Seam welding of bodyshells was very common in period - particularly for cars
used in off-track racing. As long as you allow the welds to air-cool, they
won't harden the metal to any great degree. I did this on a Mini Cooper,
and on a Midget, in the body tub areas of both cars, but as I was repairing
the bodyshells of both cars extensively anyway, it wasn't a whole lot more work!
I'd definitely seam weld the suspension pickup areas, any sub-frames, spring
pans, etc, and consider double-skinning areas that require high strength.
Brian
At 02:00 PM 2/16/99 -0500, you wrote:
>Hello,
>
>I am a relatively new subscriber to this list as well as a complete novice
to racing - vintage or any other form. All your discussions have been very
helpful to me.
>
>Main Bottom Line Question:
>Should I weld up all the panel joints in my Unibody type car to strengthen
the "frame" of my car?
>
>Background:
>I am building a 1960 Mk2 3.8L Jaguar sedan to race with CVAR in Texas.
>
>This car was the first Unibody Jaguar built (granted in it's earlier Mk1
form). There is no massive steal frame - just the body comprised of many
panels welded together to form structural boxes. Most of the welds appear
to be spot welds as the edges of the panels are not welded.
>
>I plan to build a body rotator ( rotisserie ) so I will not be attempting
to MIG weld upside down. It seems to me a welded bead down a seem would
have to hold better than spot welds.
>
>My concerns are:
>1) Will the act of welding on the panels joints actually weaken the body
due to changes in the strength of the metal? ( loss of temper seems to be
too aggressive a term for sheet metal but that is the concept I am
attempting to describe here)
>
>2) Has anyone out done this before?
>
>3) And as it seems I need to ask with all discussions of Vintage racing
.... Is this allowed?
>Rather know now than later.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jeff Warner
>112 Coventry Lane
>San Antonio TX, 78209
>
>1960 Mk2,
>3.8L,
>All synchromesh 4 speed transmission,
>Triple Webers carbs.
>
!
>!
>!
>
>
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