car floor welding

[grandads_shed]

ok car just failed on a couple of holes in the floor, easy to get to, but i have never welded upside down.
so the question is , if i weld the plate inside the car on top of the floor, will it pass a mot ?

also what is the best way to remove the sound proving under the carpet ?

all advice welcome.

 

[tux]

As long as it is seam welded all round then it should pass. However, with it inside the car demonstrating the weld to the tester may be an issue.
My approach would be to cut out the rot and make a patch to butt weld in. Can be done from inside and will be readily visible from outside. Don't cover the outside with underseal/seam sealer etc until it has been back for re-test.
To remove the sound deadening chip off the worst will a chisel, use a heat gun and scraper, and then wipe up with white spirit.

 

[tux]

And also, if you do weld inside make sure there are no fuel pipes or underseal etc in that area under the car!
But then you don't need me to tell you that anyway!

 

[grandads_shed]

thanks tux m8 .. i think will have a word with the mot station that failed it. i am thinking that i could possibly leave the carpet in that area so that they can lift it up to see underneath

 

[tux]

That should work too. They are only interested in seeing that the job has been done and to an acceptable standard.
Whatever you decide, be sure to cut all the rot out first or it will spread into the repair like wildfire and you will end up doing it again next year!

 

[white van man 2]

i am thinking that i could possibly leave the carpet in that area so that they can lift it up to see underneath

strictly speaking, they ain't allowed to do that. depends how much of a jobsworth your tester is. if you just leave the carpet out until it has been retested you won't have a problem

 

[Robotstar5]

Good idea to leave the carpet out, a friend welded a new floor panel into my first mini and the tester wanted to fail it again as it appeared the edges of the hole had been flattened against a plate and covered in underseal 'til I lifted the carpet to show him the new panel!

 

[shocker]

Same expeience with a Discovery floor

 

[pedrobedro]

If you can get the car high enough it's not a bad idea to cut the hole to good metal and hold the plate up from the outside with a jack while you tack it in place and weld it from either side.

 

[grandads_shed]

thanks every one.
i managed to borrow a high set of ramps from a friend. and going to weld the floor from under the car

 

[white van man 2]

just be careful what you're burning on the other side

i killed the main front to rear wiring loom on a volvo, and welded thru the seatbelt on a mk3 escort

 

[grandads_shed]

just be careful what you're burning on the other side

i killed the main front to rear wiring loom on a volvo, and welded thru the seatbelt on a mk3 escort

thanks . that was one of the first things i checked along with how close it is to the fuel tank ...
the loom is inside the car under the carpet. this i have tied up out of the way. hope the weather is good next week then i should have it welded. getting the time between jobs is not always easy .. car is parked where i work

 

[RedOrZed]

Welding upside down is a complete PITA & I've had problems doing it. The weld pool flows badly in the wrong direction, it takes forever to get anything to stick.

I'm not a brilliant welder in any way, but have got passable results welding in other directions, using my MIG.

I'd recommend a leather apron, cap, cotton scarf and probably ear muffs - hot slag can fly in funny directions. I wore an old shemagh when working on my van - sometimes cos it was a bit chilly out and mostly to give the sparks something to land on that's not skin! It's full of burn holes now & smouldered for a bit, but at least I'm not

 

[Joseph Peace]

When I was a teenager in the 80's and running a Morris Minor on a shoestring it failed on holes in the floor. I cut the side off an old washing machine. Took the drivers seat out and cut, beat, levered and swore at the washing machine side until it was in there. Then I welded it in wherever I could and went underneath and ripped away as much rot as I could. Drilled holes where the seat bolts went and replaced the seat. Took it back to MOT man who rolled his eyes and got me to confirm that I wasn't about to sell the car and passed it.

I still bodge stuff but I make a much more thorough bodge these days!

I suppose the message I trying to give is that you can be a bit creative with your repairs!

 

[white van man 2]

Took it back to MOT man who rolled his eyes and got me to confirm that I wasn't about to sell the car and passed it.

if you do it from underneath, i'd recommend something in your ears. weld splatter in the ear stings like ****