First welding attempt

crvc · Post by **crvc** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:09 am

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/k ... CN2819.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/k ... CN2818.jpg

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/k ... CN2817.jpg

The original inner wheelhouse had severe damage that had been patched with a ton of welding. The damage included a crack that went all the way up to the engine lid. I don't know how I did it, but when measuring for the cut I screwed up. The new weld seams explains it. I still have to weld in the outer wheelhouse but it hasn't arrived yet. So I won't grind the welds down yet. Still using Jason's 1967 project as a guide.

http://www.my67bug.com/

I won't grind the inside welds since they'll be covered with carpet eventually.

I hope I learned my lesson. If I hadn't messed up the measurement, this would have been a 3 or 4 hour job. Instead it became a 14 hour job and I'm not done yet.

I used a flux core wire MIG so no gas needed. I know you guys prefer gas MIG for prettier welds. I could make my welds smoother by going over the seams with my oxy-acetylene torch.

Kevin

Post by **doc** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:50 am

Better than my first attempt, that's for sure!! A big job, but looks like things are starting to shape up. A little grinding and some putty work and things should start to look pretty good.

Thanks for posting this. Perhaps many will see that rust is beatable with some work and a little equipment.

doc

slowtwitch · Post by **slowtwitch** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:01 pm

My first welds were a lot worse, Kevin. The front clip that I wrote about in my post, is actually the second clip that I put on my car. As I got better with my welding, i kept looking at the bad welds and decided to put on another clip.

pete

crvc · Post by **crvc** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 2:27 pm

http://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j47/k ... CN2744.jpg

Thanks guys. It's not my first welding attempt, but the biggest I've done. The white baja was my learning experiment with the welder. I patched several holes before giving up and putting on a fiberglass front end.

I tried smoothing the welds with my oxy-acetylene torch. Big mistake there as even with the flame turned down so low it kept going out, it still burned through.

Towel Rail · Post by **Towel Rail** » Mon Jul 16, 2007 1:27 am

Yep, gas beats flux.