Welding...
Looks like you're not getting penetration ... i.e wire feed speed, heat, tip.
Looks like I rushed because it was dinner time. Luckily, a couple years ago I got a grinder for Christmas.
Nominally better this morning.
"Make the noise..."
Make the saddle snap on...
looking more passably like
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Turn the heat up. Everything is laying on top.
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I was gonna say it looks a little like not enough gas shrouding as well.
Nice fabrication Ed!
Yeah. Flux core gonna spatter. I've been judicious with the heat setting because I'm used to the 220 AC stick welder, which blows holes in anything thinner than Abrams tank armor plate. This thing ain't like that. Cranked it up to "D" and made everything cherry red and melty.
Luckily, I got a grinder for Christmas (and Bondo).
Here's where we're at now.
Looking good Ed. You are now a Hole eman.
Great job Ed! Did you happen to weigh the piece before and after the holes?
When I was drilling the hardened gears for my trans I had to buy carbide drill bits (HSS and even cobalt would barely make a mark), which when you break a bit (2-1/8" at $22 each and 1- 1/4" at over $50) in the middle of a set up it got pretty frustrating. I can't say enough about rotary tables, though- pretty neat equipment!
I've not weighed the stuff but I'm pretty good at estimating weight, and I estimate the big tubular piece (including the through bolts) is about 6-7 pounds. I'll look around for a fish scale to weigh it. The modified cross brace is about 6-7 ounces heavier than stock, and that saddle is a few ounces. The "Swiss Cheese" inner bracing is ridiculously light. Maybe 2 pounds, 3 tops.
I estimate the whole aluminizing-and-details project will total under 50. Maybe under 40. Running Vintage 190s instead of steelies should more than make up for the extra weight.
btw your car is awesome. I might copy the drilled wiper arms. Love the hard tonneau.
I love seeing what other people are doing because I love the details, sometimes it makes me laugh at myself. For example, I built a big 3/16" thick steel structure with welded cross members to support my front bumper, it probably weighs 25lbs. then I built a steel tube frame that hung off of it to support the battery, it probably weighs 3 or 4 lbs, total 29 lbs. Then I built a 16 ga sheet metal tray for the battery, probably 1 lb. then I punched and drilled a bunch of lightening holes in the sheet metal tray, probably saved 5 grams! BUT!... it looked cool! I think I'll add a second battery and drill out my wiper blades!
Ah, Chris, a few more pounds up around the front bumper of a Speedster will do it no harm, and might do it some good. It's out around that rear bumper that you want to be judicious with the 3/16-inch plate.
vs:
Moving on. Rear axles, spacers, calipers, etc. I've got to get this car rolling so my neighbor can use the lift this weekend.
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Nice touch!
I can’t wait to see this car in the flesh, Ed.