Blue Jello Rain
New Member
- Messages
- 1
- Location
- Washington, US
I've got an older Saab 900, they have a design flaw where dirt and water accumulate in the driveshaft tunnel and rust it away.
Problem being that the underside of this area is where the front lower control arm mounts.
It isn't too bad yet, just a few holes but I'm worried about it spreading to the lower control arm mounting bolt area.
I can't find anybody willing to touch this, very few people bother returning my phone calls or emails asking if they are willing to do the welding...I suspect because it's a pain in the ass area to get to and the liability if the welds didn't hold. Who wants to be responsible for the suspension ripping apart on the freeway?
I'm starting to consider doing the work myself. It's been ages since I've used MIG, I mainly used and maintained a cnc plasma table in highschool.
So, I want to know how foolish I am for thinking about this. I can buy the replacement body panels required, so no fabricating is needed. I also have the original body manual for the car, which has an entire section for replacing the driveshaft tunnel area.
I'm mainly worried at my inexperience/what happens if my welds don't hold, and the thickness of the panels to be welded (1.2mm sounds pretty thin and difficult to me).
I was intending on buying a millermatic 140 with gas if I was going to attempt this.
Does this sound like something a noob could attempt and do safely?
There should be some pictures attached of the area.
Problem being that the underside of this area is where the front lower control arm mounts.
It isn't too bad yet, just a few holes but I'm worried about it spreading to the lower control arm mounting bolt area.
I can't find anybody willing to touch this, very few people bother returning my phone calls or emails asking if they are willing to do the welding...I suspect because it's a pain in the ass area to get to and the liability if the welds didn't hold. Who wants to be responsible for the suspension ripping apart on the freeway?
I'm starting to consider doing the work myself. It's been ages since I've used MIG, I mainly used and maintained a cnc plasma table in highschool.
So, I want to know how foolish I am for thinking about this. I can buy the replacement body panels required, so no fabricating is needed. I also have the original body manual for the car, which has an entire section for replacing the driveshaft tunnel area.
I'm mainly worried at my inexperience/what happens if my welds don't hold, and the thickness of the panels to be welded (1.2mm sounds pretty thin and difficult to me).
I was intending on buying a millermatic 140 with gas if I was going to attempt this.
Does this sound like something a noob could attempt and do safely?
There should be some pictures attached of the area.
