Seam Welding
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,679
From: Colorado Springs
Its pretty much complete dissassembly of the car. Every seam of the body gets welded. Its not really a driveway/shadetree/rock-ape thing.
Huge increase in strucural (sp) rigidity...usually complemented by a 10-15 point welded in roll cage...while your at it
Huge increase in strucural (sp) rigidity...usually complemented by a 10-15 point welded in roll cage...while your at it
Super Moderator
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 5,181
From: My BIG ol TURBO-DIESEL
I have on a couple of different cars. The problem is getting the seam sealer out of the seams so you don't contaminate the welds.
Couple of points to ponder. The mazdatrix car has been dipped, and by appearances I would say they used the REDI-Strip process. It does a good job, but it is nearly IMPOSSSIBLE to get all the chemicals out from the hidden seams. (I was involved in a Porsche 916-6 restoration. We did the tub wlike that and 8 years later there is still gunk that flows from the seams, not a lot, just enough to screww the paint job up
)
Another point. IT IS TIME CONSUMING, you have the potential to put a serious TWEEK in the car causing it not to be straight. you need to weld a small section, go to the opposite corner of the car and weld anther place, repeat over and over!
I have done the front end of my 86 GXL by grinding to clean shiney metal and then using a small propane torch to burn away the residual seam sealer. It does an adequate job of cleaning, still end up with small pockests of weld contamination. I use C25 Mix on a hobart handler 135 MIG.
Last point: Check with your Sanctioning Body (SCCA, NHRA, NASA etc) to make sure this mod is legal in whatever class you are running.
Good Luck, JOhn
Couple of points to ponder. The mazdatrix car has been dipped, and by appearances I would say they used the REDI-Strip process. It does a good job, but it is nearly IMPOSSSIBLE to get all the chemicals out from the hidden seams. (I was involved in a Porsche 916-6 restoration. We did the tub wlike that and 8 years later there is still gunk that flows from the seams, not a lot, just enough to screww the paint job up
)Another point. IT IS TIME CONSUMING, you have the potential to put a serious TWEEK in the car causing it not to be straight. you need to weld a small section, go to the opposite corner of the car and weld anther place, repeat over and over!
I have done the front end of my 86 GXL by grinding to clean shiney metal and then using a small propane torch to burn away the residual seam sealer. It does an adequate job of cleaning, still end up with small pockests of weld contamination. I use C25 Mix on a hobart handler 135 MIG.
Last point: Check with your Sanctioning Body (SCCA, NHRA, NASA etc) to make sure this mod is legal in whatever class you are running.
Good Luck, JOhn
