Spit roast and GAPE

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ross_jsy
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Location: Jersey, C.I.

Sun Nov 06, 2016 5:29 pm

So for the past few weeks I have been helping my friend repair the rust on his touring and thought you guys would like to see as he isn't a zoner.

Car on a spit:

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Spits are a god send!

Rust caused by a poorly installed car phone in the rear arch (partly cut out):

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Cut back to fresh metal

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Plate welded in:

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Surface dressed:

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Hole at base of rear arch cut out to fresh metal:

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Plate made and tacked in place:

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Surface prepped:

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Back of the cill, inner arch and part of the outer arch were rotten. While prepping and cutting out I found filler. Appears to have been caused from a previous accident repair:

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Those are probably not even a quarter of the repairs I've done. What has shocked me is on the surface this was a clean shell and it has taken 2 of us 4 weekends of 2 12+ hour stints in a fully equipped bodyshop and we aren't even half way to painting it. I dread to think how much work a half bad shell would actually require, and what the bill would be.

I taught myself to weld so any tips are greatly appreciated.

Ross
maxfield
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 5:44 pm

When it comes to rotten shells you can put a time on it. I spent 324 hours welding a Mini shell up. The repairs look half decent. When you're welding are you trying to do a continuous bead? Or spotting? Also what gas?
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ross_jsy
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 5:55 pm

In my misspent youth I once helped repair a very rotten mini. Lets just say we didn't weld anything and you could date the repairs from the newspaper we used :D I still see it driving around 7 years later 8O

I tend to spot most of the time as even on the lowest setting the welder loves to blow holes. Where the metal is thick enough I'll lay a continuous bead. Some of the repairs were done with a temperamental older welder. Since switching to a new snap on one it has been far easier to lay weld with. Off the top of my head its argon/CO2 mix
maxfield
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 6:06 pm

A good welder always helps, some people say they can weld with any old welder, but that's bollocks. I always spot on thin stuff. My old welder I always had low wire speed and slightly higher heat and it worked really well. Now I've bought a new welder I'm still working out how to get it right.

I asked about the gas, I was using pure CO2 and it looked ok but not the best, went on to an argon/CO2 and it made a world of difference.
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TPS
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 7:35 pm

Nice One
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1991 325i Touring Alpine White II
1994 318i Touring Sterling Silver
Sanchez
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 9:27 pm

My tourings needing some of the same repairs soon.
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Rav335uk
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 10:15 pm

I see it's moved then. :mad: :D
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If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
Gert_8
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 10:25 pm

Coont. And you know why! :-x
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
Rav335uk
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 11:02 pm

Gert_8 wrote:Coont. And you know why! :-x

Hahahahahah :mad: :cool:
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If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
ross_jsy
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 11:05 pm

Gert you didn't have time to weld with all the romancing you were doing with Gary :D
Rav335uk
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 11:15 pm

HAHAHAHAHAHA. busted!!!!
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If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
Gert_8
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Joined: Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: In your back passage faster than a rat up a drainpipe!

Sun Nov 06, 2016 11:23 pm

You should have seen my continuous beads :D

How is little Gary?
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PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
ross_jsy
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Sun Nov 06, 2016 11:45 pm

He has had the shits all day, you really bunged the poor bastard up!
Rav335uk
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Mon Nov 07, 2016 12:08 am

I'm surprised he has problems holding anything in, after a night with Gert :mad:
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If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
ross_jsy
Married to the E30 Zone
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Location: Jersey, C.I.

Mon Nov 07, 2016 7:48 am

That says more about Gert's size* than anything else.

*watch him blame the cold hot tub :)
Rav335uk
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Mon Nov 07, 2016 9:13 am

Hahahaha :mad:
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If you Got "Haters",Then your doing something Right!
CR24v??? Where's it all gone?? LOL
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