weld seams

[Coupeguy2001]

On Task Force trucks,
Does everybody have the seams crudely installed over their doors inside the cab?
A friend mentioned that he wanted to finish the seams like mine, and I never did anything to the seams except scuff and paint them.
Did anybody get finished seams with their truck?

[Speedbumpauto]

Welded and smoothed mine over the doors but for some strange reason, I wanted to keep the seam line across the back, so I did. Same logic as chopping the top 3" and going to a lot of work to smooth, straighten and KEEP the drip rails. Go figure.

[hotrod1]

Originally Posted by Speedbumpauto

Welded and smoothed mine over the doors but for some strange reason, I wanted to keep the seam line across the back, so I did. Same logic as chopping the top 3" and going to a lot of work to smooth, straighten and KEEP the drip rails. Go figure.

How did you weld them? Occasional tack or the whole thing just like you would do for a patch panel?

I was thinking about cutting the mismatched seam, realign them, and weld. It would be a lot of work overhead.

[Speedbumpauto]

Like a patch panel. center, left, right tacks, repeat. I won't take all the credit though. My paint cost more than most, but my paint guy went over the inside just like the outside, including dash, so it's all very smooth.

[MARTINSR]

Originally Posted by Speedbumpauto

Like a patch panel. center, left, right tacks, repeat. I won't take all the credit though. My paint cost more than most, but my paint guy went over the inside just like the outside, including dash, so it's all very smooth.

You completely welded them with many, many tacks right?

Brian

[_Ogre]

i was sooooooo tired of body mods by that time i left the upper cab seams ugly


and... so far no one has noticed

[MARTINSR]

Yeah, realistically unless it is a mind blowing full on custom, leave them. Even on a custom I kinda like things like the welds showing and stuff. It makes the custom work look all that much better like "hey, there's no bondo here" kinda look. Almost like the custom work is original, you know what I mean?

Brian

[hotrod1]

Yeah you might be right (Martinsr) but the inside is just plain ugly. Rob from No Limit mentioned to me that these trucks are just tractors with windows. If you work on them for a while, you really realize how rough they really are. I imagine they were never intended to last 50+ years and to find their way into the custom market. work truck then thrown away. I have even thought of using raptor lining on the inside to cover all the seams. I am not sure that would look good though.

[MARTINSR]

I have been working on them for years, I remember when I would have wanted to fill them too. But now, after working on late model cars with all their perfection I like the old stuff's character.

Brian

[tbrown5079]

My painter said he would finish the seams if I tack welded them. Took my time but really glad I did. The ones in the door frames and front of the cab really made a difference. tbrown

[hotrod1]

Did you tack weld the edge of the metal that overlaps or drill more holes and rosette weld them?

Any pictures?

[tbrown5079]

I cut the seams at the door jambs then used a large punch to tuck the edges in then re-welded the seam.

[RockTonka]

tack, tack, tack...

[Dan in Pasadena]

I've really debated doing this on mine and ultimately decided to leave them as is. There's no limit to the mods I COULD do but at some point I've just got to stop on a driver truck. Hopefully a truly nice driver, but still a driver.

I had a friend who filled his seams with plastic filler. Everyone says it'll eventually crack. Has anyone ACTUALLY seen this happen? On a TF truck, I mean.

[bowt1ed]

Anyone tried tooling seam sealer? Too much area to cover...? R/Jim