Badly mig welded car/partsparts

[Tinbasherdan]

They miss out the rest of the quote, it's:

"My welding isn't pretty but is strong(er than the filler and fibreglass I was gonna bodge it with)"

Gorilla welding, ugly but strong

 

[CompoSimmonite]

In late 70's a neighbour borrowed my little KelArc welder (still got it ) to repair the sills on his HB Viva. When he gave it back I asked if it had done the job but it turned out he'd carved a lump of wood to fit instead and covered it with underseal. Car passed MOT !

 

[hairyone]

I'm not sure if I have ever seen or posted this site here before. It seems to have gone offline and can only be seen through the wayback machine.

It's a combination of awesome welding and fabrication ... be warned there are pages of it!!

The basic URL pattern is illustrated below ...

http://web.archive.org/web/20121010015824/http://128.83.80.200/TACO/scarysteering.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20080323061312/http://128.83.80.200/TACO/scarysteering1.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20080323064253/http://128.83.80.200/TACO/scarysteering2.html
http://web.archive.org/web/20080323064253/http://128.83.80.200/TACO/scarysteering3.html

...

http://web.archive.org/web/20080323064253/http://128.83.80.200/TACO/scarysteering10.html

Welded springs and a scarily weak 4 link

Hmm ... custom steering link!

 

[trewjohn2001]

Here's another doozy- someone replaced the floor panels and just covered over the rust on the crossmember with a body panel thickness patch. I didn't drill out those plug welds - it was never welded. The forward edge was just stuck down with mastic. In some ways I'm glad because it made chopping the tin can repair easier. I can understand why MOT inspectors get a bit fussy about repair work in structural areas when people do work like this.

 

[God mode restorations]

Here's another doozy- someone replaced the floor panels and just covered over the rust on the crossmember with a body panel thickness patch. I didn't drill out those plug welds - it was never welded. The forward edge was just stuck down with mastic. In some ways I'm glad because it made chopping the tin can repair easier. I can understand why MOT inspectors get a bit fussy about repair work in structural areas when people do work like this.

That's a joke..it just goes to show what actually goes on .

 

[slim_boy_fat]

at all the above.

 

[Mark Robinson]

definitely feel the need to contribute here!
bot my mk1 clio 16v projects have bodged up welding repairs.
on my naples, at some point in its life it had a new offside rear quarter, the filler was about half inch thick all down the offside! the welds were just tack welds and then what appeared to be that spray bondo, the sill rusted on that side with in 2 years so some "reputable" body shop replaced it, they cut out a bit of the rust at the back then put a new sill panel right over the top op the old one, this literally lifted from the bottom as the inner sill had gone. my xerus grey one has also had the drivers side sill replaced, this is a similar affair to the naples, apart from they only used the very bottom bit, again straight over the top of the old rotton bit, this has 5-6 tack welds along the lap join then the rest it filler, easy about an inch or so, when i removed the filler i was appalled with my finding. i will add some photos soon as i have them on my computer. the "inner sill and inner wheel arch was no better, it has been "dynoglassed" all the way along, it has the tensile strength of rice crispies tbh.

 

[Chris Stevens]

Here's another doozy- someone replaced the floor panels and just covered over the rust on the crossmember with a body panel thickness patch. I didn't drill out those plug welds - it was never welded. The forward edge was just stuck down with mastic. In some ways I'm glad because it made chopping the tin can repair easier. I can understand why MOT inspectors get a bit fussy about repair work in structural areas when people do work like this.

Problems with poorly done repairs on old cars maybe have a lot to do with the fact that the cost of having the repairs carried out properly, is in many cases likely to be more than the car is worth? If a car owner gets quoted say £2k for welding work, there is always going to be someone prepared to do a bodge job for a lot less, and I guess thats the reason there are so many death traps on the road nowadays, some of which are much more dodgy than your car.

 

[Jim Davey]

Badly welded naples really upset me.

 

[Mark Robinson]

Problems with poorly done repairs on old cars maybe have a lot to do with the fact that the cost of having the repairs carried out properly, is in many cases likely to be more than the car is worth? If a car owner gets quoted say £2k for welding work, there is always going to be someone prepared to do a bodge job for a lot less, and I guess thats the reason there are so many death traps on the road nowadays, some of which are much more dodgy than your car.

that is somewhat understandable, but what gets me is the fact they are meant to be there to repair things properly, whereas 9/10 they dont, leaving most customers unaware, for instance take either one of my cars, they both looked incredibly clean for mk1s, but the repairs made them worth hardly anything as somebody would either have to do it properly themselves or have someone else do it. for me once my bodyshop gets going id feel better knowing id done things right as apposed to a "it looks good enough" some poor soul paid about 900 quid for the sill "doing" on the xerus. repair panels are about 30 quid, they used about 6 inches of it, so the rest went on filler, decorators caulk! (forgot to add that) and paint which was also badly done, drips all over, and labour.and on the naples the sill wasnt even lacquered

 

[Chris Stevens]

If someone gets quoted £2000 for repair work (which is almost certainly going to be bodged to some extent), but finds someone else to do the work for £1200 (more of a bodge obviously), they will almost certainly go for the £1200 job.

To get the work carried out properly to a high standard will cost maybe £4000, and is the reason why so many "classic" cars are improperly repaired.

 

[gordon stephenson]

Always makes me cringe, when a new "member" arrives saying. I have an XYZ car to restore, I have never welded before, What welder do i need.

 

[God mode restorations]

Always makes me cringe, when a new "member" arrives saying. I have an XYZ car to restore, I have never welded before, What welder do i need.

As phase 3 stick welder

 

[Chris Stevens]

Always makes me cringe, when a new "member" arrives saying. I have an XYZ car to restore, I have never welded before, What welder do i need.

The welder they need is someone with years of experience, who knows how to do the job, and doesnt charge the earth! Repairing a rotten old car is perhaps one of the most difficult welding jobs there is, and when you take into account many of those attempting this often cant weld, have no experience of car repair, and are struggling with hobby welding gear, I would guess the end results are sometimes less than perfect.

 

[malcolm]

I learned to weld on a car with a cheapish welder with a few tips from a mate who had done a bit of welding once. You have to start somewhere. On the whole new members posting on here have got halfway there as it shows they want to learn something.

Other forums are for people with the attitude that you have to be a trained professional before even thinking about picking up a welder. This forum is called 'the DIY guide' for a reason.

 

[gordon stephenson]

I quite agree with you Malcolm, Your extra bit if info is "with a few tips from a mate" I get the impression that a lot of folks think, i need to weld so i'll buy a welder. Not imagining rusty cars with thin rotten metal will be the most difficult starting point,

 

[Chris Stevens]

I learned to weld on a car with a cheapish welder with a few tips from a mate who had done a bit of welding once. You have to start somewhere. On the whole new members posting on here have got halfway there as it shows they want to learn something.

Other forums are for people with the attitude that you have to be a trained professional before even thinking about picking up a welder. This forum is called 'the DIY guide' for a reason.

Of course you need to start somewhere, just not sure a rotten old car which might be very difficult for a pro with years of experience and the right gear, is the best possible starting point?

 

[daleyd]

Of course you need to start somewhere, just not sure a rotten old car which might be very difficult for a pro with years of experience and the right gear, is the best possible starting point?

If you have a rotten car to weld though, where would you suggest starting??

(The tutorials on here and most advice I've read on here for new welders seem to suggest practicing on thicker steel first, which seems eminently sensible)

The way you talk it's like you need pro gear and years of experience before you even contemplate tackling anything.....and yet people have been sticking bits of metal together quite successfully with no more than a Clarke 150 turbo and and a dollop of enthusiasm for years

 

[Tinbasherdan]

I have seen a lot of "hobby" welders that would put a time served welder to shame with their work, I think 99% of the issue is attitude. if someone has a rotten car to weld and their attitude is just, "it'll do", then of course, no matter how capable they are, they're going to do the bare minimum to get a ticket on it and pass.

however if a complete beginner that has never picked up a welding torch in their life has the attitude of , "right, I want it done, but I want it done properly" then they are more likely to do their research, ask around for opinions on the most appropriate set to use, spend hours practicing, asking questions when they get stuck until they are at the level they consider proper to begin the actual repairs.
I have seen plenty of god awful runs by time served lads, and i've seen plenty of grade A welds done by a man in the shed. its swings and roundabouts

 

[trewjohn2001]

Problems with poorly done repairs on old cars maybe have a lot to do with the fact that the cost of having the repairs carried out properly, is in many cases likely to be more than the car is worth? If a car owner gets quoted say £2k for welding work, there is always going to be someone prepared to do a bodge job for a lot less, and I guess thats the reason there are so many death traps on the road nowadays, some of which are much more dodgy than your car.

If someone gets quoted £2000 for repair work (which is almost certainly going to be bodged to some extent), but finds someone else to do the work for £1200 (more of a bodge obviously), they will almost certainly go for the £1200 job.

To get the work carried out properly to a high standard will cost maybe £4000, and is the reason why so many "classic" cars are improperly repaired.

Thing is I don´t actually think it costs the body shop that much more time and materials to do a half decent job. I might not have expected an invisible butt weld but if your going to just patch over a heavily rusted area it doesn´t take very long just to cut out the worst parts - the metal is already thinned and looking for an excuse to be broken off. It doesn't have to be neat - even easier if your in a garage with a lift. Likewise on that floorpan the holes were drilled - someone just couldn´t be bothered or forgot to weld in the cross-member. The whole crossmember can be bought for 75 quid from Moss so its not like it was an unobtainium part that had to be hand made.