Sputnik Build Thread

[ckessel]

What are you using for a welder? With my latest work, I've been using my TIG and as advertised it for sure[ at least for me] works better than my wire feed. Lincoln Power Mig 215. The TIG gets me back in practice too, it's been 3+ years since I did any. My wire unit, even though it says it will go down to 22ga, just blows holes through. One of the reasons I want to replace/upgrade it. It's fine for 16ga and heavier. On the weld-thru, I hope yours is better than the Cal legal junk here. No adhesion properties, just lays there with no bond. You can scape it off with a fingernail. On the fab work I've gotten done so far, I've been using the Eastwood internal frame coating and blasted that into the seams/weld joints prior to seam seal and POR15.

 

[cal30_sniper]

I’m using the 3M zinc coating. It seems to work okay. Everything has been blasted, epoxy primed, and seam sealed after welding.

I’m using a Hobart 210 MIG running on C25 gas. I’ve gotten it to work successfully down to 22ga, but it is frustrating. I much prefer 16ga or thicker. I’ve never learned TIG, though I’ve thought many times about getting one just to open access to welding cast aluminum.

 

[ckessel]

MIG is like an on-off switch. TIG, with the amp control pedal or finger tip unit, is like a gas pedal. You can roll into it or nail it down then back off to a good setting. Takes some time to learn how to use. Unless you are one of those born with the innate talent. Me, I have to work at it.

 

[cal30_sniper]

Next in the queue was floorpan work, including that required leading up to welding in the subframe connectors.

There were a few issues to deal with first. The drivers rear floorpan had been bashed down pretty good at some point along the way, and the passenger rear floorpan had a shoddy replacement done at some point in the past. It was an original floor that was cut out of another car, but the bird poop welding and cheap seam sealer that was used left a bit to be desired. A big piece of the previous welding cracked when I was hammering to fit the subframe connectors, so I ended up cutting the old welds, cleaning it up, and stitching everything back together properly with new metal added as needed.

Here’s the driver pan worked back into proper shape:

Finishing up the rework of the passenger pan and just about done filling all the random holes drilled all over:

Next up was dropping the gas tank to assess the condition of the trunk pan (which was perfect), and then a heavy oven cleaner and pressure washer treatment to prepare for subframe connectors and torque boxes:

Then a couple of evenings fitting and prepping the subframe locations for welding:

Cleaning up the torque box area and checking for initial fitment:

Zinc primed and ready to burn:

 

[cal30_sniper]

Lots and lots of welding in this post. Photos are pretty self explanatory.

And a first fit check of the buckets to get the bucket reinforcement brackets located properly:

 

[ckessel]

My 65 was originally a bench seat car. The PO put stock buckets in but no reinforcement brackets. Over time that caused stress cracks in the floor. Wasn't too worried about that since I ran 2X4 SFC's from rail to rail. The floor got further cut up when I made seat mounting frames and welded them to the SFC's. Now I'm working on metal replacement pieces on the floor. This will help me re-learn how to use my machines.