Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Cab and fenders are closer to 18 gauge and the bed closer to 16 has been my experience.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Do you ever have a problem with MIG welds cracking when you are hammer and dollying them? I MAY be able to borrow a TIG from a friend of mine but if not will be forced to use the Miller 252 on my sheet metal. I always have this fear that with all my zillion spot welds that I will get cracking. And do you leaves a wire widths gap (0.23 or so) or do you butt your pieces back together as close as you can get them?

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

El Campo,

I never meant to insinuate that a nice job can't be done with a mig because it can. 95 percent of my truck is mig welded. Yes you can crack a mig weld, but the only time I cracked them was when I've done excessive hammering on dolly. I just try to use as little filler as possible so I do a lot of hammer and dolly work. In the cases that I did cracked them I just tacked it again no big deal. I still find it takes a heck of a lot of hammering to crack a mig weld. But than again I do a lot of hammering.lol

I love tig welding sheet metal because I have control over the heat, a lower profile bead which equals less grinding, and a softer bead which does not crack under my excessive hammering and dolly. But tig is not need to do a great job. The machines cost too much and most hobby builders only care to own one machine. If I had to chose I would own a mig hands down over a tig because the mig is way more versatile and more forgiving. Your metal has to be clean man and I mean clean for tig welding.

Now as far as gaps on sheetmetal. I try to make them butt or no wider than the welding wire for mig. For tig I want them to butt, mig is more forgiving than tig. I hope I answered your questions.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Great answers :) I think I read that in your words earlier that wire was still good. Just thought that if I had access to the TIG I would try it. And since I am not very experienced in hammer and dolly I will prob have to do a crap load of it and therefore I want to try to tip the scales in my favor as much as I can. Bought a set of Martin hammers and dollies since I had heard that cheap body hammers do not help that much if you are an amateur like myself. And I know it has been said before but DAMN you get that sheet metal to look nice. When I grow up I want to be like you :)

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

TIG is great but it takes time and practice to actually learn to do it right. It would be difficult to just borrow a TIG and start welding sheetmetal immediately. MIG is as easy as point and pull the trigger. I would not be apprehensive in doing sheet with a MIG. Each machine has its benefits. MIG is just so simple to use and like BAM said TIG needs to be cleaner than clean otherwise you will make a mess of things.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Man your first set of hammers and dollys are Martins? Nope I want to be like you when I grow up.lol You have hammers and dollys that you can leave to your grand kids. I have Martins myself but they sure were not my first set.

I agree. I thought I could tig before, but I'm light years better since I got my own and I still have a long way to go before I call myself a tig welder.lol

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Yea I am kind of (ok totally) a tool junkie. I spend WAAAAAAAY too much on them :) But I learned a long ago that cheap tools sure do not help you do anything right. After a lot of research and reading I was convinced that in body tools (and ratchets) especially it was worth spending money and getting good ones the first time. Haha yea I am sure that that TIG is a PITA to learn. I would probably do like I did with an arc welder when I learned. My dad didn't know how to weld but had a Miller Dial-arc in the garage. When I was 13 I decided that I wanted to learn how to weld so I got a book at the library about it and then spent the next month worth of afternoons, every afternoon, teaching myself how. Burned through I don't know how many pounds of rods!!! Hmmm but now I have a job so I guess that wouldn't work :( darn this growing up thing!!! My friend who has the TIG is good with it, I could have him help me with it. Will probably just do it all MIG though. Ok back to the project at hand, we need more pictures!!!

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

You got that right, good tools make a hard job way easier and cheap tools make an easy job way more difficult. I hate cheap tools its just frustrating working with cheap tools.

Actually its a lot of fun.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

19 ga on exterior panels minus the bedsides.
But with that said, modern day 18 ga is on the lower end of the tolerances and closely matches the original thickness scale of 19 ga typically measuring around .042...Eric

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

I just found your thread and read through. Wow, nice work. You're getting closer to having those twins :). Can't wait to see a picture of them both, side by side.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Thanks man I will get a pic of them side by side when I finally finish the truck but the car will be torn down and rebuilt right after the pictures are snapped.lol

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

there you go no time to rest

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

What are you going to do with the car!!!

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Oh I'm just in the planning/wishing stage right now so things may change once I actually start the work. The current plan is a triangular 4 link and vette front suspension, and remove the 454 and replace it with an LS motor.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Then your going to need a project to sit the 454 in. :metal:

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Well there is always someone that wants a big block. So it may just be for sale.lol

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

yes the ls will be a great upgrade. reliabilty and gas mileage

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Kabwe i know i a little late but when i was checking up on your build i couldn't agree more with the rim choice.....Not only because i got the same rims but i think they will look nice....I might have you on the bling bling contest and everyone knows everything is bigger in TEXAS!!!!! 20x8's and 22x12's

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Yeah I would say you have more bling than me thats for sure.lol Man I really wanted 18x12's. But hey as the Stones said "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need".

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

another STONE's fan... KEWL.

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

So if i was interested in that big block, would I get the Kabwe is a good friend of mine discount? :lol:

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

Kabwe, what thickness wire are you using for welding sheet?

And as always, ur doing a killer job
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Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

When mig welding sheetmetal I use .23 wire. and thanks for the compliment I really appreciate it. Thanks

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

maybe that is why i am having a little bit of a hard time i've been using .35 wire. I know my welding we never be as nice as yours, but maybe if i use the right stuff it would help! lol Thanks for the help even if you didn't know you were doing it .


Thanks Ray

Re: Kabwe's aka Bam's build
 

yeah 023 is industry standard for sheetmetal;)