Almost finished welding the piece in...then ran out of welding gas, and I didn't feel like going to TSC...tomorrow....
Making some more good progress..... I hate running out of welding gas in the middle of something.....
I always have an extra full bottle ready to go just in case. Looking good, I need some of your motivation.
Thanks guys, I know I should buy a second tank..but this is only the second tank I've used in over 6 years... I'll price another tomorrow.
All welded up. I didn't grind down all the welds, since you'll never see it once it's all back together, another quick coat of POR 15, and it's time to weld in the wheel well.
That looks good, Dave! I have a few questions regarding POR-15 and welding: How wide of a bare (masked-off) strip did you leave around the piece? Are you planning on using a weld-through primer along this strip, or sealing with seam sealer from both sides of the joint? It looked like the factory had some sort of weld-through sealer that was used on my cowl joints when all three layers were welded together (Firewall, Lower Cowl, and Upper Cowl). Are there any such beasties out there, or have you thought of a similar product? Does POR-15 do any better than normal paint, around welding (heat)? Thanks in advance, and hopefully it will take less than 6 years to do enough welding to run out of another gas bottle this time.
Paul, don't take my word for it, I just do what I think works the best.. 1. I left just enough to cover the factory overlap 2. yes, it will get some weld thru primer, then sealed with seam sealer once it's all done. 3. It appears to me, than they must have put a bead of some sorta sealer on every joint, before the panel was installed, then it was spot welded together..I don't know of anything like this, but I'm sure their intention was to seal all the seems to keep moisture out, which I think back fired..Glenn (car-nut) would know if they make anything like this now days. 4. POR-15 has worked well for me, it will melt when you weld it from behind, but a scuff with 320 grit, and the new stuff seems to bite to the old stuff. I like it, and my intention is to seal every thing up as good as possible, as this car will be more of an all weather (summer) car, I will drive it in the rain, and not worry about it. My friend is a body man, and he says it'll probably never rust again, once I'm done..and I hope so Just what I've learned as I go...I was just looking at my cowl, and I see things I would do differently now..I still don't have the guts to cut a roof off a Maverick and drive it everywhere..
Wheel well is done..the reflection in the POR 15 makes the welds really show up in the drop, but the backside is nice and straight, I think I'm good unless a Giraffe has a look down in there...I kinda screwed up, and cut the wheel well patch too short, but a little patience , and it's done. Next, is the quarter skin...
