How Hard can Mig Welding be?

[Munter]

Well having destroyed the engine in the car.... I thought I might throw my hand at fixing the body as well as the engine as I have nothing to loose.

Without reading anybooks my current plan of attack is:
1)Remove rust with wire brush on drill and angle grinder.
2)Hold the new (pre pressed) panel upto the "hole" mark around it and then cut out the body to accomodate the new panel.
3)Weld in the new panel, with a rented mig welder.
4)Paint it.....

http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/philbell/detail?.dir=/9960&.dnm=78ca.jpg

Is the problem.

also

http://uk.f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/philbell/detail?.dir=/9960&.dnm=b093.jpg

If anybody has just had a heart attack at the thought of what i'm about to do..... Practical hints or book suggestions appreciated!

[Incorrigible]

Cut out the original until you get back to shiny metal don't bother with a wire brish that'll only clean rust off the surface, you don't want any of that metal around at all (unless you're lashing it up)

A picture of the repair panel would help too, can you not get the full wing and valance or is that prohibitably expensive ?

For a suitable fee (I assume you can't get the car down to sussex (in which case it would be free)) I'll give you a day's tuition

>> books are OK but it's down to interpretation, much better if you can see first hand what's going on and how to do it

>> Edited by Incorrigible on Tuesday 27th April 12:07

[Munter]

Thanks for the offer! Before I start work on the body though I have to get the car to a new location (apparently the carpark with kids around is not the best place!).

I'd be ordering the replacement part from.
www.mr2mk1club.com/panels.html

Then armed with that i'd be able to see what else I need.

At that point I may seek your Wisdom (For a suitable fee), again!

Thanks
Phil

[Incorrigible]

Prices seem expensive, have you tried TOYOTA main dealers

[lanciachris]

Thats just going to be the beginning of the rust you realise?
I guarantee that you will find about 3 or 4 times that much rust when you are repairing that stuff.

Mig welding = easy. just get the wire speed right and youre good to go.

[JohnL]

Toyota main dealers charge £400 for a complete quarter panel - inc the rear quarterlight area right up to the roof. They won't do smaller bits.

However, the Corolla of the same age has a virtually identiacl arch profile - and those arches can be had from a Toyota dealer for about £10.

[peteff]

Mig welding = easy. just get the wire speed right and youre good to go. If you've never done any you are in for a very disheartening experience. You will be grinding more off than you wanted to put on. Mig welding body panels in 20g steel is an art well worth mastering but preparation is very important. The metal you are attaching the new panel to at the back needs replacing as well as the bit you can see if you want it to be more than a cosmetic fix. Get all the plastic off the car and you'll probably find lots more that needs doing like the sills and sill inners. Get somebody who can weld to show you how to set the welder up and put a few runs on some thicker material to get the feel of it before you destroy your confidence and your new parts.

[lanciachris]

Local garages / motor factors should be able to supply sheets of repair steel for you to practice with. cost is tiny (~£5)

[dontlift]

Munter,

Give me a call if you need a mig welding machine, we have regular supplies of reconditioned units from SIP.

Patrick
www.toolsnstuff.co.uk

[lanciachris]

Gah! This thread is from april!!!! Dredging mission!

Ps. how much then?

[steve_D]

If your going to weld a car don't forget to diconnect the alternator. They don't like all that current.

Steve

[rumpelstiltskin]

Yeah disconnect the battery also,make sure all fuel lines etc are clear,be prepared for small fires(have water nearby/extinguisher etc)and always be prepared for the worst in that what the guy said earlier,when you start tearing into repairs it generally gets worse the more you uncover!Also i take it you will have a hand help angle grinder,get a wire cup brush attachment for it,makes a great job of cleaning up the lines where you are going to weld,Migs like clean metal although it will plough along slightly rusted stuff,take time in cleaning the metal before welding.

>> Edited by rumpelstiltskin on Thursday 30th December 17:17