'71 Bug Project/process question

[rogerl]

I am starting a shoestring project of revivng a '71 Bettle. I can't afford a MIG welder and a friend is willing to lend me his stick welder. I need to replace most of the bottom of the 'body' (not the pan). Using stick welding what type of sticks would be appropriate at what power settings for automotive sheet metal? It's been 30 years since I've welded and plan on doing a lot of practice before I strike an arc on the car.

[Bob]

I like your signature line!! I always wondered about that.

I'm guessing if you can't afford a MIG, this is a "looks OK and functional" car and not for show?

Can't help with the settings and sticks. I might suggest a general approach of building a sound foundation with the welded steel and finishing out with fiberglass and/or bondo.

Good Luck!
Bob
'73 Super Beetle ... looks OK and very functional.

[rogerl]

Thanks

90% of the welding will be out of sight, so as long as the weld is good, that's good. No it won't be a show car, just a fun time tooler. I'll work with the machine and various sticks to see what works best. Thanks for the input. And yes I'm still trying to catch that keeper Stripe Bass.

roger

[Franz]

If the stick machine is DC, you can do a lot of body work with carbon arc and Everdur.

[rogerl]

Great!

good news, I think the unit is DC (will know Wed for sure). Carbon Arc and Everdur will be my first sticks to practice with.

roger

[ChadRat]

My first choice would be find a cheap 110 volt mig or gas weld it. Rusted bugs are not fun and the replacement parts don't fit well. You might be better off buying a fiberglass body and making it a dune buggy.

[rogerl]

71 bug

thinking of the dune buggy route too. I still have to chop 14" out of the length of the pan. Or scrap the whole 700 bill investment in this chassis and buy a chassis and body adready done for the same cost. Tough call for me right now. I have to line the numbers up and see which is the cheapest. the dune buggy was the intended end result after a few more years on this body. but I have to do the numbers. the cost of a welder alone just about covers the new body and chassis route.

will close this thread when I will post my final path. for now sit tight and I have the ball.

roger

[boilerman]

hhhhhmmmmmm if you are thinking of welding the body as in sheet metal ......i have done it on tractor hoods ....but i think they are thicker metal.....with 6013 running dc- and or ac... and a 5/64 rod...but as far as settings go ....play play play ....

[ChadRat]

I think you would be better off cutting the pan down. Plus it would be fun. First choice would be use a plasma cutter. Next I would use a gas torch. You could do it with an abrasive wheel attach to a grinder but it would not be as fun as the first two options. With the leftover parts, you could sell or trade them for parts for the dune buggy.

[rogerl]

71 bug

if you have nice toys like plasma cutters and torches, yea anything is possible. If i had access to these toys we wouldn't be having this discusion. as this started, this is a shoestring operation. right now, unless someone is willing to lend a welder to the project, i have to save long and hard just to buy something used and we're not even talking the right stuff, just enough to get by. as all you guys and gals that weld for a living have access to all the right stuff. i have to make do and improvise with sub-standard.

you all have given valuable input, thank-you. i don't mean to be rude but the time for talk is over and i need to decide what will be the most cost effective path. there are many choices, so much homework needs to be done. i will post when the path is decided. untill then let's not waste bandwith and disk space on this. now comes the hard part given the lack of adequate equipment. how to proceed.

roger
FYI: i make $10.50/hr and most of that goest toward simply living. i syphon a couple of hours off each week to buy what i need for the project. so a used $250 welder (of any kind) takes a long time to save for and then there's replacement parts for the car and welder. this is not posted for sympathy, it's to let you understand the interdependencies and contraints the project has. i wish things were much different, but life doesn't work that way. we play the hand we are dealt and hope for the best.

i will be back, don't worry about me for now.