Hi All

I know nothing about welding as my post will now show!!!

I know A Series panels are quite thin, therefore - what can be done to them? for example, holes along the bottom of wings - can the area be cut out, a new sheet fabricated and then welded in, then ground down? how do they get it smooth without using filler?
small bubbling holes in panels, if it's in the middle of an otherwise smart bonnet, do they cut it out with a welder and make a little patch???? how? how? how?

i guess most metal can be replaced - but when does it start to get tricky for them?

I'm talking about professionals now (true professionals Toomany, before you say it - professional what???)

thanks alot
W

a good mig weilded by a sypathetic operator can do all you ask, however many professionals will just go at it as for normal cars burn a hole and say "f**kit not worth it"

the inner bulkhead is usually the worst as its the thinnest
original wings were ok as they were a bit thicker
but welding long runs will pucker the panel as they are so thin and the weld shrinks so much
invisible repairs can be made with time and patience

you have to polish the metal thats going to be welded any trace of that horrible PU coating or paint will blow the weld pool out and make holes as will ANY sign of rust pits

chill bars clamped to the back of the work and copper "spoons" made from bits of old plumbing help to support the weld and stop it blowing. Just tack and tack and tack and tack untill its nearly all done then go over it pulsing the trigger 10mm then another bit then another bit taking time to cool in between welds

clean up with a flap wheel in a grinder( both sides if poss) and a bit of dressing with hammer and D*lly

going to do a bonnet hinge panel soon will take pics

Sean

Thanks alot Sean - very useful. I will read up a bit more. I will be taking it to an A-Series welder of many years....Gary Dicks in Somerset.....but just interested to know what can be done...

Will

I'd be interested to see those ... I'm probably going to have to do my whole windscreen surround sooner or later, and the bonnet hinge panel is part of it.

I shall spare you the photo shooting Sean.
Look here http://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/showth ... 170&page=5

replacing the whole panel is a different kettle of fish, its all spot welds or puddle welds if you have a MIG

Ill be doing the section from the seam at top of bulkhead to just under the flap, with butt welds at either end and a continual bead of weld the full width of car

cant get away with tacks there im afraid

Sean

Why not? Done it for years, no worries.

Flame retardent Duvet
cool

Haha, no mate it is my dust collector. I'm not silly or maybe