For those that weld cars

[Paul G]

Hi All.

Those of you on this site that spend your time welding up old cars, either for money or pleasure ( ) have my deepest admiration.

I don't normally do this sort of thing myself, but my daughter-in-law informed me that "Eric the Eunos" had caught some rust.
We don't know where he got it from, but he has been parked near a BMW so we're blaming that.

So yesterday, with Ebay rear sill end plates supplied, I set about the task of repair armed with my trusty Lincoln and a bottle
of "Moon Gas".

By tea time "Eric" was good as new, and had recovered from the anesthetic, (alternator & battery disconnection) and I even got to drive it home.


Well, this morning I ache all over. My neck and shoulders feel like they belong to an old man. Hang on a minute..... THEY DO.

Now to get back to a nice bench job.
Cheers,
Paul G

 

[Chickenjohn]

I restore cars as a business now. You get used to it and stop aching after a few months of working at it.

 

[Chickenjohn]

Oh and i have an MX-5 coming monday in so they can have a look underneath. Hope to give an estimate for any welding needed! ;-)

 

[pedrobedro]

My sympathies Paul, I had to weld the rear chassis on my Kia for the MOT in June and had to use a prop to hold my head in position while I did it. I think at 60 I should be able to do all this stuff without batting an eyelid but it really takes it out of you some days.

 

[romill]

Yet another "which MIG?"

Hello All, this is my first post and yes, I do need help and advice.

I have a winter project forced on me - my 1964 Jaguar Mk2 which I find requires a new front chassis cross member and two outriggers. What I need to know is how high an amperage welder will I need? I have already been told 150 amps will be adequate but 2nd, 3rd and etc., opinions are very welcome. I have never MIG welded before and would welcome all advice on the gear I will find useful.
It may be useful to tell you that I will be living in France when I undertake the task so there may be different regulations in force as far as gas storage etc., and I also have 3 phase electricity in my garage. Also, I cannot afford classy professional equipment, so good quality hobby / semi-pro is the order of the day. Thanks in advance.

 

[cumbriasteve]

When I was a young un I bought a Triumph 2000 that I knew needed a 'small' patch underneath, this was the great days of oxy acetylene and welding or brazing rods dependant on the condition of the parent metal.

Axle stands, a cold garage floor, sparks, molten blobs, burn ointment a couple of 'quick put that fire out' a sheet of 16swg steel and about 2 weeks of late nights and I had a Triumph that would pass it's MOT...shame the gearbox committed suicide a month later.

Wish I could find the idiot who once said the old day's was best.

 

[Paul G]

Oh and i have an MX-5 coming monday in so they can have a look underneath. Hope to give an estimate for any welding needed! ;-)

I don't think you will make your fortune from welding MX5's,
although I have marked their weak spot on the pic.
The inner sill was still painted grey primer. Not bad for a 21 year old car.

Cheers,
Paul G

Meet Eric

 

[Paul.]

When I was a young un I bought a Triumph 2000 that I knew needed a 'small' patch underneath, this was the great days of oxy acetylene and welding or brazing rods dependant on the condition of the parent metal.

Axle stands, a cold garage floor, sparks, molten blobs, burn ointment a couple of 'quick put that fire out' a sheet of 16swg steel and about 2 weeks of late nights and I had a Triumph that would pass it's MOT...shame the gearbox committed suicide a month later.

Wish I could find the idiot who once said the old day's was best.

I had the 2.5 PI version, luckily petrol was cheap in those days, that straight 6 returned 18mpg on a good day, It was the most biodegradable car I ever owned, even worse than the cortina's, an oxy acetylene plant was an essential part of the tool kit and where welding cars is concerned I also remember nothing good about the "good old days".

 

[cumbriasteve]

I had the 2.5 PI version, luckily petrol was cheap in those days, that straight 6 returned 18mpg on a good day, It was the most biodegradable car I ever owned, even worse than the cortina's, an oxy acetylene plant was an essential part of the tool kit and where welding cars is concerned I also remember nothing good about the "good old days".

I nearly bought a 2.5...lovely car as long as you were the rich person who bought it new.. by the time I could afford to buy one half of it was lying on the drive in a red flakey powder form.

My worse gas guzzler was one of the big flat bonnet Crestas, think it was about a 3.5 litre thing, think I was lucky to get 12 mpg..I was a young daft lad though and the go faster pedal only had one position..hard down.

 

[cumbriasteve]

I don't think you will make your fortune from welding MX5's,
although I have marked their weak spot on the pic.
The inner sill was still painted grey primer. Not bad for a 21 year old car.

Cheers,
Paul G

Meet Eric

Eric looks great, I had an early eunos a couple of years ago.....

Late Autumn evening, dark but warm, pop up lights on, like 2 barn doors stuck on the bonnet, on the Cumbria back roads, hood down and Gun's n Roses blasting away...sheer heaven

 

[Paul.]

I nearly bought a 2.5...lovely car as long as you were the rich person who bought it new.. by the time I could afford to buy one half of it was lying on the drive in a red flakey powder form.

My worse gas guzzler was one of the big flat bonnet Crestas, think it was about a 3.5 litre thing, think I was lucky to get 12 mpg..I was a young daft lad though and the go faster pedal only had one position..hard down.

Bloke I used to work for had the Cresta, probably the closest looking thing you could buy resembling a 70s american saloon, or "yank tin" as we called them, I became a bit of an expert on them at the time, mainly because we had it apart so many times fixing it,

 

[cumbriasteve]

Bloke I used to work for had the Cresta, probably the closest looking thing you could buy resembling a 70s american saloon, or "yank tin" as we called them, I became a bit of an expert on them at the time, mainly because we had it apart so many times fixing it,

Yep thats the one...reminded me of the big Yank cars also, it was a beast and a flying machine but you could watch the petrol guage drop...had it for 4 weeks and swapped it for a Transit Van with a sliding drivers door that swung out on left hand bends cos the bottom runner had rusted away... great memorys

 

[Cobbler]

Smashing little car the mx5/Eunos of the early posts, wife's got one, welded both sides on rear sills, 1999 car, this is the only rust in it. Looks like new! My sons got one as well, with a turbo fitted, unbelievable acceleration. Great fun this weather.

Cobbler

 

[SiPMerlin150]

Theres nothing fun in trying to weld whilst lying down on the floor and having to prop your head up and having your visor slipping off when lining up the torch

Having the advantage of a ramp like in a garage becomes very apparent! If not, and you can gain access to the other side of the hole, like peeling back the carpet, (like you should prior to welding) weld away from the top

 

[Glyn]

This thread brought back some good old memories! I spent so many years on my back welding, holding my head off the floor, my neck measurement reached 18 and a half inches. I'm not a big bloke so buying shirts was fun!

 

[200T]

Story of my life...

 

[Hitch]

I absoloutley hate it. Refuse to do anyone elses, keep telling myself that if anything i have needs welding it will be scrapped....

Until today. Took me van in for MOT, only thing it failed on was a rusty bit of chassis rail. Looks like the drain hole got blocked and water sat in the hollow. Nice easy one, so I thought why not. Don't want the hassle of getting another one right now, or spend any money. Hour of messing about, and its lives on another year

None of this messing about laid under it lark. Fork extensions underneath and up we go

 

[Sean]

Story of my life...

......and mine - swap?
( whats left of a 2cv and what is going in)

 

[madkayaker]

I've got almost the same job to do on my 2cv. previous owner had used bits of tin and silicon glue to try and cobble it together. only got the bottom half of the toe board to do and the floor plates could be fixed with 1/4 panels but ecas have got complete floors on offer so going that way! going to get her running first so i can pull off the grass down side of house onto a trailer and into work!


what do i need to disconnect to lift the shell off?

 

[Rrunnach]

I don't think you will make your fortune from welding MX5's,
although I have marked their weak spot on the pic.
The inner sill was still painted grey primer. Not bad for a 21 year old car.

Cheers,
Paul G

Meet Eric

Nice Eunos, I had one few year back, cracking wee machine. Roof down, roasted her up and down the Bealach na Bà (pass of the cattle route to Applecross). Unfortunately, she had to go to a new home