Welder needed in North Dallas area
07-16-2012, 04:23 PM
#1
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Welder needed in North Dallas area
Does anyone in the North Dallas area know of a good welder who can come to my house and do some tig welding on my C3 frame?
07-18-2012, 12:12 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
My lower control arm mounting bracket is cracked and broken away from the crossmember. I read as many threads as I could find on cars with the same issue (seems fairly common, unfortunately) and found several that had been repaired by mig welding then later experienced new cracks in the metal along side the new welds (the welds held fine, but the cracks formed in steel of the crossmember). The general consensus was that excess heat from the mig welding had weakened the surrounding steel, and that tig welding would have been a better option.
Here is my damage:
Thank you,
Bob and I exchanged emails, but unfortunately he does not tig weld.
I did find someone locally who may be able to do it. He is coming this evening to take a look.
Here is my damage:
Thank you,
Bob and I exchanged emails, but unfortunately he does not tig weld.
I did find someone locally who may be able to do it. He is coming this evening to take a look.
07-18-2012, 02:43 PM
#8
Race Director
I would look for another bracket. There must be heavy metal fatigue in that one from all the bending.
Edit: It's available new for $90 (this is from ZIP, I'd think most of the vendors have them):
Edit: It's available new for $90 (this is from ZIP, I'd think most of the vendors have them):
Last edited by zwede; 07-18-2012 at 02:46 PM.
07-18-2012, 02:50 PM
#9
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
07-18-2012, 05:07 PM
#11
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
07-18-2012, 08:35 PM
#13
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
07-18-2012, 08:47 PM
#14
Melting Slicks
you may want to add some gussets on both sides of the upper bracket to frame & crossmember
i had to do that very same repair several years ago after hitting a curb, using the same brackets from zip.
i had to do that very same repair several years ago after hitting a curb, using the same brackets from zip.
07-19-2012, 09:32 AM
#15
Melting Slicks
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Cripes, I wonder why my frame and the 10's of thousands of C3 frames wire welded by original equipment manufacturer A. O Smith Co. have not fallen apart from a weakened heat-affected-zone after all these decades? 
I'm anxious to read what repair procedure your AWS certified welder recommends.
The general consensus was that excess heat from the mig welding had weakened the surrounding steel, and that tig welding would have been a better option.
I'm anxious to read what repair procedure your AWS certified welder recommends.
07-20-2012, 10:45 AM
#16
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Cripes, I wonder why my frame and the 10's of thousands of C3 frames wire welded by original equipment manufacturer A. O Smith Co. have not fallen apart from a weakened heat-affected-zone after all these decades?
I'm anxious to read what repair procedure your AWS certified welder recommends.
I'm anxious to read what repair procedure your AWS certified welder recommends.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-g...-fix-this.html
07-20-2012, 11:12 AM
#17
Melting Slicks
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Your link to that other CF thread didn't result in a TIG weld by the bloke down under. I wonder why? Perhaps because no one in his neck of the words had a TIG welder (or the skill to use it) or, which I believe to be true, no one in their right mind would recommend TIG welding on that repair.
In fact, only one CF member, Indiancreek, suggested it be TIG welded. I wonder what his AWS credentials are?
07-20-2012, 12:11 PM
#18
Le Mans Master
Thread Starter
Well, what's the verdict? TIG or MIG or superglue?
Your link to that other CF thread didn't result in a TIG weld by the bloke down under. I wonder why? Perhaps because no one in his neck of the words had a TIG welder (or the skill to use it) or, which I believe to be true, no one in their right mind would recommend TIG welding on that repair. In fact, only one CF member, Indiancreek, suggested it be TIG welded. I wonder what his AWS credentials are?
Your link to that other CF thread didn't result in a TIG weld by the bloke down under. I wonder why? Perhaps because no one in his neck of the words had a TIG welder (or the skill to use it) or, which I believe to be true, no one in their right mind would recommend TIG welding on that repair.
In fact, only one CF member, Indiancreek, suggested it be TIG welded. I wonder what his AWS credentials are?There were other threads with similar damage where Tig welding was recommended, I just don't have time to search for them for you again. I have also consulted with several other welders who I trust implicitly (I don't know his credentials, but he has done work for me in the past and I'm sure it would even impress you), and they said that TIG welding would be the strongest/best option as well.
You seem to have a different opinion but instead of expressing it like an adult you have chosen a more condescending tone. If you have some constructive advice I would be happy to hear it. I just want my car repaired correctly so this does not happen again. I don't have the time, or desire to come here and list every reference I consulted to form my opinion on what type of welding would be best to fix my damage.
Thanks
07-21-2012, 08:49 AM
#19
Melting Slicks
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kevin_73 View Post
I did find someone locally who may be able to do it. He is coming this evening to take a look.
Well, what's the verdict? TIG or MIG or superglue? It's been a few days. Is your local welder going to lay on his back and do overhead TIG welds on your frame/suspension?
Belligerent? No way, I'm simply curious. And I'm sure all the other folks who have this type of frame damage (remember you said it is a common occurrence) would dearly love some pics of the TIG welded repairs before they get slathered with black paint to cover up the evidence of that never-to-be-mistaken stack of dimes weld bead typical with TIG welding. Oops, I'm getting ahead of myself.
I'm also curious how your welder plans to get all those nooks and crannies spotlessly clean before he strikes his first arc? Because, and I'm sure you know this already with all your investigation, that unlike stick and Mig welding, TIG welding won't tolerate 4 decades of oil, grease and rust. I also wonder what filler rod he'll choose to match the metallurgy of the Vette's frame? So many questions... Can't wait for the results.
Originally Posted by Kevin_73 View Post
I did find someone locally who may be able to do it. He is coming this evening to take a look.
Well, what's the verdict? TIG or MIG or superglue? It's been a few days. Is your local welder going to lay on his back and do overhead TIG welds on your frame/suspension?
Belligerent? No way, I'm simply curious. And I'm sure all the other folks who have this type of frame damage (remember you said it is a common occurrence) would dearly love some pics of the TIG welded repairs before they get slathered with black paint to cover up the evidence of that never-to-be-mistaken stack of dimes weld bead typical with TIG welding. Oops, I'm getting ahead of myself.
I'm also curious how your welder plans to get all those nooks and crannies spotlessly clean before he strikes his first arc? Because, and I'm sure you know this already with all your investigation, that unlike stick and Mig welding, TIG welding won't tolerate 4 decades of oil, grease and rust. I also wonder what filler rod he'll choose to match the metallurgy of the Vette's frame? So many questions... Can't wait for the results.
07-21-2012, 01:03 PM
#20
Drifting
Enough already.
Both of you are correct. Tig is always prefered over mig, when it is feasible. In this case it is not. I have done this repair so many times I can't remember them all. Although the strength of the weld is important you are missing the big picture. From the factory these frames are poorly designed and the welds are crap. Speedreed has the correct repair. Weld it together and add gussets.
Mike
Both of you are correct. Tig is always prefered over mig, when it is feasible. In this case it is not. I have done this repair so many times I can't remember them all. Although the strength of the weld is important you are missing the big picture. From the factory these frames are poorly designed and the welds are crap. Speedreed has the correct repair. Weld it together and add gussets.
Mike