Anyone whos welded panels/sills on their Z, what gauge steel did you use. Im doing the sill areas and was going to use 1.2mm but looking at the original metal it looks more like 1mm. Suppose if I use the 1.2 it will take longer to rust through ;) .

Don't think it will matter very much, what proccess are you using (gas, mig or tig). Biggest problem will be the thin rusty bits.

Don't think it will matter very much, what proccess are you using (gas, mig or tig). Biggest problem will be the thin rusty bits.

 

 

Im going to mig weld it, or try :) just need a bit more practice. the plan is to cut out the thin rusty bits so that ive got decent metal to weld too, I was intending to use 1.2mm metal for a bit added strength as its the sills but looking at the original metal it looks a bit thinner more like 1mm which would be far easier to work with.

I really need to decide soon before i go out and buy the sheet metal, the supplier only sells it in large sheets so want to get it right before i buy.

oh and i'll need to come down and hire a big bottle of co2/argon, those little ones are crap and last no time!

 

Hows your car doing now? hope youve got the bits and pieces sorted

Im going to mig weld it, or try :) just need a bit more practice. the plan is to cut out the thin rusty bits so that ive got decent metal to weld too, I was intending to use 1.2mm metal for a bit added strength as its the sills but looking at the original metal it looks a bit thinner more like 1mm which would be far easier to work with.

I really need to decide soon before i go out and buy the sheet metal, the supplier only sells it in large sheets so want to get it right before i buy.

oh and i'll need to come down and hire a big bottle of co2/argon, those little ones are crap and last no time!

 

Hows your car doing now? hope youve got the bits and pieces sorted

 

 

Get a co2 bottle from your local publican/ social club etc. It cost's them very little and you can get a regulator for the bottle for about £15 from machine mart. Or.... Argon/ Argoshield from BOC, Though this costs about £80 intially (Gas and bottle rental) then about £40 per year for bottle hire. Argon is slightly easier/ neater to use, but way more expensive.

thanks for that, already looked into the pros and cons and decided on the argon co2 mix, may cost a little more but anything that helps me weld a little neater is a bonus :D

Don't use co2 on its own as it is too cold, you need argon to allow proper penetration. All you get with co2 are lumps of filer metal on top of parent metals giving no real strength to weld. And it looks SH*T.

 

Car was in at Cockburn Auto Electrics yesterday should be all fixed now fingers crossed.

Alarm next!!!!!!

You will need to practice to get your welder set correctly to do good positional welds on thin metal. The most important thing is that both edges that you are welding together are clean shiny steel so that the wire can keep a continuous good earth. I find pub co2 better than argon/co2 for thin mild steel car work. Where it shows you are going to grind, fill and spray anyway. To make the job last you need to spray some old engine oil on the back (inside) fresh unprotected welds rust like made.

Car was in at Cockburn Auto Electrics yesterday should be all fixed now fingers crossed.

Alarm next!!!!!!

 

Ahh Alan and Jeff the motor should have been in good hands then

You will need to practice to get your welder set correctly to do good positional welds on thin metal. The most important thing is that both edges that you are welding together are clean shiny steel so that the wire can keep a continuous good earth. I find pub co2 better than argon/co2 for thin mild steel car work. Where it shows you are going to grind, fill and spray anyway. To make the job last you need to spray some old engine oil on the back (inside) fresh unprotected welds rust like made.

 

Thanks for the tips, thought about the oil, but from what i can gather better with cheap fresh engine oil, old oil has too much acid content from the engine combustion process. I'm intending to paint what I can, and zinc weld through primer all areas to be welded, then either spray oil or waxoyl into the difficult to reach parts..... unless anyone has any better ideas?

 

Still no answer to the sheet metal thickness though :(

I would go with the thicker sheet. On the oil front used engine oil seems to stay on and last a lot longer than new. It stops the rusting just as well. Use wax oil if you want to pay for something to do the same job.

In theory Argo shield is a better gas and CO2 on its own might be less than ideal. However for lots of amateur welders like myself it works OK and is significantly cheaper.

I purchase an ex pub bottle quite legitimately from a local welding supplies company. i just return to have it refilled from the large bottles he keeps for the purpose.

In my experience using same thickness pieces rather than different thicknesses is slightly easier. But the most important thing is to be welding CLEAN rust free, paintfree pieces.

The only problem you may get is that they may melt (pool) at diferent times, this will cause the thinner sheet to run away (so to speak)from the thicker, adjusting you wire speed may stop this. As for the gas co2 is the cheap alternative but I can't understand why people would go down that route when they would spend mega money on mods. If I was you I would pop down to your local BOC I'm sure the guy that runs that place is realy nice (you know the one, I think he drives a blue Z and lives in West Lothian), you would be supprised at what he has kicking around his yard!!

On that note I am sure I will be seeing you soon.

Dont know if this is any help buddy. I have in my possession, a full size, almost full bottle of Argoshield 60, a mix of the 2 gasses.

You know where I work and the sort of stuff we do, so its up to the job.

Bottle is already fitted with a regulator, pipe and a quick fit coupling, so its ready to plug into your own Mig machine.

Come on down and take it away, hold onto it for as long as you like, no rush !! :)

Are you replacing the full sill, or part of the sill ??

Let me know what size of plate you are looking for, and I will try and look some out for you, both 1.0, 1.2 and 1.5 or whatever you need.

We also have the hydraulic folder, so if you maybe need a length of plate with a fold or such, let me know and can probably sort that out as well ! :)

Got loads of Galvanised sheet just now, but the thinnest we got is 2.0mm !

Way too thick for what you are doing. Got some really nice 0.8 mirror finish stainless as well, really handy for underbody looks ! :tongue:

 

Let me know if thats any good !!

 

Alan...........

Let me know if its possible to have a looksee as I need to do the same come spring time. I'm in Falkirk

Dont know if this is any help buddy. I have in my possession, a full size, almost full bottle of Argoshield 60, a mix of the 2 gasses.

You know where I work and the sort of stuff we do, so its up to the job.

Bottle is already fitted with a regulator, pipe and a quick fit coupling, so its ready to plug into your own Mig machine.

Come on down and take it away, hold onto it for as long as you like, no rush !! :)

Are you replacing the full sill, or part of the sill ??

Let me know what size of plate you are looking for, and I will try and look some out for you, both 1.0, 1.2 and 1.5 or whatever you need.

We also have the hydraulic folder, so if you maybe need a length of plate with a fold or such, let me know and can probably sort that out as well ! :)

Got loads of Galvanised sheet just now, but the thinnest we got is 2.0mm !

Way too thick for what you are doing. Got some really nice 0.8 mirror finish stainless as well, really handy for underbody looks ! :tongue:

 

Let me know if thats any good !!

 

Alan...........

 

Dammit why can't you be closer to me, could do with the use of a folder for some stuff on my GT40 lol

Dammit why can't you be closer to me, could do with the use of a folder for some stuff on my GT40 lol

 

LOL.

Sorry mate.

Sealey do a small lightweight folder I think, suitable for minor vehicle body work. A local fabrication shop may be able to help you, but for some its the time involved changing the Die, Blade etc. :rolleyes:

 

If you get really stuck tho, get in touch. If I can help, I will try me best ! ;)

 

Alan.............

On that note I am sure I will be seeing you soon.

 

:) was planning on a visit, just as soon as I get everything prepared and the regulator and metal purchased.

Dont know if this is any help buddy. I have in my possession, a full size, almost full bottle of Argoshield 60, a mix of the 2 gasses.

 

Thanks for the offer, top guy yet again and what this clubs all about, but i dont know how long i'd need it and dont want to impose or get you in bother from the work, rather than cause any hassle id rather hire the kit.

 

PS you know where I work and so did the cheeky fookers who supposedly plated the sills before :shock:. if I can find the receipt the local trading standards guy will be visiting!!!! ;)

Let me know if its possible to have a looksee as I need to do the same come spring time. I'm in Falkirk

 

Not a problem, the cars in the garage just now and have only started cleaning the paint (caty and fibre fill :rant:) off to see the extent of whats needed. usual attached garage syndrome you can only see one side of the car the others up agaisnt the wall but it may give you an idea, I'm taking it outside once its all prepped to do the welding. May be better to wait till then to get a better idea of the job, but your welcome to come down any time. Apart from the middle of the night :)

Thanks for the offer, top guy yet again and what this clubs all about, but i dont know how long i'd need it and dont want to impose or get you in bother from the work, rather than cause any hassle id rather hire the kit.

 

PS you know where I work and so did the cheeky fookers who supposedly plated the sills before :shock:. if I can find the receipt the local trading standards guy will be visiting!!!! ;)

 

Hee Hee.

My job pays the mortgage mate, thats why I didnt reply to your post 2 nights ago !! ;)

Checked today and everythings okeydokey !

 

As for the gas bottle ?

 

Its mine anyways !! If you need it to this time next year, its yours !! ;)

 

Its no sweat, honest !

 

Alan.....

Hee Hee.

My job pays the mortgage mate, thats why I didnt reply to your post 2 nights ago !!

Checked today and everythings okeydokey !

 

As for the gas bottle ?

 

Its mine anyways !! If you need it to this time next year, its yours !!

 

Its no sweat, honest !

 

Alan.....

__________________

 

 

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For this thickness of metal you only need argoshield light at 5% argon in co2.

 

Argoshield Light; 5% argon, ballance co2 welds upto 3mm thick (car bodies).

 

Argoshield Universal; 15% argon, ballance co2 welds from 3 to 8mm thick (gates & fences).

 

Argoshield Heavy; 20% argon, ballance co2 welds 8mm and above (ships and the like).

 

See if bigmincey can give you some scrap bits of metal as you will need lots of practice. The folder sound good, are you replacing the whole sill or just patching?