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Re: I'm in the Garage! YEAH!
HomeBrew #562116 May 13th 2012 11:45 am
Joined: Aug 2001
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Maniac
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Nice!


Windows- they're what make a van worth owning!
Re: I'm in the Garage! YEAH!
HomeBrew #565617 May 30th 2012 4:59 pm
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You are using the wrong welding equipment for the job, if you're going to weld thin body panels you should tig weld them. I understand tig welding equipment is expensive and tig welding is time consuming but the results are worth every hour and every penny.

Re: I'm in the Garage! YEAH!
HomeBrew #565622 May 30th 2012 5:05 pm
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Ive seen a lot of versatility and a lot of great things done with a good MIG setup...


** Southeast Van Council **
" The person who says it can not be done, must not interrupt the person who is doing it." ~ Chinese Proverb.

- '03 Chevy Astro AWD
- '84 Dodge Prospector
NEEDS: Side gullwing...
[Linked Image]
Re: I'm in the Garage! YEAH!
Awbartley #565631 May 30th 2012 5:38 pm
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Of course, even the little harbor freight flux welders one can do well. And obviously one can weld thin body panels using mig, but it's practical to use tig. The lack of a tig welder is one reason why I have been hesitant of repairing the body panels and floor pan on my van.

Last edited by RamVan2500; May 30th 2012 5:38 pm.
Re: I'm in the Garage! YEAH!
HomeBrew #566016 June 01st 2012 5:09 pm
Joined: Mar 2007
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Zap Zap.... rinse and repeat.

Someday I'll learn to tig, If anyone they wants to sell one at a sick price PM me. Until then I'll keep Mig welding....seems to be getting the job done so far lol

Cleaned the garage after the motor swap so I have room to work again. I got more sanding done the last few days. Plan to start hitting it harder again. few hours every night that I can manage to squeeze out.

Zap Zap - wrap up the window removal. Then the last 2 rocker panels (on the driver side). then flip hindges on the front door....etc.

Got to chop chop some floor out, I did lots of messuring and decided to do the mustang 2 front end. YEAH IFS! The trans pan sits about 4" below lowest body panel, so I'm going to have to raise up the drive train just a smidge in order to totally lay it out on bags. It's cool though, gives me a chance to install a skid plate and stuff. Now that the engine and drive line is out, its going to be much easier to work on. Ripped out the fuel tank too, thats in the way. Need to find a good location for a fuel cell.


Is slow progress, but progress....








.-=[NGV]=-.

Re: I'm in the Garage! YEAH!
HomeBrew #568233 June 13th 2012 12:28 pm
Joined: Mar 2007
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That could have gone better....

I spent 4 hours prepping and measuring the last window panel and surface for replacement. Then I spent 9 hours test fitting, modifying clamps, reinforcing the wall, jacked up the opposite side of the van and deflated the tires on the install side to tilt the van more parallel to the garage wall, ect. Everything I could to make the install go smoothly. This is the last panel and I can’t F it up... everything lined up nice. Only thing I was lacking was another set of hands to apply and tighten clamps while I held the panel in place. I'm stubborn and decided to attempt it anyway.

[Linked Image]


While looking up at the long lateral clamps above my head one came loose and cracked me in the face. (after that I welded a cross bar to keep them togeather) There was no blood so I kept working. Had a black eye the following day - but that’s not the worst part.

At one point while trying to hold the panel with one hand (its 44"x21.5") and apply / tighten clamps with the other, the panel slipped and I pushed it back into place. What I didn’t realize until about the time the glue was set up and ready to unclamp is (work time from mixing to cure is 40-50 minutes). When I pushed the panel up, I overlapped it with the existing panel next to it by about 1/16th of an inch. Creating a not totally flat panel :-( DOH!

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]


To make matters worse, I couldn’t locate my blowtorch. How does one loose a blow torch?!?!?! with no heat, I couldn’t even remove the panel before it fully cured (4-5 hours) and homeDeblow had already closed.

Will have to reprep, refit, and retry.

Removing the panel was a bit tricky. First I cut out the middle section of the panel to reduce the amount of metal acting as a heat sink and make prying easier.


[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

I started at one corner and applied heat via a torch running MAP gas, and worked the panel off by prying with a flat bar. That worked pretty well.


[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]



Then I heated the glue with a torch running propane and used a scrapper to remove most of the glue, then hit it with a DA to remove any leftover residue….. OK -Back where I started…

[Linked Image]



I obtained more adhesive last night and my brother came over to help install…..while cutting the new panel my Nibbler broke. The shaft inside it sheared off. …..Really?! Just can’t win. Going to attempt it again on Thursday…..


.-=[NGV]=-.

Re: I'm in the Garage! YEAH!
HomeBrew #568255 June 13th 2012 2:06 pm
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Everythings lookin good man, too bad about the troubles with your windows. Glad to see you closin em up though!


2003 Grand Caravan

Member Vanatics Van Club-Spfld, IL
Member Florida Van Council
Member Central Florida Vans,-Orlando, FL

[Linked Image]

Re: I'm in the Garage! YEAH!
HomeBrew #568266 June 13th 2012 3:07 pm
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the METAL WORK look's great!!!! keep the pics comming.

Last edited by LEANMACHINE; June 13th 2012 3:08 pm.

[Linked Image]
(IT'S NOT A REAL VAN,UNLESS IT IS A PROSTREET VAN)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Re: I'm in the Garage! YEAH!
HomeBrew #568272 June 13th 2012 3:28 pm
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 7,662
Likes: 2
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carpal tunnel
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It kinda worries me that that panel came back off that easy.

Still not 100 percent sold on gluing panels in place.

As long as you use a solid wire (gas).MIG welds will work fine.

.....Wookee



Its a "Van Thing"
A life style you have to LIVE to understand!

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