1954 M37 rebuild thread

[ashyers]

The latest issue of the MVPA mag has an article on welding in patch panels if you can track down a copy.

Andy

[06boblee]

The latest issue of the MVPA mag has an article on welding in patch panels if you can track down a copy.

Andy

Thanks, I got my copy in the mail a couple of days ago- - - found the article!

[rickf]

My MVPA membership expired when I missed my renewal. I called to see about renewing and when I heard the price I did a double take!!!! I am sorry but I just do not see what the MVPA does to warrant that kind of fee for membership. The last time they got that powerful they got very corrupt and the money went in all the wrong places.

[just me]

I learned to weld body panels by fusion welding the two pieces butted tight and TIG'd a short bead (no filler rod) then move to the opposite corner and repeat. I use a hammer and dolly to push it around as needed. It put very little heat in the metal surrounding.
More than one correct way and depends on how and who taught you. Experiment and find what works best for you.
Don Marks at House Of Pain taught me.

[rickf]

Yes, I have done it that way also but that is a very specialized type of welding and takes a lot of skill and patience. AND a good TIG machine! If the original metal is rusty on the backside you can get blowthroughs with that method though due to the variance in thickness. I prefer TIG with fill biased towards the new steel and that way I am avoiding possible blow though as much as I can. My advice previous was mostly for mig welding which is what most people are going to use. I couls see that he had Migged the supports so I am assuming he is going to Mig the panel.

[just me]

I don't MIG body work. The weld bead is too hard and difficult to work. I used to do it with gas, but TIG is so much easier to control!

[06boblee]

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After a lot of practice, I finally welded in my patch (mig) . There was a couple of places that blew thru due to thinness. Stitched it slowly and brushed a lot. Came out ok- I'm glad it will be hidden with paint! I used short strand fiberglass body filler to fill in the uneven weld spots- the pics show before sanding.
All in all, a lot better looking than a big rust hole.

[Cal_Gary]

Indeed, that is some nice work, 06boblee! I haven't fired up my MIG in a while and I was already rusty when I did!
Gary

[06boblee]

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Well, I have it on its back so the cleaning can commence.

[06boblee]

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More pics. They must not have painted one side at the factory.

[06boblee]

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clean, now to kill the rust.

[06boblee]

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After cleaning, degreasing, wirebrushing everything and degreasing again- it got three coats of Eastwood rust encapsulater/primer. Then three coats of good old OD paint. I also used Eastwoods internal frame coating system for the enclosed areas.

[m-37Bruce]

Looks great, how did the internal frame coatings apply, spray, brush?

[06boblee]

The Internal Frame Coating comes in an aerosol can, with a flexible tube (about 2.5') that has a wide spray nozzle at the end. You shove the tube down into the areas that you can't reach otherwise. Check it out at Eastwoods website.

[m-37Bruce]

I almost remember the process, I bypassed it,primer/paint was me friend.