Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum
Trans Am Information => Restoration => Topic started by: 1FSTLS1 on February 07, 2009, 03:35:04 PM
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Any one have some advice on welding floors in. What is the trick to not burning through the metal? Is my welder just to powerfull? I am still new to welding.
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Are you using a wire fed welder? If so, are you using gas as well? I'm new to welding, too. But, what I've learned recently is that you can't use a flux core wire fed welder on thin metal like floor pans. You need to type that uses argon/co2 as well.
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i use a little old mig welder on sheat metal
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I am using a mig without gas. So I should try with gas?
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i dont use gas try adjusting the wire feed
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Practice on similar gauge metal till you get your heat and speed settings where they need to be.
Using a shielding gas will give you a better weld ...and use .023 wire.
Use alternating tack welds...don't try to weld a seam; it will buld too much heat and cause warping.
Practice..practice...practice ;D
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I am using a mig without gas. So I should try with gas?
if your wire is made to work without gas, meaning it will have a flux on it....if it is made for gas you will tell really quick as your welds will have air bubbles in them, if you are burning through, that either means your heat is up to high, or you are just moving too slow, after you get your welder adjusted, and if you post on here what kind of welder you have i can probablly tell you the settings, but after its all adjusted you can just tack in places till its fully welded in, thats how body work is done, to prevent burning through or warping the metal.....
but also what 79ws6 said, is basically right....
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I have a Lincoln Easy Mig 180. I just dropped almost $500 on pans and carpet and should have them this week. Next I am going to get some gas for the welder and use smaller wire like .024 and hope for the best. Sounds like this is going to take me a long time to do.
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It won't take forever but take your time on it and you'll have better results. ;)
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for sheet metal i use flux i use .035 heat setting A wire speed 2 1/2 this is on my lincoln mig tack beads are your best results to a great finish. tack it then blow it off with air to cool it the hotter the metal, the more likely you are to burn through. since tig welding isnt an option also check your polarities to make sure they are correct for flux instead of gas.
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as someone else said, dont try beads, do tacks, what i like to do it do a tack about every 6-8 inchs and keep working my way around until its solidly welded in, it'll save you from the warping and burning thru. Do the same when you grind welds, skip from spot to spot, you can build up more than enough heat from grinding to have the same warping happen as welding if you stay in one spot too long.
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It won't take forever but take your time on it and you'll have better results. ;)
Right, it's better to take a little longer and have it come out right than to rush it. And coming from me that's saying something. LoL
Sir L (for "Loves Instant Gratification") Dragon ;)
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One more ? when I cut out the old ones should I cut through the seat mounting tracks and just weld them back in or should I try to seperate the floor from them and leave them intact.
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Try to leave them intact. Then drill through the new floor pan along the line where they should be attached to the braces (but not through the braces themselves) and plug weld then to them.
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Also how about seperating them from the old floors? Air chisle? Drill out old plug welds? I will try to post up some pictures soon.
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Also how about seperating them from the old floors? Air chisle? Drill out old plug welds? I will try to post up some pictures soon.
Both. Drilling out the old welds will make it easier to separate them with the air chisel.
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Drill out the spot welds holding the floor pans to the braces, you won't need an air chisel.
(http://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n236/79ws6resto/blastedbare.jpg)
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Made some progress Friday and Sunday:
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4343.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4345.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4365.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4359.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4360.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4361.jpg)
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That looks pretty good! ;)
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Let me ask this question, are you overlapping the pans on the existing metal or are you doing butt welding ( exact fit )
Made some progress Friday and Sunday:
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4343.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4345.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4365.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4359.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4360.jpg)
(http://i253.photobucket.com/albums/hh48/1FSTLSx/DSCN4361.jpg)
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That's a really good job! I hope mine come out half that good when I'm done.
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Looks good...are you planning to cut and install the original drain plugs?
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not bad for a flux box , just remember to keep the joints clean of all rust and junk .
and jeff you cheat you have more to work with than I do .
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and jeff you cheat you have more to work with than I do .
I only have my brain to use so trust me, I'm not cheating :D :D
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you know I outta ....... na its too far to drive ... :D :D
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Some overlaping some but joint.
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Looks good...are you planning to cut and install the original drain plugs?
Not sure I dont think so. The originals are rotted. The car is not going to see any rain for the most part. What are your guys's thoughts on the matter?
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i would leave them the way they are unless you live where there is a lot of flooding
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This may be a little bit late but .........
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/tutorial.htm
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When your done welding, grind down the welds flush and get some brushable 3M seam sealer and brush down the welds.
This willl help to seal off any pin holes that may not be visible to the eye.
Here is a thread when I done mine. http://www.78ta.com/smf/index.php?topic=4022.0 (http://www.78ta.com/smf/index.php?topic=4022.0)