Need some help on fixing my car

Automotive
#1

Hey fellow makers, I’m in the middle of trying to fix my car which sadly has shoehorned my other projects aside. I had originally wrecked the front end and was thinking I was gonna be scrapping the car but I got super lucky on craigslist. I scored a parts car for $500 that had pretty much every part I need. So here’s where I need help.

I got the front end mostly taken apart, but I’m not sure how to remove the radiator support. Thinking I may have to cut it off both and weld it. or order a new one which is cheap and just weld that one in its place. Is that correct? or am I missing something obvious? If so, I’m probably gonna be stuck waiting for a welding class and a chance to get the vehicle up to the makerspace.

Pictures for reference http://imgur.com/a/hBeRS

#2

Yep. The same thing happened to me in a '99 Corolla. I walked into a salvage yard w/ a battery powered reciprocating saw, cut the radiator support off another one, and welded it on. Just drill through the spot welds and carefully pry off the parts you don’t need (from each). There are special spot-weld removers, but I just used a brad-point DeWalt bit. I used the parts that bolt on for a jig. Depending on your car you might want to weld on some braces before cutting off your rad support.

1 Like
#3

Do we have any of those tools at the space?

#4

The only brad point bits we may have at the space would be in wood shop. Not intended for use on metal. But the normal bits in machine shop should workd to drill out the spot welds. Though you might need to center punch the weld first to keep the bit from wandering. Should be a center punch in machine shop as well.

#5

Brads will work better. Buy some.

#6

Auto center punch is your friend. I don’t remember if northern carries the spot drills locally. You can order them through Eastwood as well as many other online entities.

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#7

So, Y’all are saying, use brad point bits to break where its spot welded, remove the old support, take a welding class, then weld in the new one?

That simple? Or am I still gonna need a reciprocating saw to cut it out as earlier stated?

#8

You can use the spot welder. I don’t believe it requires a class.

1 Like
#9

[quote=“Tyler_Roton, post:7, topic:10411”]
am I still gonna need a reciprocating saw
[/quote]I just used the recip saw to get the new rad support off the donor car. It was easier to cut the front of the car off than to try to drill out the spot welds in the junk yard.

I doubt our spot welder will get to the places you need. I rosette welded mine into place.

1 Like
#10

I think everyone means pilot point bits not Brad point.

#11

You’re right, sorry. Sloppy language.

#12

You can probably hang around the metal shop and trade beer for some quick welding work.

5 Likes
#13

Just remember “weld first, then beer”…

2 Likes
#14

unless you’re drinking this type of beer or similar:

Arabic Bud.jpg1200×1600 368 KB

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#15

here is a spot well removal drill bit (example) from Eastwood:

http://search.eastwood.com/auto/Spot%20Weld%20Remover

&

http://www.eastwood.com/welders/spot-weld-cutters.html

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#16

Harbor Freight has spot weld cutters that work reasonably well. For $5 you can’t go wrong, may as well get a couple of them. Use a sharp center punch to get a good divot in the center of the spot weld, and cut through just the top layer of sheet metal, then use a small pry bar or wedge to separate the panels. You can then sand/grind down the spot welds so that the new panel sits flush for welding.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-8-eighth-inch-double-sided-rotary-spot-weld-cutter-95343.html

1 Like
#17

Well, how are you supposed to get the empties to weld together if you do it in that order? :smiling_imp:

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#18

Gotta go foil, brah.

2 Likes
#19

I thought in aluminum tig you were also supposed to clean the aluminum & filler with alcohol.

#20

You’ve got it all wrong. You drink the alcohol and use acetone to clean your metals! :slight_smile: :slight_smile:

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