Hey guys! It has been a while since I've been on the site. I suffered some set backs and lost my motivation. You know what it is like when "Life" gets in the way. Anyway, I've been getting my sh*t together and getting ready to finally get back to my Mini. Last weekend I bought 16 square feet of 18 gauge steel so I can finish my floors. I had a bunch of power tools stolen late last year, to include the all important angle grinder. For my birthday last month, my Father in-law bought me a new grinder. He wants me to get my arse going! He's a great guy.
I'll be posting pics of my progress as much as possible.
I'm thinking about taking some leave from work and getting down on it. We'll see what my bosses think. :)
Gene
Thats good to hear you're gona start working on it. Any cool pics we can gander at?
No, not anything new. I haven't really done much in such a long time. Maybe this weekend, though, gonna get my cut, weld, and grind on.
I was able to do a little bit of work today.
Here is the hole in the floor that I have needed to finish for quite a while. That cardboard is from a 12 back of Coors. Buy local, that's what I always say. lol
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/MiniFloor002.jpg)
Here's the metal I picked up a couple of weeks ago. 18 gauge.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/MiniFloor004.jpg)
The tools of the trade. I'd like to thank China and Harbor Freight.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/MiniFloor005.jpg)
The section is in. Not the prettiest welds but they'll do.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/MiniFloor006.jpg)
From another angle:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/MiniFloor008.jpg)
Now I need to finish extending the floor to the rear subframe mount panel. Then a couple more floor patches, and then weld the inner and outer sills in.
Quote from: MiniGene on March 27, 2011, 07:42:11 PM
IThe tools of the trade. I'd like to thank China and Harbor Freight.
22.gif That made me laugh.
Nothing some angle grinding and seam sealer can't fix on those welds if you're worried how they look.
:D
Haha, yeah I picked up the HB flux core welder after you told me that is what you use. I'm not nearly as good at it as you are though. My clamps, body hammers, welding magnets, and my new grinder are all from there too! Not the highest quality stuff but they get the job done.
I'm not too worried about these welds. I don't know if I'll even grind them down. They should be covered with carpet in the end. This mini will be somewhat of a rat anyway. The plan is to rattle can it OD green. I'm not worried about resale value. After putting this much effort into it I don't ever want to get rid of it. I'm emotionally attached to it, so is the wife, so are the kids. My two younger ones don't even remember when it was running, heck one wasn't even born! LOL
I convinced the wife to let me leave all my stuff out since it will be easier for me to pop out there and get cracking on it. She was cool with it and has no problem parking in the driveway instead of the garage!
Rather than rattle can OD green, go back to HF and get the purple spray gun. When I get home I can give you a link from ebay of a guy who sells acrylic enamel paint by the gallon that's inexpensive. You'd have about 100-150 in paint and supplies if you went that route and a nice paint job believe it or not if you can spray ok.
Hell yeah! Send me that link. I figured trying to get all the stuff to do it myself would be a lot more expensive maybe 500 for paint alone. I think I am pretty good at spraying from a can. Do those skills transfer over? I figure that the fundamentals are the same: spend a whole lot of time with your prep-work, don't be a spaz when actually spraying...is this right?
That's right. Hell if I'm swinging through on my commute I'd even help supervise if you need some help.
Heres the link. http://stores.ebay.com/wbmesq-ppg-custom-mixed-car-paint (http://stores.ebay.com/wbmesq-ppg-custom-mixed-car-paint)
Get a gallon of whatever color you want (he'll take special colors if you contact him) couple cans of the reducer and one hardner. I doubled up on the reducer when I sprayed it and thought it layed out better. This is the same stuff I used to paint that airplane on a budget. Certainly better than rattle can. I'd recommend going with a solid color, I thought spraying metalic was kinda tricky with acrylic enamal but that could just be me.
Another tool to add to your list from HF should be the variable speed buffer. $40 give or take and works amazingly when it comes time to color sand and buff the new paint job.
Gun: http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-high-volume-low-pressure-gravity-feed-spray-gun-47016.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/20-oz-high-volume-low-pressure-gravity-feed-spray-gun-47016.html)
Buffer: http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-variable-speed-polisher-sander-92623.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/7-inch-variable-speed-polisher-sander-92623.html)
Total cost: $150
Paint job on a budget!
Thanks for all that great info! I really didn't think a paint job was within my budget. Even though I am a ways off I now know otherwise. Pretty exciting, really. Now I get to think of all the cool colors there are out there and the possibilities.
I'll probably work some more on the floor this weekend. Do you know of any stores that sell weldable primer?
Granted AE paint isn't the highest quality paint, but this stuff is PPG and way better than rattle can. Not sure about the primer, probably talk to some local paint shops or search online.
Went to a couple of autopart stores today for spark plugs for my 4runner and totally forgot to check for weldable primer. It's okay, I'll be back on Monday to pick up the plugs I ordered. Of course they wouldn't have the ones I needed in stock. LOL
Hope to do some more floor patching tomorrow. I'll take some pics and post them too.
BTW, Dan if you're ever in the Denver area let me know I have a mini fridge in my garage now and I try to keep it filled with beer at all times.
:D <--my six year old son came over to me while typing this message and asked me to put this emoticon in.
Yeah I go through Denver on my commute sometimes, perhaps we can trade your couch for some help on the mini.
Got out the garage for a couple of hours this afternoon. I was able to get the floor patched in the rear extending the piece I put in last weekend.
Here's the new piece. Lots of my standard unground, sloppy welds but this will be covered up and not seen.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/RearFloorPatch.jpg)
Now if you put something in the rear pocket it won't fall out!
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/RearPocket.jpg)
Prepped the lip where the outer sill will go on. In stead of spot welding I'll be button welding.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/HolesforSill.jpg)
A closer look. Next weekend I should be able to get the sill on.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/HolesforSill2.jpg)
looking good!
Thanks!
This weekend I had to tend to my other car, my 4Runner. Had to change the spark plugs and I am glad I finally did. Look at these bad boys:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/033.jpg)
So, since I was wrenching, and it felt great because I haven't wrenched in long time I decided to not do any welding this weekend. Instead I tackled removing stuff to get to the crankcase bolt. Here is the before shot:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/032.jpg)
And here is the after:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/034.jpg)
Now I need to get this bastard to move:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/035.jpg)
Does anybody know the size of the crank case bolt? I think I need to pick up a new combo wrench, nothing I had fit at all.
Here's the background on my engine: 1977 998cc that hasn't turned since about October of 2003. That is going on 8 years! Sat outstide (in the mini with the bonnet on) in North Carolina for 5 of those years. I tried to put the car in gear and rock it back and forth to free it up but that didn't work. I originally put some oil down the spark plug holes in order to get it to free up. I went on Minimania.com and some people recommended Marvel Mystery Oil. I currently have quite a bit of MMO sitting on the cylinders. Once I get a wrench big enough to fit the crankcase bolt and a breaker bar I'll see if I can free this lump.
Anybody got any tips?
Pull your head and take a look. My engine sat for 3 years under the bonnet and I ended up with some rusty cylinder walls. I plan to pull it apart and hone it.
Yeah, I imagine a rebuild is in order; head, block, tranny. I'm just trying to get it free. If I can that will be a big psychological boost for me for this whole project, you know? LOL Just knowing I don't have to get a new engine will help.
There's been some cool conversions on MM lately. I forget who is putting in an engine and tranny from a little Chevy Metro. Fuel injection, 5 speed, 200 dollar rebuild kits available....sounds interesting.
I believe the crankshaft nut is 1-5/16". Big sockets aren't all that expensive at Harbor Freight and they sell a pretty good selection of individual sockets at Northern Tool and Equipment, a supplier a little upscale from Harbor Freight. I found some weldable primer at NAPA, and most recently at O'Reilly's.
Back to painting, I'm not sure how a serious garage user can get along without a compressor. Some pretty good ones with good capacity are available at either of those tool supply places. Spray guns aren't that expensive and bada-boom, there you are. And then you have air supply for a lot of other useful things related to body work.
Since it cooled down this weekend, I decided to head back to the garage. This time I worked on getting the right inner sill in.
Here is the seat belt mount I fab'd up:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0262.jpg)
Here's the other side of it:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0263.jpg)
Fitting the inner sill and getting ready to weld it in:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0264.jpg)
Welded in (front):
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0266.jpg)
Welded in (rear):
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0267.jpg)
A view from the inside:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0268.jpg)
Although I'm working at a snail's pace I'm making progress. As long as it isn't hot as balls in the garage I plan on heading out there more now.
Excellent, very good. I heard its cooler in Tulsa today too, I'm ready to hit the truck hard.
Thanks! Can't wait to see your progress on the truck...and the Impala.
Managed to make it out the garage for a couple of hours this afternoon and made a cross-member patch.
I don't have a metal brake (or is it break...?) so I did the old two 2X4s in the vice trick:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0269.jpg)
After about two hours of bending, cutting, grinding, and bending and cutting and grinding, and more bending, more cutting, more grinding this is what I have:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0274.jpg)
Another angle:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0272.jpg)
Fits pretty good:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0270-1.jpg)
View from the passenger side:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0271.jpg)
Hopefully next weekend I can weld it in.
Wow man hell of a nice job fabbing the end of the x-member! You may already have it welded into place but if not shoot the back with some high temp paint before you weld.
Thanks!! That is a good tip about coating the underside. I will do that before I weld it in place.
I took the advice and painted the underside of my cross member piece and the inside of my outer sill with some high temp paint. Just some Rustoleum kind.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/Paint.jpg)
Here's a shot of me putting in the patch. My welder decided to stop pushing wire so I figured I'd take a break.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/BreakinWork.jpg)
Here is it welded in:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/AllWeldedIn.jpg)
I would have covered everything with some primer but I didn't have any at the time. I'll have to do that soon. Next weekend will be the outer sill. I would have been able to do more today but I had to change the oil in my wife's van so that took up some time.
BTW, Dan, what kind of primer do you like to use and works best with the type of paint you use when the time comes? Thanks!
2k eurothane, and I typically use sealer primer. Looking good man.
So this morning, I have a nice relaxing morning with the wife and kids. Make bacon and eggs, read the paper, sip on coffee. Take my time getting into the shower. Take my daughter to her job at the mall. I get home and get all ready to start working on the mini. The damn cell phone rings, it's a guy from work who needs help moving. Normally I would have said I couldn't help but he was practically begging as some of his other help had to duck out early. Doh! So instead of a good 4-5 hours devoted to the mini I spent it moving another guy's stuff. What killed me was that it was just this guy and his wife and they had just as much stuff as my and my 4 kids! Oh well, I'll get some stuff done next weekend.
Just reread this and thought I should clarify. LOL
Quote from: MiniGene on September 18, 2011, 05:37:11 PM
Normally I would have said I couldn't help
Not because I'm a jerk but because I had other plans and he called at the very last minute. ;D
Haha thats ok.
So here's today's work. Got the outer sill welded in.
A view from the top:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0326.jpg)
Raised the mini up on ramps to make welding the lower part of the sill on easier. It was still a b!tch! Trying to get the metal as tight to the floor as possible while welding on my back sucked.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0327.jpg)
Finally all welded in:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0328.jpg)
I needed to fill in this little gap:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0329.jpg)
I used a little section I had leftover from when I did the doorstep:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0330.jpg)
It would have been easier to use a piece of sheet metal. I had to bend and rebend this little piece at least 10 times:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0331.jpg)
I ground it down the best I could but couldn't get into the tight spaces. I think I need pick up some sort of cone shaped grinding stone I can put into my drill.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0333.jpg)
All done for the day:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0334.jpg)
Next weekend I'd like to clean it all up, put some Rustbullet everywhere and then some primer over the whole area.
Wow man you've been busy. How much more metal work is left?
Lots.
I need to patch up some floor on the inside rear drivers side. Then I need to patch up some spots in the rear wheel wells and the boot. Then onto the other side to do the passenger side front rear subframe mount. After that I know I'll at least have to do the inner sill, maybe the outer sill. And THEN after that I have to do the front sheet metal...
Lots. I should be rolling sometime before 2020. ;D
Today's progress isn't really significant but progress nonetheless.
Coated the replaced metal and welds with some RustBullet:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/RustBullet1.jpg)
And since I had the RustBullet out I decided to treat the bottom of the driver's side door. It had some rust issues and this will hopefully take care of them:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/RustBullet2.jpg)
I thought I'd be able to get some primer on the areas too but the can said the rustbullet had to at lease cure for 24 hours before a top coat.
Hey any progress is good!
Heck yeah. I'm happy when I get ANYTHING done on the Mini.
Does anybody have recommendations on what brand front sheet metal is best? Also, where do you guys get yours? I'm hoping to get the R and L fenders and front panel for my 77 soon.
Thanks!
I just go to the hardware store and grab some 22 gauge, which is rather thin. 20 gauge is closer to factory but they never seem to carry it any more.
My front fenders and front nose panel are so far gone I need the whole shebang; all three pieces. Do most people here get their's from one of the stateside Mini parts dealers or from across the pond and hope they don't get destroyed in shipping?
I've had no problems shipping from overseas. Otherwise gbcarparts is priced well.
Thanks for the input, Dan.
Hey guess what? I touched the Mini for the first time in several months. I've been busy with other stuff around the house as of late but I was glad to be able to do some more work.
Took care of a hole in the floor, more specifically the base of the back seat:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0202.jpg)
Cut out and formed a patch:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0203.jpg)
Painted the underside with high temp Rustoeum:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0205.jpg)
It fit pretty decent:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0201.jpg)
Welded in:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0206.jpg)
And some primer to finish it up:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0207.jpg)
Not bad for about 3 hours of work. It's not pretty but it will do. That's the theme of my body work thus far. LOL
Don't feel bad, I have a few ugly welds on mine too. Grind em till they look pretty! Try shorter burst with the trigger and take your time, they'll come out a little cleaner once you figure it out.
Thanks for the tip. Luckily all of my welds so far will be covered up with carpet or seats and nobody will be the wiser--besides the members here, haha. We'll see what happens when I have to do some that will be exposed, that's when the grinder will be my best friend.
One thing I wish I had invested in before I started replacing so many panels was a spot welder. I've drilled more holes and done my own spot welds than you can imagine. So when you do the front, drill and weld away, grind as necesarry. I had to grind a lot of welds on my floor to make it look pretty, and I'm still not done cleaning up.
Spotwelder is a must when rebuilding a mini shell, and the bigger the better. I have a pro unit so I can install complete cross-members, and do entire front ends without breaking out the Mig/ Tig. The best part is how it speeds things up as You clamp everything till it fits and then go at it with the spotwelder.
(http://boot2bonnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hauth-076-Small.jpg)
(http://boot2bonnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Hauth-091-Small.jpg)
(http://boot2bonnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hauth-068-Small.jpg)
(http://boot2bonnet.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Hauth-077-Small.jpg)
Quote from: 94touring on January 29, 2012, 06:45:40 PM
One thing I wish I had invested in before I started replacing so many panels was a spot welder. I've drilled more holes and done my own spot welds than you can imagine. So when you do the front, drill and weld away, grind as necesarry. I had to grind a lot of welds on my floor to make it look pretty, and I'm still not done cleaning up.
The increase in speed would have been really nice, no doubt about that.
You guys are amazing! 17.gif I think if I had the space (shop) I might have been more inclined to rebuild the green machine.
Quote from: Nicholasupton on January 31, 2012, 11:14:05 AM
Spotwelder is a must when rebuilding a mini shell, and the bigger the better. I have a pro unit so I can install complete cross-members, and do entire front ends without breaking out the Mig/ Tig. The best part is how it speeds things up as You clamp everything till it fits and then go at it with the spotwelder.
WOW Nicholas! That is awesome. Makes for some nice and clean panel installs. Show us a picture of your pro spot welder, please. You could start assembling shells as fast as British Motor Heritage can with that baby!
Quote from: batman1usa on January 31, 2012, 11:52:42 AM
You guys are amazing! 17.gif I think if I had the space (shop) I might have been more inclined to rebuild the green machine.
I'm still learning everything as I go, and as I go I don't know if I'm learning. Haha I wish I had more motivation to speed up the process but it's definitely hard with work and the wife and kiddos. Maybe by the time my 6 year old is in HS I'll have this Mini on the road...
Okay, so if you guys haven't figured it out yet but I am a slacker. I've decided to give myself a deadline to help motivate me and to keep my project moving.
Here goes:
I'll have all of the patching and welding done on the rear, and the passenger side of the Mini by the end of May!
Feel free to prod me if I slack. I check this site nearly daily so call me out if I start to slack.
But May of what year? :-[ I have the CMU events in the Smokie mountains to keep me going. They happen every 18 months. So can't drag things out, don't want to miss out on all the fun driving.
Don't be a slacker! 20.gif
Is it done yet???? 11.gif
Uh...Did I say I'd be done welding the rear and passenger side by the end of May...? Where the hell did May go? Between my mom visiting, working projects at home, spending time with the wife and kids, and insanity at work I blew that deadline, BIGTIME! Good thing I don't do this for a living!
Anyway, so I FINALLY was able to get to the Mini again today. Today's task was to tackle a rusted out area of the driver's side rear wheel well, right above the rear subframe mount.
Here's after I cut out the rusted area:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0018.jpg)
Here's the patch piece I made:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0019.jpg)
A pretty good fit:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0020.jpg)
Here's how far I got before I ran out of welding wire:
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0021.jpg)
I need to finish up the welding but I decided to grind down what I had done so far. I'll probably do some more grinding later.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0025.jpg)
So, with no more wire I decided to at least start to clean up the rest of the wheel well and cut out some other trouble spots. I'll make some new patch pieces soon.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0024.jpg)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0022.jpg)
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0023.jpg)
Dan, what wire do you use for your flux core welder? the .030 or .035?
Thanks!
Good to see you working on it. Either of those sizes, I normally grab the .035.
Picked up some more wire and was able to work on it again today.
Finished up this patch. Put some primer on it just to keep it from rusting. It will get a seam sealer treatment when it's all said and done.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0027.jpg)
Now I'm working on the rear end of the wheel arch. I got this patch welded in probably 60%. The dings are where I pounded it in to meet the subframe mount on the other side. I'll weld it to the mount on that side soon.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/DSC_0026.jpg)
This past weekend I managed to patch some more metal on the Mini. Very tedious work, cut out bad metal from car, cut out good metal from sheet, work to shape new metal, weld new metal, blow hole in metal, cuss at metal, fill in hole, make hole bigger, cuss some more, fill in again, grind down, repeat. LOL
Soooo...afterwards I got bored and primered the back of the Mini. I'm thinking it looks pretty cool.
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/PrimerRear2.jpg)
And then I found this old metal gas can at the GoodWill for 5 bucks. I cleaned it up and painted it a desert tan color. Not sure what I'll do with it. It's too rusty on the inside to use as a gas can. Maybe I'll throw it on the roof rack on my 4Runner so I can look cool. Haha
(http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc296/minigene/Mini%20Pictures/GasCan.jpg)
Quote from: MiniGene on October 11, 2012, 06:00:55 PM
This past weekend I managed to patch some more metal on the Mini. Very tedious work, cut out bad metal from car, cut out good metal from sheet, work to shape new metal, weld new metal, blow hole in metal, cuss at metal, fill in hole, make hole bigger, cuss some more, fill in again, grind down, repeat. LOL
Perfect description of me last week. Perfect!
I just ordered some copper spoons from Eastwood. Wanted to get them before but didn't know if I'd really need them - I need them! (they have some gas tank sealant stuff that would probably allow you to put real live fuel in that jerry can, too :-) )
Are you cutting your patches the exact size as the hole and butt-welding them in flush with the old metal? Or putting a flange on the old metal? I tried butt-welding first...yikes - think the spoons will help immensely with that. So then I tried a flange - helped a lot but still tough...and going to be pretty ugly on the 'other' side... 50.gif
I think the back looks AWESOME! Can't wait to start that phase.
Pat
Thanks Pat. I guess I normally cut out the old and weld in the new according to my mood. In some spots I'll butf weld it but in others I'll over lap and try to weld on both sides if possible. I haven't had to do much work in an area that will be visible to the average Joe so I haven't put a lot of effort in making my work look pretty. I know it's coming though, I need to patch a small rust hole on the passenger rear quarter window frame and then there is the entire front end....
I think the jerry can is beyond hope. See that pile of rust flakes on my trailer? Those were all from inside the tank! http://www.restorationmini.com/forum/Smileys/smile/undecided.gif (http://www.restorationmini.com/forum/Smileys/smile/undecided.gif)
What are the copper spoons used for? Do they help dissipate the welding heat?
Gene
Copper spoons help with heat and also the weld does not stick to it so patching a small hole is easier.
http://www.eastwood.com/welders-helper.html (http://www.eastwood.com/welders-helper.html)