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Seam welding

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 6:58 pm
by pablo
Want to get the new car seam welded, but I have no idea of exactly what this entails, any advice or pictures would be much appreciated.

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:30 pm
by Stuart
The new black shell? You could do with a spit/rotisserie for the underside, but that's only if you're going to do the whole thing. The engine bay and boot areas are easy enough as long as you get rid of all of the seam sealer (a bit flammable that)

None of this is from first hand experience; more bits and bobs learned or heard from friends and the net. Fletch or RPS13 should be amongst your first points of call on here, I would have thought.

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 7:33 pm
by Stuart
This looks like a useful thread mate.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=425

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:59 pm
by Tommy
This thread has lots of photos showing how far they went in seam welding the shell. Lots of work!
http://user20948.vs.easily.co.uk/phpBB3 ... b68fea69a4

Posted: Tue Feb 23, 2010 9:17 pm
by Stuart
A great link Tommy; I thought that forum had gone.

Thanks :)

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 7:14 am
by pablo
Great links, thanks for the input. There's no way we're going that far or anywhere near just don't have the time or facility to do anything like that, but it has given my some ideas of what we could do.

I do find myself asking the question am I taking this project too far:frown:

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:19 am
by Stuart
Maybe mate, maybe. In truth you may find your life would be easier if you rivetted the sections together. I know there a good number of race cars that have that instead. It's easier to do and you can always drill the rivets out afterwards of you need to straighten a panel or replace one.
RK Tunings blue Time Attack GTR from 2008 (IIRC) used that technique for exactly that reason.

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 8:40 am
by stockcar
if your not wanting to get silly then probs the most important bit generally on most cars will be the engine bay and around the struts............

1" of weld every couple of inches should do the trick

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 9:59 am
by Fast Eddy
Yes,

I 'rally specced' a Mk1 Capri years ago and used the RS manual to do so.

The rule of thumb for a rally car is weld and inch, miss an inch, but it you do a little stitch every couple of inches on yours like Alynn says you will be fine and will make a considerable difference.

Wayne at JRD chose to do this to his EVO not long ago and i think instead of spoiling the special shell on the car with a cage to stiffen it up. I think there are some pics on a thread somewhere.

Eddy

Posted: Wed Feb 24, 2010 4:59 pm
by pablo
Cheers guys, have spoken to Alan today and the main part that we will do is the engine bay and Turrets. Stu. I do like the idea of rivetting sections as an option. Thanks again for the help:thumbs: