I know it stiffens up the chassis but how does work? i dont understand it lol.. is there any pro`s con`s to having it done?
Pros - it stiffens up the chasis and reduces flex
Cons - you are effectively hardening crumple zones, so in the event of a crash they\'ll be more force heading the driver/passengers way or something else might give first.
Just look at the rally cars!!! how much of a hammering do they get...... if you did that with a car straight out of the showroom it would fall apart within the first few staiges!!
Jono
I completely agree with Jono on that one. Some years ago I had to re-weld the shock absorber turrets on a very elderly rally car after the spot welds all broke away!
On my subsequent cars I learnt to seam weld them first. I never felt the need to seam weld the whole shell though, but that depends on how hard you are going to use it. Gravel stages are very hard on the shell.
One tip I picked up - welds don\'t flex. It is often recommended that the welds are done an inch at a time with small breaks between them. That way long seams will not crack.
Keith
so if i did my engine bay, that would help a great deal?
Quote from: kbarehamOne tip I picked up - welds don\'t flex. It is often recommended that the welds are done an inch at a time with small breaks between them. That way long seams will not crack.
Keith
I\'ve heard of people doing this but also putting rivets in between the welds for extra rigidity. SUPER STIFF
My own view is that on a daily road car, this probably doesn\'t help a great deal. Particularly as it is quite time consuming, and therefore can be costly unless you do it yourself. I would suggest that some careful bracing with appropriate brackets and bars might give a better return.
On a competition car, or trackday weapon, I would consider welding in the area around the suspension pick up points.
Keith
Very interested now! Has anyone one here seam welded their car?
If so - have you noticed much of a difference?
a rivet and a weld in the same place sounds like the prime receipe for corrosion...which will be concetrated...
I wouldnt even consider it on a road or track car.....race cars maybe.....its just plain silly to have it on a road car
A number of years ago we seam welded an Xr2 Made it RWD and fitted a Red top 16v vauxhall motor, that was stiff, you could pick the back week up off the floor realy easy.
i would say to get all the Sound deadening, Sealer and Stone chip off it took the Most time (about Two weeks on and off)
we also filled all the box sections with Expanding Foam :yes don\'t know if it made any diffrence but it was fun. LOL
but second time out Rolled it, so it was alot of work for little Fun...... But it was worth it for the Donuts in the carpark at work ;)