What do you prefer with factory Spot welds. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

chewychevy67 · 03-17-2020, 08:45 PM

I'm getting to the metal work part of my build and I'm just curious what you do with the spot welds on the outer edges of the tailgate and the ones on the firewall all over and in the door jambs. Do you smooth em or paint it like factory did? If you replace a panel do you try to recreate them where rge panel was replaced? I think they give character but there's a lot of them to make look original again in some heavily repaired areas.

sick472 · 03-18-2020, 08:26 AM

Most of the time when I remove spot weld (with a spotweld cutter bit or just plain drill bits) they beg to be spotwelded back right where they were removed. My great welding ability requires that the spots be ground down most of the time which leaves them mostly invisible. I'm not too concerned with concourse restorations so they can disappear and I'm good with that, but I do not spend any time making them disappear either. Puttying them over seems to me to just leave a place for failure down the road and we expect to see them in the hidden areas anyway.

Live and let spot weld live too!

If I were one to completely shave a project and be trying to win a World of Wheels show...everything would be smoothed over, but I build to drive and enjoy...not to show.

Davidf · 03-18-2020, 03:31 PM

Too hard to replicate factory spot welds as few of us have the spot welders with the proper reach. So, I plug weld, grind smooth, body work to completely hide them. Works for me and currently doing just that on my rockers, doors, etc.

**70cst** · 03-19-2020, 04:00 PM

When I had my truck redone ... I had them paint over them just like it was when it left the assembly plant...

chewychevy67 · 03-20-2020, 01:51 PM

Ihave to put a new firewall on my cab and when I removed the old one I removed the spot welds from the back side so when I put it on the new cab I can weld in between the old ones and smooth them out and it will appear factory. If anyone ever has to remove it in the future they will sure be puzzled as to why it won't come off after drilling them out. I tend to Loki the look of them as it looks like factory paint still.

**71blksuper4x4** · 03-20-2020, 02:10 PM

My favorite spot welds are the rocker panels and tailgates.

chewychevy67 · 03-20-2020, 03:02 PM

Yeah because those are most visable. That's how you can tell a purist for sure.

03-17-2020, 08:45 PM	#1
chewychevy67 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Here Posts: 5,451	What do you prefer with factory Spot welds. I'm getting to the metal work part of my build and I'm just curious what you do with the spot welds on the outer edges of the tailgate and the ones on the firewall all over and in the door jambs. Do you smooth em or paint it like factory did? If you replace a panel do you try to recreate them where rge panel was replaced? I think they give character but there's a lot of them to make look original again in some heavily repaired areas.

03-18-2020, 08:26 AM	#2
sick472 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Sedalia Mo. Posts: 1,131	Re: What do you prefer with factory Spot welds. Most of the time when I remove spot weld (with a spotweld cutter bit or just plain drill bits) they beg to be spotwelded back right where they were removed. My great welding ability requires that the spots be ground down most of the time which leaves them mostly invisible. I'm not too concerned with concourse restorations so they can disappear and I'm good with that, but I do not spend any time making them disappear either. Puttying them over seems to me to just leave a place for failure down the road and we expect to see them in the hidden areas anyway. Live and let spot weld live too! If I were one to completely shave a project and be trying to win a World of Wheels show...everything would be smoothed over, but I build to drive and enjoy...not to show. __________________ He who is without oil shall throw the first rod. Compressions 8.7:1 1972 C10 1976 C10 (parts truck) 1985 K20

03-18-2020, 03:31 PM	#3
Davidf Registered User Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Austin Posts: 749	Re: What do you prefer with factory Spot welds. Too hard to replicate factory spot welds as few of us have the spot welders with the proper reach. So, I plug weld, grind smooth, body work to completely hide them. Works for me and currently doing just that on my rockers, doors, etc.

03-19-2020, 04:00 PM	#4
70cst Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: New Madison, Ohio Posts: 21,365	Re: What do you prefer with factory Spot welds. When I had my truck redone ... I had them paint over them just like it was when it left the assembly plant... Attached Images __________________ A husband can be right...or...A husband can be happy. 67-72 Chevy and GMC Trucks...The Classic Truck for the Classic Folk. 1970 CST Two tone green, 402BB, 400 Automatic, Tach, Buckets, AC, AM-FM, Tilt, GM CB, GM 8 Tract, LWB, etc JOHN 17:3...The better side of "LIFE" Remember: Everyday is a good day...Some are just gooder!

03-20-2020, 01:51 PM	#5
chewychevy67 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Here Posts: 5,451	Re: What do you prefer with factory Spot welds. Ihave to put a new firewall on my cab and when I removed the old one I removed the spot welds from the back side so when I put it on the new cab I can weld in between the old ones and smooth them out and it will appear factory. If anyone ever has to remove it in the future they will sure be puzzled as to why it won't come off after drilling them out. I tend to Loki the look of them as it looks like factory paint still.

03-20-2020, 02:10 PM	#6
71blksuper4x4 SWB 4x4 Collector Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Osage City, KS Posts: 5,151	Re: What do you prefer with factory Spot welds. My favorite spot welds are the rocker panels and tailgates. __________________ TREVOR 1970 CST swb 4x4 (speedwarning,cruise,tilt,tach,8track, original red shoulder belts,tow hooks) 1972 Jimmy (soon to be Hickey cloned) 1971 Cheyenne Super 4x4 swb (tilt,tach,buckets, original blue shoulder belts,am/fm,cruise,tow hooks, dealer 8 track) 1972 Cheyenne Super K20 4x4 Custom Camper (tilt, tach, am/fm, tow hooks, bed toolbox, aux gas tank 1972 Cheyenne Super Crew Cab K30 4x4 Duramax, Allison, np205, buckets, tow hooks (CURRENT PROJECT) http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=624819 1989 V3500 Crew Cab (454tbi, NV4500, np205) 1970 Chevelle SS (LS5 454,th400,8track,buckets,tach) :2004 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon (daily driver) WTB: 1968-70 Cruise Control Lever

03-20-2020, 03:02 PM	#7
chewychevy67 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Here Posts: 5,451	Re: What do you prefer with factory Spot welds. Yeah because those are most visable. That's how you can tell a purist for sure.



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