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Rot repair sheetmetal


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80 grit leaves some deep scratches in the metal so i use 120 grit. Harbor freight has these packs so you can find the one you like the best, theres this one  http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-4-1-2-half-inch-grinding-and-cutting-wheel-assortment-47572.html and this one http://www.harborfreight.com/10-piece-4-inch-grinding-and-cutting-wheel-assortment-47571.html.

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So I cut out the rusty metal with my torch,and I only had 5 or six small fires :). Now before I get some new steel to put in there I have a few questions being that this my first rot repair surgery. 

1. I cut out most of the floor around the main support tube,Its mostly solid except for a few areas where the floor was welded to it,but it its rusty,maybe not terminal rust,but rust non the less.I am wondering if I should remove as much rust as I can get off it and then hit it with a rust preventor or if it would be better to cut the entire thing out and rebuild it with steel?

rust002_zps691cdb41.jpg~original

 

2.I didn't actually cut out all of the rust.The structural boxed channel at the leading edge of the door is rotting out at the bottom below the door hinges.Currently the front jack stand is right under it.I don't know if I can cut it out without causing the car to bend or bow in the middle.So can I cut it out or should I weld in a floorpan and the inner edge of the rocker panel for a bit more support before attempting it?Currently the jackstand is resting on the crossmember that tied into that structure.

 

rust001_zps7ec25b2d.jpg~original

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good lord rust repair SUCKS.So I found out it would have been 1000x better to just cut out the subframe in the floor and add in new steel.The top was very thin and welding to it sucked hard. The second question about cutting out that structure in the second pic was a non issue.I have some pics of my progress but first I have to go get some more steel.

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So the steel shop doesn't cut sheet steel on saturday for whatever reason so no new steel.

 

Yesterday I welded in the inner rocker panel under where the door is as well as some steel in floor to tie everything together.

rust003_zpse5aa132b.jpg~original

 

I actually bent the edge of the floor down to meet the inner sill so I can work on rebuilding the seam line.

rust004_zpsc271441f.jpg~original

 

Today with the car a bit more structurally sound I relocated the rear jack stand and cut the remainder of the rocker panel rust out.More or less I cut out the ENTIRE driver side rocker panel.

 

rust005_zps0268d69a.jpg~original

 

rust006_zpsf0db3e20.jpg~original

 

Current plan once I get some steel is to weld in a patch panel for the rear inner rocker.Then run a piece of steel that is angles from just under the door to roughly the weld line on the inner sill,then bend that down to join with the rocker panel seam.Then weld in the rest of the floor.After that I will see what I want to do for the outer skin.Once I am done that rocker seam should have 4 layers of sheetmetal under the door and three under the bed.Then I will pinch everything together and weld that seam solid,through in a few plug/spot welds tieing the pieces together and it should be strong.

 

Another idea is to add in a section of tube where the rocker would be and incorporate rock sliders into the body, it is going to be a wheeler after all.

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