72 rustoration / subaru 6cyl project in Kansas, Mild resto-mod build, my idea of a “true” sportscar Options

[Alain V.]

I recently bought a very “budget friendly “ DC only tig welder from Vevor, for welding sheet metal.

Now, I have never used a tig before,,,,so,,,,before I massacre my car,,,,,I plan to try and “teach” myself how to do this on a bunch of scrap 18&20 gauge pieces.

How had can it be…………..right? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

I figure I should be up and running in like, ten minutes,,,,right?

[Alain V.]

Ok, so I may have UNDERESTIMATED the learning curve. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

I’m using a #6 cup with the thinnest tungsten, argon set at 15cfh, and am using mig .023 wire as fill rod.

After blowing holes constantly, I did figure out that if I turn the amperage way up to like 80 amps, and just tap the trigger for a fraction of a second, I can make fusion tacs.

Other than that, I have learned that this is going to be touchier than I thought. I think I should probably move to at least the thicker mig wire, .030,,,,as the this stuff just eats up so quick it’s hard to hang on to.

Butt welding the sheet metal is proving to be quite a challenge. Set the amps lower than about 32 and it takes too long to get a pool going,,,,,set it higher than like 35 and I’m moving too slow I guess and I blow holes. If I try and “fill” the hole like you can with a mig….then the holes just get larger.

Ugh….ok,,,,so I wrote out all of this to warn you all, that I’m gonna post a pic of my very first 45 minutes of trying to use this machine.

Yes, it is a “festival of suck”,,,,,,,,,but with practice, I’m pretty sure it’ll suck a little less.
So here goes,,,,don’t laugh too hard…. I’d hate to be responsible for some of you spitting out coffee onto your keyboards.

[Alain V.]

well DUH! I wish I would have watched this great video BEFORE I fired up the welder.
Oh well, now I have some tips and info that hopefully will help next weekend.
My Webpage

[Alain V.]

well, what's the fun in being patient and practicing on scrap,,,when I can just "go for it". It'll either turn out ok & I'll improve quickly,,,,,,or it'll be a disaster and I'll have to figure out how to fix it.
It may not be pretty (yet) but I did manage to get the right rear flare welded on.

[Alain V.]

well. I guess I should do an update on my project. I have been working on it when time allows and making a little progress, SLOWLY. You know how it is,,,,life gets in the way, other projects pop up, etc. I did manage to weld all the flares on, and started modifying my rocker panels to fit. First I had to strip the paint, and this stuff is the best I have found.

[Alain V.]

starting to take shape. I'm not going for concourse fit here. I just want to flare the ends of the rockers to follow the fenders.

[Alain V.]

bent up some brackets to hold the bottom edge of the rocker out about an inch.

[Alain V.]

Rocker panel welding/fab, done.

[Alain V.]

next up, will be fitting the fiberglass front end pieces and carbon front trunk.
I bent up a couple of brackets to get the bumper on.

[Alain V.]

first fit of the bumper, not bad.

[Alain V.]

I decided to "swiss cheese" the hood hinges. Again, I didn't get all accurate with a milling machine or anything. I just grabbed a step drill bit and went after it.

[Alain V.]

Started fitting the front valence panel. I'm going to make some aluminum tabs to mount it just like the original ones.

[930cabman]

Lookin like progress, keep pushin ahead and soon you will be motoring

[Alain V.]

well, there hasn't been much progress lately.
It's the "busy" season at work & by the time week ends roll around I either have other chores to do or am just plain too tired to work too hard at it. I did manage to start fitting fog light grilles & hood pins.

[Alain V.]

I also did the swiss cheese treatment to the rear decklid hinges & started fitting some of the rear pieces.

[Alain V.]

Since I have "lightweight" hood/trunk lids and hinges,,,,I figured I might as well use some light fasteners too.
I cut some 8x1.25mm aluminum bolts to fit and use on the lids.
Cool part is they were free, as the bolts were taken off a mercedes c63 intake manifold I repaired at work.
On the engine they are a "1 time use" fastener, so I saved them to use on the 914.

[Alain V.]