i need to replace the floors rocker panels and cab corners in my 77 c10. i have no experience with this. i just went out and bought a mig welder. i will take all the advice i can get. thanks for the help
I am no expert but there are a few basics. Make sure you have all your safety equiptment.. long sleve shirt, welding helmet, good leather gloves... a safe place to weld free of flammables (a good old jug of water nearby doesn't hurt.) Good ventilation, pliers to pick up hot metal, good wire brush, welding hammer... make sure bystanders, pets, kids,,, can't look at the light.. they don't always understand how harmful the light is to the eyes.. (feels like sand poured into your eyes.. and that is just a little flash here and there..) 1. unhook the battery. they do not like welding current. especially on vehicles with computers on them. 2. if you haven't welded before, practice on same type metal that you will be welding on till you are satisfied you can do it correctly.. a proper mig setting will sound like frying bacon... if you burn through, you are too hot. lower your amps. try increasing your wire speed.. there are several good welding books out there for around $15. well worth it to read through. 3.ARE YOUR RUNNING GAS WITH YOUR MIG? MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING THE RIGHT WELDING WIRE... DON'T SKIMP ON THE WIRE MAKE SURE IT IS QUALITY WIRE. 4.MAKE SURE YOU TAKE THE TIME TO CLEAN YOUR PARTS.. CLEAN WELDING SURFACE=CLEAN STRONG WELDS 5.TAKE YOUR TIME!!!!! measure measure measure.... and cut the hole smaller then the patch panel so you can have something to weld to. 6.check behind panels.. check for things like wires, GAS LINES etc....before cutting/welding.. 7. use a stitch weld... a series of small little " tack welds " over and over till your seam is complete... you do this so the metal does not heat up and warp and ruin your panels...after which you grind and smooth your weld..( watch out for sparks.. I know from experience , had one bounce off the frame of my truck around my helmet and right into the old ear.. ouch...NOTHING SOUNDS THE SAME. DON'T FORGET TO WORK IN A VENTILATED AREA.. SOME OF THESE METALS ESPECIALLY GALVANISED METALS GIVE OFF POISONOUS GAS.. YOUR O.K. IF YOU HAVE AIR MOVING AROUND.. again practice practice practice..... before you start on YOUR TRUCK these are just bare basics.... I hope this helps get you started.. good luck. remember watch the eyes! Hard to replace them. BE PATIENT. TAKE YOUR TIME, DO IT RIGHT. IT WILL MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN YOUR FINAL OUTCOME.. EUGENE
thanks for the pointers i have heard about laying the patch panel overtop the old one and cuttingit with a angle gringer for a perfect fit. is this a good idea?
also when you get to the point of cutting out the rockers and so forth besure to support the floor and the door opening so it don't start sagging or buckling when you do this other wise nothing will line up right like your doors, ect. Jesse Hazell Chevy Duty Tech.
an angle cut would help blend the panels together... just make sure you leave enough to weld to.. some people even drill holes in the replacement pane every few inches and make a type of " spot weld" I would definitely practice this kind of cut before attempting on your "treaure" good luck
