battery tray

[jroymcd]

getting ready to replace battery tray in a 59 bug . anybody got advice or tips?

[Major Woody]

On what--butt-welding? Can you be more specific?

Generally, the advice is: cut until you have good solid shiny metal. Don't remove too much. Weld slowly and in little short welds to avoid heat buildup that will warp the metal.

[jroymcd]

so dont use the entire tray unless you have to? how much weld? do you overlap or try to butt up perfect?

[Major Woody]

I avoid flange welds generally.

I would also only cut out what I had to.

The repair piece may or may not be too big. I would cut out what was rotten, leaving myself sufficient space around my welds so I could grind them and finish them off to look invisible. Cut the hole out, then offer up the patch piece from underneath and score it to the opening with an awl or other sharp object. Then cut the patch right next to the line and offer it up to the hole. You can always take off a hair more all the way around.
What you want is a very small gap all the way around which you can fill with weld. If the pieces touch, you will not have the best weld, but that depends on your skills.

Browse/search this forum for posts on MIG welding technique. A lot has been said about settings, what to do to avoid warpage, etc. Good luck, this is an easy repair in an out of the way place...perfect spot to learn.

DON'T HURRY

[jroymcd]

did it tonite came out pretty well just need to seal and caulk it
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