palerider

Trying to fix a hole in shock tower and cut out yesterday and peices a patch in. Metal around hole soft and blew a couple holes in with welder. Was able to fix most of it but a couple big spots - been messing with it for 3 hours and am seriosuly considering patching with JB Weld. Any advice would be apprciated. thanks


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Daze

Shock towers are the main support for the weight of the front end, so if it were me I would replace all the week metal and weld in a solid patch, and if I did not have the tools skills ect to be able to do that I would farm the work out to a body shop. this is not a place to have an "OK" fix, it needs to be a high quality fix.

zmetalmilitia

I agree. You need to make sure when your cutting out and welding in that the metal left that will be welded to is good strong metal. Sometimes it is easy to make too little of a cut when removing rusted metal and leaving behind weaken metal. Once that weaken metal is introduced to the welder, it is easy to blow it away and your chasing it to good metal. I would farm it out or make another attempt at it, cutting out a nice clean hole and then welding back in a new piece. Take your time welding, don't rush it or it will turn out like crap. And make sure the replacement piece is fitted well too, no large gaps or uneven joints.

palerider

I think that was what my biggest issue was - the replacement piece had too large of gaps in some places. Where I had it butted up nice - I was pretty impressed with myself.

Previous metal was not rusted - was just a hole someone puched in it to get to greasing fitting.

I'm pretty new to welding - so learned something new today nice tight gaps. I thought I could fill in the gaps with mig if I used a copper backing - duhh.. I'll keep at it - to stubborn to farm out.

zmetalmilitia

There you go, sounds like you'll get it. It's all in the prep work.

palerider

Zmetal, just took a look at your photos - man that's impressive - going to be a sweet ride when you get it done. One clean garage also. Where you stashing alll you parts?

zmetalmilitia

Thanks palerider. The parts are stashed all over. I try and install them before the pile gets too high and I start losing my mind and can't find anything. I try and keep it semi organized. I have my brake lines to do next which I've been working on for a month or so. Finally got all the materials to git'er dun! Now I just need some nice weather.Tired ofdealing with the cold. It's been on jack standsgoing on 14 months now.