I need to cut the metal out on the driver's side long (see photo below). The bottome of the long is ok, so I won't (shouldn't) have to cut that out. Do I need to secure the frame when doing this, or if the rest of the long is ok (and it is) will it hold it's dimensions? I've seen some other postings where they've made stabalizing connections that spanned from the seat belt bolt to where the door bolts on. Is this necessary for what I'm about to cut out?

As always, thanks for any and all responses!

If you run a 2x4 under the long and put a jack under it to take the weight stress off you should be fine. But I'm just looking at a photo, so I can't advise.

You might want to cut the jack plate off and see how the long looks behind it. You may not have to cut that whole area out at once.

I would think that would be fine also..
I'd put the car up on jackstands under the donuts and not leave it on the suspension (so as to reduce the leverage and potential buckle)

also I'd be careful with not getting anything too hot or causing warp, when putting metal back...

maybe weld a little bit...
cool it...
wait...

then weld a little bit more...

I've seen warp cause an awful lot of door gap problems even if the car didn't buckle at all during the cutting phase.

brant

let's find out

are you planning on cutting just the inner rocker panel, or into the inner long?

I am really hoping I don't have to cut part of the door sill off, and can maybe just take the jack plate off and the part of the long underneath where the jack tube gets inserted. I think the rest is ok actually.

Rand, if I could talk you into stopping by some evening- weekend even if just for a few minutes as I'd love another set of eyes on this, seeing as this is my first *major* repair. I can tempt with beer and food...
If not, no problem -either way I'm greatful for the input here- thanks!

take pictures of the process guys....

Greg is going to be doing the exact same thing to his car this summer!

brant

QUOTE (brant @ Mar 17 2006, 01:30 PM)

take pictures of the process guys.... Greg is going to be doing the exact same thing to his car this summer! brant

i'm just waiting for you to graduate from high school

and you meant spring, right

QUOTE

take pictures of the process guys....

I'll takem them, however whether or not anyone else will seem them will depend on how it turns out .

if the pic is just the front part, where the jackstand is, then it will be fine... I did the same thing on the passenger side... cut a hole where the jackstand is, car is still structurally sound...

QUOTE (rjames @ Mar 17 2006, 01:25 PM)

Rand, if I could talk you into stopping by some evening- weekend even if just for a few minutes as I'd love another set of eyes on this

Sure. I was already thinking about offering. I'll PM you to figure out a time.

QUOTE (TROJANMAN @ Mar 17 2006, 02:32 PM)

QUOTE (brant @ Mar 17 2006, 01:30 PM) take pictures of the process guys.... Greg is going to be doing the exact same thing to his car this summer! brant i'm just waiting for you to graduate from high school and you meant spring, right

you got to figure out when...
my dance card is rapidly filling up.
your going to need to look at your social calendar...

I'm already booked through the weekend of 4/21
and afeared that time is going to be awful tight between 4/29-5/14

want to pick a date for after 5/21?

brant

Already welded in metal to patch a couple of areas on the driver's side long. There was a 2"x2" square fore of the jack plate that I already fixed, and had to cut the outer layer of sheet metal out under the jack plate, and behind it. Getting ready to weld that patch on. Here's a couple before pictures, the after shots will follow soon.

I drilled some holes in the piece for spot welding in addition to the seam welding I'll be doing with it. I'm leaving the jack plug/plate the way it is- halfway in tact as I didn't need/want to cut the door sill off to get to it. Won't be able to tell with the rocker panels on any way. The damage is worse on the passenger side, will show that later...

Passenger side long- same thing. Leaving 1/2 of jack plate in tact as I don't need to cut more of it out, and didn't want to have to cut into the sill.

Here's a shot of the inner sheet metal hole, and inner patch...

Didn't take a picture of the outer sheet metal patch. Was a pain to make. Will try and get all welding done this week. This will include new battery tray, patches for longs on both sides, and driver's side floor board. (The one I most worried about since it's the whole thing, and will be the only thing that seperates me and my behind from the pavement...

Here's a picture of the inside after sawzalling the floorboard, and the floorboard removed (I have a new piece from RD to weld in.

Looks like you have almost as much to weld in as I do.

Good luck!! And keep at it.

Finally feel like I'm making progress as I got a couple of things done last night. Welded the new battery tray in, and then I welded in the first patch onto the inner metal of the passenger long. Will grind down the welds and then weld the outer patch on tonight. Then it's on to the floor pan and putting things back together!

Here's a photo of the welded long inner patch. Not much to look at, but seeing as I'm a welding newbie and this is my first big weld on the car, I am pretty psyched!

(I was out doing this in the driveway at 10:30 last night- my neighbors must think I'm nuts...)

I got a lot done today....

Outer long patch for the passenger side:

Yeah, I know- the welds aren't the pretty, but it's strong. Will grind down some tomorrow.

The big project today was this however, and the welds turned out much cleaner looking. It is soooo much easier to weld on a horizontal suface!!