosmetics would be horrible. I hope I don't cause that.
Also there is no way to put any backing plate without opening the gap more(that would alot more work to, trying to get it all back in line)
Also, I will be installing subframes to that will help.
Good catch though, structural stability for cosmetics would be horrible. I hope I don't cause that.
Mr.Ed
Swollen Member
I'm pretty sure he means the butt welds are nowhere near as strong as the original spot welded drip rail. Even with frame connectors, the roof structure will not be as strong.
Mr.Ed
Swollen Member
snapetwo
Well-Known Member
Well, while I don't feel that adding a backing plate is needed.....iroically..ha
after taking into consideration others opinions, as well as taking a second look. There is the need for something to fill a rather lage grove that is left after shaving the rails...Just so happens a steel rod bent to shape, will fill this groove.
And in doing so...also gives a better wel to both sections of metal...therfore acting like a backing plate or reinforcment.....go figure.
Kinda hard to describe with words, i'll try to get a picture as soon as i can get it cleaned up a bit.
as always, thanks for advice, opinions, and input.
after taking into consideration others opinions, as well as taking a second look. There is the need for something to fill a rather lage grove that is left after shaving the rails...Just so happens a steel rod bent to shape, will fill this groove.
And in doing so...also gives a better wel to both sections of metal...therfore acting like a backing plate or reinforcment.....go figure.
Kinda hard to describe with words, i'll try to get a picture as soon as i can get it cleaned up a bit.
as always, thanks for advice, opinions, and input.
snapetwo
Well-Known Member
Turning out to be a great day, lots of car shows going on, Fighter Jets keep buzzing the house (i think there is an airforce academy game)
Here is a pic of the groove im talking about. Kinda hard to see, but putting a rod in the groove and welding, helps to reinforce the weld, instead of just a buttweld.
Also, helps to clean it up a bit, fill in the gap.
Ironically, saw this trick on "Trucks tv" this morning, they used a tig rod and welded it in, while working on a bumper. Refered it as an old "rat rod" trick instead of using body filler.....works for me.
Here is a pic of the groove im talking about. Kinda hard to see, but putting a rod in the groove and welding, helps to reinforce the weld, instead of just a buttweld.
Also, helps to clean it up a bit, fill in the gap.
Ironically, saw this trick on "Trucks tv" this morning, they used a tig rod and welded it in, while working on a bumper. Refered it as an old "rat rod" trick instead of using body filler.....works for me.
snapetwo
Well-Known Member
Ok, cool. Made some progress, least how things will look.
I took a 1"x1" square tube. Cut one of the cornes, and split the tube.
ended up with a 1"x3/16" "L".
3/16" is the spacing on the chrome lip that holds the weather stripping.
I then took the orignal weather stripping strip, split it down the middle.
I left the backside/interior side of the stock strip and used it to hold the back of the weather strip, and my new pieace will hold the front.
I will end up getting a shop to bend me the metal i need for this, so its precise and then I will weld it to the car, grind, feather, bondo, lead, whatever and smooth it in. So that you would never notice it was added on.
Just a trial pic, tell me what you think.
Hope this helps someone out on their project....I think this is a better solution then using these magic weather stripping clips I hear about...as this looks more secure, and I feel will tidy the look up as far as gaps and what not.
I took a 1"x1" square tube. Cut one of the cornes, and split the tube.
ended up with a 1"x3/16" "L".
3/16" is the spacing on the chrome lip that holds the weather stripping.
I then took the orignal weather stripping strip, split it down the middle.
I left the backside/interior side of the stock strip and used it to hold the back of the weather strip, and my new pieace will hold the front.
I will end up getting a shop to bend me the metal i need for this, so its precise and then I will weld it to the car, grind, feather, bondo, lead, whatever and smooth it in. So that you would never notice it was added on.
Just a trial pic, tell me what you think.
Hope this helps someone out on their project....I think this is a better solution then using these magic weather stripping clips I hear about...as this looks more secure, and I feel will tidy the look up as far as gaps and what not.
snapetwo
Well-Known Member
Update. Been at a stand still lately, money and other things going on.
Friday I am supposed to be picking up some sheet metal from a shop in town, they are also going to be cutting me enough strips bent into a "L" for me to use.
I ordered it 3"x1/4", this will fill the gap of the weather stripping, then I am gonna take the 3" and tie it directly into the roof skin. I will also end up supporting the gap under the weatherstripping with some barstock.
Hard to describe, hopefully will have pics up soon.
Friday I am supposed to be picking up some sheet metal from a shop in town, they are also going to be cutting me enough strips bent into a "L" for me to use.
I ordered it 3"x1/4", this will fill the gap of the weather stripping, then I am gonna take the 3" and tie it directly into the roof skin. I will also end up supporting the gap under the weatherstripping with some barstock.
Hard to describe, hopefully will have pics up soon.
snapetwo
Well-Known Member
Well been really busy and broke, got a little bit done this weekend. And I do mean a little bit.
I ended up changing game plans, and rather then just welding a piece of metal to the roof, i have decided to cut into the skin a bit, and flush it in. In doing so, i discovered I don't like the position it puts me in, as far as welding from the backside (you will see this in a few pictures).
Basically. I am welding an extension to the roof sheet metal, then on the backside in the weather stripping track, tying the roof sheet metal to the structure. I didn't like this idea, so the next section, I am welding in a reinforcement bar, which i'll hide under the "extension", this bar will tie the structure to the roof sheet metal.
Hope that makes sense. Its a ***** of a project, but fun still, I think it will come out nice based on how this first section looks.
Amateur welder, think my welds are a hell of alot better, getting good penetration, very little porosity. Dunno what happened on this one, the porosity if so small, dunno. I did prep both pieces before welding. And I am getting good penetration on the backside/track weld.
Any questions or comments are welcome.
I ended up changing game plans, and rather then just welding a piece of metal to the roof, i have decided to cut into the skin a bit, and flush it in. In doing so, i discovered I don't like the position it puts me in, as far as welding from the backside (you will see this in a few pictures).
Basically. I am welding an extension to the roof sheet metal, then on the backside in the weather stripping track, tying the roof sheet metal to the structure. I didn't like this idea, so the next section, I am welding in a reinforcement bar, which i'll hide under the "extension", this bar will tie the structure to the roof sheet metal.
Hope that makes sense. Its a ***** of a project, but fun still, I think it will come out nice based on how this first section looks.
Amateur welder, think my welds are a hell of alot better, getting good penetration, very little porosity. Dunno what happened on this one, the porosity if so small, dunno. I did prep both pieces before welding. And I am getting good penetration on the backside/track weld.
Any questions or comments are welcome.
snapetwo
Well-Known Member
Made some progress on the drip rails.
Got a good portion of the new metal in, did a crap ton of plug welds. All pentrated great on inside.
Started to get some of the pieces that need curves and what not done to them, made today as well.
Got a good portion of the new metal in, did a crap ton of plug welds. All pentrated great on inside.
Started to get some of the pieces that need curves and what not done to them, made today as well.
snapetwo
Well-Known Member
Ugh, still kicking butt on drip rails. Wish my overhead welding was better, having to grind and reweld, but making real progress.
Got a method worked out that is working good. Hopefully be done with passenger side soon.
Not a project I would suggest for anyone thinking its quick and easy...its not.
Got a method worked out that is working good. Hopefully be done with passenger side soon.
Not a project I would suggest for anyone thinking its quick and easy...its not.
snapetwo
Well-Known Member
Well that is one way to end the weekend of working on the car, grinder decided to die, took it apart and the rotor has metal chunks missing, so its shot.
Good news, finished all the passenger side drip rail shave, except the A pillar and then finish grinding, I need an aircompressor so i can use a different sanding disc, 60 grit is to agressive to smooth it out, then its body filler and all that stuff....still fun, still kicking *** and taking names.
Good news, finished all the passenger side drip rail shave, except the A pillar and then finish grinding, I need an aircompressor so i can use a different sanding disc, 60 grit is to agressive to smooth it out, then its body filler and all that stuff....still fun, still kicking *** and taking names.
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