Floor Pan Welding

[stanhope55]

I am getting ready to weld my new one piece pan. (65 Satellite)

Question... i have marked where my floor braces are and will haul it back out and drill some spot weld holes so i can tack to braces .... i am getting as much rust out of the floor brace as possible but when i have to weld on the top of the brace as i need clean metal there will be no rust treatment on these ridges..... do you guys usually just use a weld thru primer on this part of the brace for rust protection ? Seems crazy to leave this in bare metal and everything else on the brace in rustoleum paint ?

 

[74sundance]

I use Zink weldthreu on the rails and on the under side of the pan.It seems to work fine.

 

[Donny]

Man, I hate crud anywhere, especially where new metal meets the old! Make sure it's clean before you join them up again!

 

[detmatt1]

I agree with Donny, if you can't media blast the area, you should at least use a rust converter treatment in those areas where the sun don't shine and then a weld through primer in the joint itself.

 

[stanhope55]

I have the old floor out so i have some great access to the braces rockers etc.... but I will blast the braces and then clean before welding..... can weld thru primer be shot over a rust inhibitor if I brushed on a little for extra protection, i assume you can't weld thru that stufff ? better just stick with weld thru primer on the bare clean metal on both underside of pan and top of brace where they meet and hope for the best.... or at least my lifetime

 

[Donny]

Any 'coatings' is better than the way they came from the factory; bare metal, slight paint if lucky, and irregular undercoating applied.

 

[74sundance]

I use Zink weldthreu on the rails and on the under side of the pan.It seems to work fine.

Sorry I didn't explain very well.I spray rust converter on everything then sand the area to be welded and use Zink on the welding areas because the converter will just burn off anyway so it's pointless to use there.The whole point to Zink is that it won't burn off.But you do need a converter or rust preventer of some type every where else.

 

[snakeoil24]

Welded surfaces keep shiny metal avoid zinc or any weld thru primers. once your all done welding take a pint of epoxy and hardner mix together and thin out 50 percent. take a hair dryer heat the weld seams, remove the heat and apply the epoxy very thin. the heated metal with draw the thinned epoxy right into the welded area. then you have an air tight weld. Remember seam sealer after all is done both inside and underside.

 

[moparpoor]

What I usually do is clean the metal with a 3M purple clean and strip wheel.Lightly spray weld thru primer and install the panel.I drill the holes thru the panel while installed,this helps to clean the area of welding.I use a 5/16 drill bit,no need for anything larger.I really don't put alot of faith in weld thru primer.I use a product after it is painted to help with corrosion.Product called rust fighter by 3M.Used for many years in the salty rust belt with good success.