finally looking like stitch welding the civic is in the foreseeable future (I've got a solid month before the 1-year anniversary of pulling the engine), got some questions...
on general prep:
* I think I remember seeing something from Gene along the lines of "wire wheel, torch until it stops smoking, wire wheel again" - that's what I'm planning at least. any other options I should be considering? propane good enough for trying to burn out as much crap as possible?
specific prep:
* there's a seam between the shock tower and the firewall. not a lot of room, certainly can't get a wire wheel in there with my 4.5" grinder:
thoughts?
on general welding:
* Ford manual says 1/2" welds with 1.5" between. The civic has a few little reinforcements that aren't particularly big, might get 2 welds on a side with that spacing. 1/2" on 1/2" off for those spots, weld the whole thing, ???
* JVL says 030 wire for more material being deposited with less heat, right?
welding specifics:
* there's a fair number of pinch welds on the front end. some, like this one that lives underneath the top of the fenders, is cut flush:
others have a little lip to them:
With the lip, I assume I just treat it like any old lap joint. Where they're cut flush - am I going to have to walk a bead right along the top of that edge?
* There's a pinch weld running across the bottom of the inside of the wheel arch, parallel with the tire.
I don't
think it's really a clearance issue, much more concerned about the rubbing that we see under lots of compression with the wheel near full lock - but still, it would be nice to not have it sticking out. it's joining two pieces together to make a box part of the unibody, so I'd imagine the bend itself isn't adding much strength. Maybe bend it down to one side and tack it down?
KF7RWG
http://www.utahrallygroup.com