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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Feb 24, 2008 22:16:50 GMT -5
I got some frame work done this weekend. Cut the end of the frame down and I will weld on some new shackle mounts. Possibly just might remove the stock mounts from the frame and weld them in the new location or I'll just use some round tubing and what not. Trimmed down the front. Here's a pic of the frame shortened at the stock welds. I removed 27.325" between the wheels. I'm in the process of aligning the two pieces back together to be welded. You can see the section from the middle I removed on the floor. The other side. The front frame overlaps the rear section. Here's a shot of the rear. The frame and shackles should fit under the body. We'll see, but looks like it'll work. Measuring the modified wheelbase. Looks pretty close. 95.25". I'll have someone help me next weekend just to besure it's the correct wheelbase, to tack it up and then it'll be welded back together. 95.25", Yeee-haawww. j/p. Next, frame welding then I'll finish removing the body mounts.
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Post by hellraiser on Feb 24, 2008 23:59:16 GMT -5
wow uve gone far in one weekend lol great job.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Feb 25, 2008 13:41:31 GMT -5
Thanks! It wont be long before I have the chassis and body completely rebuilt, fabricated and painted.
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Post by hellraiser on Feb 25, 2008 22:40:14 GMT -5
it may take longer than you think lol i know it did me.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Feb 26, 2008 9:40:46 GMT -5
That's true. I guess, for me, it really depends on how much I have to spend for the month on materials and parts.
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Post by hellraiser on Feb 26, 2008 10:23:58 GMT -5
with me its more having the time to do it lol im working two jobs and going to school, and having a night class lol. im getting most my materials for free because we have to do a project in welding to pass and i asked if i could do my bug, so all ive got to pay for is the sheet metal for my floor board wich we get a dicount on and its like 50 bucks for 12g.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Feb 26, 2008 10:56:34 GMT -5
I keep quite busy myself as well. Between being an art director, moonlighting as a freelance designer, weekly band practice, song learning, bi-monthly gigs, and having time for my fiancé and an over active husky puppy, I got my hands full. I always find at least 6 hours a week for the bug project though.
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Post by hellraiser on Feb 26, 2008 17:13:07 GMT -5
ya that sounds lik alot lol
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Feb 27, 2008 11:16:43 GMT -5
I've been getting some practice welding this week to prepare for the task of welding the two frame sections together this weekend. I've been using 6011 and 7018 rods to practice with, but yesterday I took a piece of scrap metal to the engineer hear at work that I had welded together to see if we could break the welds. It passed, the metal broke around the weld. He also brought to my attention how well the 6013 rod works. I practiced with that rod yesterday at work and at home a little and it welded smoothly, nice looking beads, and the slag chipped away nicely.
Does anyone have opinions about welding rods. I'm familiar with the 60 and 70 numbers on the rod being the tensile strength (60,000 lbs per inch, 70,0000, etc.) and the third number being weld positions, but I'd like to hear from someone's experience. I hear 7018 is the best rod to use when doing frame work because of it's tensile strength and appearance, but for me the 6013 is easier to use and has just as nice looking of a bead as the 7018.
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Post by hellraiser on Feb 27, 2008 23:53:46 GMT -5
ya idk for sure but im realy good with 6010 6013 and 7018, those are all we use at school though.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Feb 28, 2008 10:02:05 GMT -5
Those are all good rods for general work on mild steel which is what I'm doing. 6010 gets good penetration, but doesn't look so great. 6013 and 7018 makes nice looking welds but have a medium to low penetration. I've read to do the root pass, if doing multiple passes, with a 6010 or 6011 and then weld the overlaying welds with 7018 for good appearance and strength. At this point I'm thinking I wont need but one pass and I'm thinking of just going with the 6013 rod.
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Post by hellraiser on Feb 28, 2008 10:22:15 GMT -5
personaly i would go for strength over appearance.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Feb 28, 2008 11:03:01 GMT -5
I agree, but I also plan to use some sort of fish plate or gussets for added strength.
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Post by hellraiser on Feb 28, 2008 17:09:30 GMT -5
ya were my frame is welded together ive got it fishplated on all sides.
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Post by V8 Super Beetle on Feb 28, 2008 17:17:43 GMT -5
Cool! Should be very strong. At this point I'm not sure if I'll do all sides, maybe just the inside and outside with some diamond fish plates? I'll see.
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