Rollpan welding tips

[FresnoFleetside]

Hey guys, I just got started fitting and tack welding my rollpan on my '65 fleetside tonight.

I'm around stick welding a lot at work (I'm a union plumber/pipefitter) but as you can see from my pics, I'm still learning with my new harbor freight wire fed welder. (I know it's cheap, but it works for now)

I was just wondering if anybody had some tips on how to fill the larger gaps. (I fitted it up the best I could, and didn't grind much, but there is some large gaps, that couldnt be avoided)

I also need some help with how to use the bondo, or what else to use to smooth it out after I grind down my welds, before paint.

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any help.

-Ray




P.S. Don't worry, I have a real welder from work coming to supervise my welding as I finish welding it out tomorrow, lol.

[61_FL_Apache]

How big of a gap are you trying to fill?

I started wire feed welding using flux core like this. When you can and if your welder can use shielding gas, do it. It gives you a better and cleaner weld.

[protrash64]

I agree with 61's comments about gas; much cleaner. Be sure to space out the welds so as not to put too much heat in one spot and cause warping. As far as spanning a gap, you have to build it up like filling a hole. A spot on one side and one on the other until you can cross the gap; again, not too much heat!! Grind down the welds and see where you are.

I prefer short strand fibreglass for areas like this as it is extremely strong. It is hard to sand but will resist rust and flex from the bed. Before laying down any type body filler, make sure the work is clean by using a wax and grease remover.

[61 son of a Gun]

Whats up Fresnofleetside I'm a old fresno boy livin on the eastcoast now. From what I can see on your gap, It is good on top but it looks wider at the bottom where it starts its roll.Keep tackin it in tell the seem is filled. Its hard to tell from your pic how wide the gap is but if it not to deep knock it down with your grinder and hit it again. As far as your body work go's . Go down to glass shack over on Bemont and marks ,get a yourself some mud/bodyfiller sandpaper ,longboard glazing putty ect. I'm sure you can find a utube vid that can give you pointers or even the guys at glass shack well tell tell you a little. good luck if you have any questions pm me or my buddy CAL 58 GMC .He is there in clovis and a great guy witha lot of knowlege .

[Blue Heeler]

If you have a big gap, grab a piece of brass and back it behind the hole, that will fill in and not stick to the brass. also flux core is really hot and heat shrinks metal. trying to fill it is going to cause you to blow holes if you dont have a backing. anyways hope this helps.

[chevyrestoguy]

The comments about using gas is definitely correct. The cleaner the weld, the better. Looking at your picture, your gaps look OK. Because you're going to be grinding the welds flush, a small gap is desirable because you're going to be grinding off 90% of the weld getting it smooth. Butted panels with no gaps works great when you're using a TIG, but with a MIG, a slight gap is best. You can buy panel clamps from Harbor Freight that work really good, and they're cheap. If you can't find some, let me know, and I'll loan you mine.

Blue Healer has a great tip on filling gaps. Brass, copper, or aluminum all work great. You can use scrap, and clamp it to the end of a pair of vice grips, or in a pinch when the access sucks, duct tape it into position. The heat will make a gooey mess of the tape, but the function of the scrap will have done it's job.

[Doug19]

What company did you get the roll pan from? I'm looking to get on eand have heard that Mar-K is the way to go as opposed to LMC.

[FresnoFleetside]

Thanks for all the tips everyone

It was an easy fit up for the most part, I just had to grind off a little in the top right corner to get it to recess all the way. But for some reason the roll pan came with a weird curve to it, (a little flare out at the bottom). Around the middle of the curve, it didn't fit up quite as good, and that's where there is about a quarter inch gap on both sides that runs about 3/4 of an inch vertically. (I don't know if that description makes much sense, but that's the best I can descibe it w/o taking pictures.)

I appreciate the advice on the use of gas when welding, but I'm on a harbor frieght budget. LOL. I have access to some heavy duty welding equipment at my work, and at my Union hall, but I wanted to tackle this project at home in my garage.

61 son of a gun, thanks man, you can't beat online adivce that tells me exactly what store to go to. (even if it is in the hood, haha). I'll go down there tomorrow and check it out. What part of Fresno are you from?

ChevyRestoGuy, thanks, I'll look into getting some panel clamps for future jobs

Doug19, I ordered mine through a company called Early Classic Restoration and Suspension www.earlyclassic.com , they specialize in classic chevy trucks. They are based here in Fresno, but ship nationwide. I think I paid about $140 w/shipping, and it is a MAR-K.

I'm gonna go out in the garage here in a few and take another swing at it, I'll post pics on the progress.

Thanks again for all the help guys.

-Ray

[FresnoFleetside]

I got it about halfway done, I'm taking my time letting it sit and cool as to not warp the sheetmetal.

Here's a pic of the gap before, and as it sits now.

Now I'm more concerned about the huge gap at the bottom, I'll probably have to finish that tomorrow as the BBQ is calling my name right now.

What type of brass? Is there a sheet brass I should try to cut and mold into the shape of the bottom gap?

I know the weld doesn't look too great, I'm open to constructive critisism. I'm just trying to tack a little, alternating from passenger side to drivers side letting it cool down, then grinding to see how it looks. Filling gaps as I go.

Thanks for the input.

-Ray

[Dadsredwagon]

What harbour freight welder are use using

[FresnoFleetside]

Chicago, 90 amp flux core welder, about 120 bucks on sale. Nothing fancy, but it seems to work pretty well for this type of stuff.

[Bugeyev8]

I would go back and fill the pinholes , just weld them up so water will not get behind your filler and paint

as far as the gap, just get a copper pipe fitting or piece of copper pipe and flatten it to shape fit to your roll pan, use a c clamp or something to hold it in place and just fill the gap in

those HF welders don't work great for sheet metal because they run the flux wire and thats usually 0.35, sheet metal 0.23 or 0.25 is better and they don't make flux core that size

either way...what you have done so far looks good, just don't get in a hurry

[61 son of a Gun]

Fresnofleetside , I grew up off of Clinton and west ,wasn't a bad hood back in the day. then latter lived over buy Fresno state. I kinda miss fresno.....a little ! Don't be ascared going to glass shack if they start shooting just put ur head down and gun it !

[FresnoFleetside]

lol, yeah that neighborhood isn't too bad, but it's pretty bad for Fresno nowadays. I'm pretty close to Fresno State. I could understand missing CA weather living out there on the east coast, but NY is a pretty cool place to be too.

Update: got the welding finished up, thanks for the idea with the copper, I'm a union plumber and have copper pipe laying around all over the place so that worked out well. A little hard to weld the copper, but I boogered it up and ground it down and it worked.

Just waiting for the filler to to cure, then sand er down, and I'll post some pics after I get it all primered tonight.

Thanks,

-Ray

[neto]

Wait you welded the copper? I thought it was for the big gaps so that the wire doesn't go through?

[FresnoFleetside]

lol, no, just being a smart ass. Would that even be possible?



Got er all sanded down and primered. Doesn't look to bad. Definitely a few more things on the body that need attention before paint, but getting there.

Thanks for all the help.

-Ray

[neto]

Man that's looking good.

[heeroyue2002]

nice truck. i thought about getting that welder

[lakeroadster]

Originally Posted by Doug19

What company did you get the roll pan from? I'm looking to get on eand have heard that Mar-K is the way to go as opposed to LMC.

Scottshotrod's are running a special on USA made roll pans... saw this over at the Vendor Marketplace: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=449982

[FresnoFleetside]

thanks guys, I'll keep u updated as I do more stuff to it