Question: I'm currently trying to weld a new bed floor in my '83 Jeep Scrambler. I am using a borrowed blue-point wire-feed welder that runs on 110 volts. I tacked the panel down with several small welds in the corners. I was told I now need to "stitch-weld" the panel in. How exactly do you do that? And how can I avoid distorting the panel when I finish welding it in? Thanks. I really don't want to screw this up.
Scott
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: Stitch welding is basically a long series of single tack welds or short beads depending on thickness. The reason you do this is to diminish the heat-affected zone and hopefully reduce warpage in the thin sheetmetal. Start by going around the panel edge and burn in a small tack weld about every 6 inches. Keep doing this with a crisscross pattern, welding and jumping around the panel to keep the panel from getting warm and warping as it cools. Take your time, and let the panel cool so that it is never so hot you can't touch it.
If the panel is a little thicker you can then start filling in the welds with short beads of about an inch or so. Otherwise just keep stacking the stitch welds on top of stitch welds until they form a small bead.
Question: I am in Nebraska and looking to build a "River Rat." Most people around my area use an old Jeep or Bronco with a V-8. I am trying to lean a little more to the dune-buggie look; lighter and faster. I am looking to build one from the ground up, but I'm having trouble finding a good tube frame. Could you help me out?
John
via 4wheeloffroad.com
Answer: Tube-chassis dune-buggy river rat? I'm not sure exactly what you mean by that, but here are just a handful of buggy builders that come to mind, in alphabetical order. Send me some photos when you get done.
* Avalanche Engineering, 970.884.7716, www.avalancheengineering.com
* Badlands Off Road, 765.762.2981, www.badlandsoffroad.com
* Blue Torch Fabworks, 866.RCK.CRWL, www.bluetorchfab.com
* Campbell Enterprise, 480.782.5337, www.campbellent.com
* 4 Wheeler's Supply, 800.606.6421, www.4wheelers.com
* Frankie's Off Road, 256.413.8300, www.frankies4x4.com
* Funco, 909-421-2558, www.funco-motorsports.com
* Hendrix Motorsport, 805.550.3196, www.hendrixmotorsports.com
* Meyer's Manx, 760.749.6321, www.meyersmanx.com
* Preferred Chassis, 520.975.6498, www.scorpion4x4.com
* Poison Spyder Custom, 303.777.4820, www.spydercustoms.com
* Poly Performance, 805.783.2060, www.polyperformance.com
* Raw Motorsports, 951.699.6922, www.rawmotorsports.com
* S&N Fab, 360.435.9040, www.sn-fab.com
* Screamin Seeman Off Road, 507.330.3567, www.screaminseeman.com
* Shaffer's Off Road, 775.885.9944, www.shaffersoffroad.com
* Twisted Customs, 605.923.7288, www.twistedcustoms.biz
* Wicked Sand Toys, 951.689.2457, www.wickedsandtoys.com
* X-treme Engineering, 970.493.6766, www.xtreme-engineering.com