I appreciate the concern haha. I did bevel the ends and also left a gap. Im pretty new to welding but i read up on it and watched a lot of videos before attempting. How can u tell machine is too cold?
It is if i replaced the spindles. I didnt because i didnt want to replace tie rod. I’m using the stock 36 spindles. I had to grind the top of the spindle a bit for the brakes to be able to attach, but it wasn’t too bad
The weld shouldn’t be blobby on top of the joint. It should have melted in more. Turning the heat up will help cure that. And, it shouldn’t be full of little bubbles. Those show contamination that was trying to cook out, but didn’t. Cleaning the metal before welding will cure that.
Ah i assumed they were the stock ones. They’re whatever the truck had when i bought it. Maybe someone replaced them when they put the disc brakes on. I think the drums look much better tho. I got some aluminum buick drums i want to machine for fitting later on
When your weld is all boogered up like in your picture. If your heat, speed and motion are right, you should be able to weld halfway around that joint without all the starts and stops, and you'll have a uniform weld that you don't need to grind. Unless you plan on chroming, that is. Welding takes practice, practice, practice.
Look above a few posts and heed Alan’s advice on the 3 P’s. I’ll add another P, and that is position. Put the object to weld where you can support yourself and make a pass comfortably.
Cut the old crossmember off and installed the new crossmember. I don’t know about the penetration here. I hit it a bunch to see if is stable and lifted the whole truck from crossmember to check and seems good but maybe i will need to redo it
I’d go back to @alanp561 ’s suggestion of practicing. I won’t critique your welds, but you really need to start on some scrap pieces and get good at them. You can start with just a flat piece, run a bead, look at the backside (google it) and you’ll know what you should be seeing. Good luck!
Do not be afraid to take some local adult education classes on welding. Most public schools offer them or get to know a professional welder and get them to teach you.
That won’t hold together in use. Looks like a flux core weld. Or a gas shielded with the gas turned off. You really need to practice more. Parts like crossmembers are something your life will depend on.
Great project I love the 35-36 Pickups as they have a lot more head room than the years prior to them
The Jalopy Journal
