Welded fender seams, Have you done it, has it worked? Options

[Dr Evil]

There has been talk about the possible ills of welding up the seams that are between the fender and the part infront of the windshield. There has been cracking due to stress for some. I am interested in hearing about failures, AND successes. What do you think made yours work/fail?

[scruz914]

I recall that Joe (914RS) did it several months ago. It might not have been him but there was a thread for sure.

-Jeff

[Mueller]

i think the success is going to be totally dependant on the condition of the chassis, how the car is driven, and how stiff the suspension is...size of tires would have an impact as well.....

[SirAndy]

QUOTE (Dr Evil @ Jun 27 2005, 09:47 PM)

I am interested in hearing about failures, AND successes.

let me put it this way, i have only seen ONE car where it hadn't cracked, and that car is #4 ...

every other car i have seen with this mod has the seam cracked in some way or the other.

and IMHO, when cracked, it looks like (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/stromberg.gif)
(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/icon8.gif) Andy

[Andyrew]

Well..... I dont think mine cracked yet... Im not a good welder, but ive put some serious stress on the body... Nope just checked.. no cracks yet... I dont think I used much filler on it.. Welded over.. then grinded down smooth. Same thing on the windshield washer jets.

Im running big tires, lots of hp, and lots of flex...

But i've only had it like this for 6 months or less...

Andrew

[MattR]

Ive heard if you lead it, it works, BUT I wouldnt put a brand new paint job to the test. It makes sense that lead is a little more flexible, but still, how much is it worth to you?

[Dr Evil]

QUOTE (Mueller @ Jun 27 2005, 11:25 PM)

i think the success is going to be totally dependant on the condition of the chassis, how the car is driven, and how stiff the suspension is...size of tires would have an impact as well.....

I am going to err on the side of caution. I have stiff springs, a front sway bar, and 255 tires with a fresh 2.7sc....if it'll break, I would make it.

[jgiroux67]

Crap, I elimintated that seem with out ever knowing that there was a chance of it cracking. Oh well

[72914S]

A good friend of mine did mine about six years ago,they were done old school (leaded). I`ve only been driving the car about a year and a half. NO cracks. 195/60/15 tires

[Brett W]

I did that to a car I did a while back. I didn't fill the groove with weld I actually cut the area out and welded in a piece of sheetmetal. then I didn't hae to use but a tiny amount of filler. No cracking yet.

[xsboost90]

i cut the tops of my fenders out due to rust, and welded a plate in the fender and seam welded it to the cowl. So far it is fine except in the corners where i used alittle body filler to shape the corner slightly and it has a small crack in each corner. I drive hard and have 205's. Had i used maybe lead or welded the corners up alittle more and grinded the shape in w/ less filler, it would prob be fine. The ones i hear of cracking used alot of bondo or brazed it.

[iamchappy]

My car had it done by the po, was a track car stiff as hell and running a 3.2, I am sure it was done long long ago, no cracks.

[xsboost90]

they say if you triangulate the cowl so it doesnt flex as much it wont crack anymore. Dont ask me who "they" are.

[Dr Evil]

QUOTE (xsboost90 @ Jun 28 2005, 04:54 AM)

they say if you triangulate the cowl so it doesnt flex as much it wont crack anymore. Dont ask me who "they" are.

(IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/huh.gif)

[tat2dphreak]

just do like my DAPO did... paint over those NLA seals... (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/dry.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/headbang.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/sad.gif) (IMG:http://www.914world.com/bbs2/html/emoticons/rolleyes.gif)

[East coaster]

Any updates from you folks who welded up the seams.......any cracks yet???

I really want to weld mine up, but don't feel like f-in up an expensive paint job!

[Series9]

It wasn't me. I did weld a fender on Liz's car, but the seams are still there.

I don't really like the look because 99% are accomplished by shoving bondo in the seam. When I see a car like that, my first thought is 'crap paint job'.

If you want to weld it, I think it could be done 'correctly' to achieve the look you want. The weld bead is much harder than the surrounding metal and the gap is significant to just 'fill' with weld. I would remove about .5" to each side and weld in a filler panel. I think this would allow flexibility without cracking.

[Andyrew]

Dont have any cracks yet. No.

[smooth_eddy]

This topic was discussed last summer. Most agreed welding the 914 gap was not a good thing, as the factory put it there for a purpose (flex). I have a friend who welded the seam on his Datsun 2000, and it cracked. It looks terrible cracked. Eddy

[nein14]

EvilEd did it on the GT turbo when he built a few years ago, I have had the car 2 years still no cracks.