Fourtrak Welding / Advice

[Paul99]

Work has got in the way of progress lately but the arch and floor is now welded in.

There's just the rear seat bracket and lower panel card supports to sort in the inside (on this side anyway). There's still lots of work to do on the outer arch but it's starting to go back together at last.

 

[Wallace]

Very tidy for a daily driver.

 

[Paul99]

Made a start on repairing the outer arches this evening.

One large green patch where a huge hole was kicking myself that I haven't got a close up photo of before. It's not perfect by any means but as it is completely covered by a rear bumper corner it's probably better than it needs to be. The green is from the inside of a wing off a Subaru Impreza that my brother rolled back in the spring as it is thinner metal than the 1.2mm zintec I've been using I thought it might be easier to form the complicated shape in reality it was springy stuff and I'd have been better off using the thicker stuff but I got there in the end and no harm done. Also got the rear corner of the wheel arch replaced still got a bit of weld to grind back but otherwise happy with it if the rest goes like this I'll be finished on this side sooner than expected.

 

[Paul99]

Got the outer arch done today - all but for a few pin holes to fill and a little bit of grinding back.

Like the inner arches there are mistakes and aren't going to win any beauty contests but they should be functional and certainly better than what was there. All of it is completely hidden behind the bold on plastic arches anyway.

Nearly finished with this side now - just the card bracket/supports, rare seat bracket on the inside and a few captive nuts for the roll bar and I'll call it done.

 

[Bill Edwards]

I think you're doing well.
Keep going!

 

[octo0072000]

looking good keep at it just a steep learning curve other side will take less time now you know that you are up against

 

[steveo3002]

nice looking work on that inner arch...think id have scrapped it

 

[vitus992]

I really enjoy following projects like this, keep it going!

 

[ian f]

nice work

 

[anto]

I would say that is excellent work, id be very proud if I could produce that

 

[Paul99]

I've lost count of the number of people who suggested that I should save myself the time and hassle and just scrap it and look for something else they must either think I've got money to burn or that I'd be better off watching and extra 3 hours of TV each evening and most Sundays too .

It's definitely a steep learning curve I've never done anything like this before but I'm picking it up slowly (I think) and I'm hoping it will be quicker and easier the other side. I'm reasonably happy with how it's turned out there are mistakes and bits I'd do differently next time but I doubt anyone will ever know the bad bits are even there unless I pointed them out.

I had an early finish today so finished off the metalwork this side. One last picture before a final wire brushing and a coat of primer to keep the rust away until a mechanic friend does the actual painting - I'm not going to attempt it myself - I hate that part of the job and don't have the patience to do it properly.

The painter says that red oxide will be more than good enough as a temporary measure to keep the rust away until the other side is completed and ready for paint and to just let the old man loose with a paintbrush and he'll sort it later on - I'm not convinced it's the best choice but then I know nothing about painting.

The next big job is working out how to re-arrange the shed to get enough room to work on the other side - it's going to be very tight!

 

[Paul99]

I left the old man to start on the priming expecting him to put as much effort into it as I have with the metal work he comes back 15 mins later declaring it all done .... I should have known - it's splashed absolutely everywhere including a few untouched spots around the back door. Runs everywhere and plenty of hairs out of the brush left in the paint .

I'm going to leave him to explain his mess to the painter in a few weeks time... on the other hand from a distance and photos it looks quite smart compared to the rusty mess that used to be there.

My attention now turns to the drivers side...

Already looking like a lot less work than the other side - sills from what I can see at the moment look OK, the foot well / floor is in better shape and the rear quarter of the arch (which is sectioned off underneath for the fuel filler pipe etc) is sound but for a bit of surface rust so I might be able to save a bit of time messing with that whole corner and leaving it intact... maybe - we'll just have to see when it all starts coming out...

 

[octo0072000]

dont worry about painting the inside red oxide or stuff like ALDI metal paint works well remember the inside wont show so even some household gloss paint will do same underneath just use a paint called chassis black with a paint brush as you said we don't all have loads of cash

 

[colnerov]

Hi, the N/S is usually worse because that is where all the puddles and carp is on the road and gets thrown up under the vehicle.

Colin

 

[Wendelspanswick]

Hi, the N/S is usually worse because that is where all the puddles and carp is on the road and gets thrown up under the vehicle.

Colin

How big are the puddles round your way if you've got carp in them!

 

[Paul99]

Hi, the N/S is usually worse because that is where all the puddles and carp is on the road and gets thrown up under the vehicle.

Colin

I've never considered that before but it makes sense. In my case it's also partly because someone has had a go at this side (sills) sometime in the past which may have preserved things a little better. I'm debating whether some of that earlier work is good enough to stay for now or to just rip it out and do it properly whilst I'm doing the arch.

 

[Bill Edwards]

It's easy for me to say this, but it's probably better to rip out anything that isn't as good as perfect now and do the job properly. You know that what you leave would need doing in the near future, so while you're in the swing of things and have it all apart it's best to deal with it.

 

[Paul99]

Thanks pdg & Bill you are of course both right I should do it properly - I was having a lazy moment. Poking around the fuel filler pipe revealed that the rear corner of the arch was not in as good shape as it first appeared (as per pic below). That's the decision now made for me it's all coming out. Inner arch out to take a photo:

The whole arch now out:

revealing good outer sill but the poorly patched over inner is in a bad way that'll be coming out too...

 

[jpmillermatic]

wow, Im really impressed with your work here...very inspiring.....It just goes to prove that with the proper motivation, we can bring many projects back from the brink of the scrap pile....

Your inner fender well looks very "steel punk" by the way, and I think looks fantastic...the work you put in is great!...keep it up

JP

 

[Paul99]

Seemed to be a long time getting not a lot done today but my excuse was they were fiddly bits that required a bit of extra thought. Boot floor panel patched up and fuel filler panel welded in:

Originally these pipes are roughly sectioned off from the main wheel arch with a flimsy poorly fitting plastic divider (which on account of the half a ton of muck sat on top of the filler pipe obviously doesn't do a good enough job). My plan is to terminate the actual wheel arch down in front of the fuel filler pipe then box in over top of these pipes afterwards -as I'm just making it up as I go along the plan is likely to evolve though...