Project "Rocker Repair" is under way.
05-21-2013, 02:14 PM
#101
Thanks for the suggestions. And I apologize, you picked that up right away. It is NOT galvanized sheet metal I am practicing on, it is just stock sheet metal. Whew, ya, very VERY bad juju....
Also, for others who may be novice welders like me, make sure you have adequate voltage. You NEED a heavy duty extension cord if you use an extension cord. I mean BIG. I have to get a 10g x 50 foot cord for myself; I think a major problem I have experienced (self diagnosed) is the lack of the cord. The welds just DIDN'T look like the ones I'd seen on the 'net and seemed very weak.
I did get some wire from Lowes; funny, I have seen the comment about the wire from TONS of other posts I have read about the HF 90 amp welder.
I have the self darkening helmet (also HF, hehe!) but I am working with the settings to be able to see what I am doing.
Also, on a personal note I am beginning to realize just what it is I am getting myself into. Seems like one purchase just requires another;one decision leads to another. For instance, how do you seal the seams to prevent rust? Seam sealer? Do I need to find an area to do this rocker replacement (like rent a garage space) or do I try to do it at home? I just realized, for instance, the nearest 20A circuit (for the welder) is located downstairs in my home theater, hence the need for an extension cord.
Oh, and how nice it would be to have a compressor/air tool setup?
Stay tuned!
Also, for others who may be novice welders like me, make sure you have adequate voltage. You NEED a heavy duty extension cord if you use an extension cord. I mean BIG. I have to get a 10g x 50 foot cord for myself; I think a major problem I have experienced (self diagnosed) is the lack of the cord. The welds just DIDN'T look like the ones I'd seen on the 'net and seemed very weak.
I did get some wire from Lowes; funny, I have seen the comment about the wire from TONS of other posts I have read about the HF 90 amp welder.
I have the self darkening helmet (also HF, hehe!) but I am working with the settings to be able to see what I am doing.
Also, on a personal note I am beginning to realize just what it is I am getting myself into. Seems like one purchase just requires another;one decision leads to another. For instance, how do you seal the seams to prevent rust? Seam sealer? Do I need to find an area to do this rocker replacement (like rent a garage space) or do I try to do it at home? I just realized, for instance, the nearest 20A circuit (for the welder) is located downstairs in my home theater, hence the need for an extension cord.
Oh, and how nice it would be to have a compressor/air tool setup?
Stay tuned!
Sounds like this might crap all over my welding plans
05-21-2013, 02:58 PM
#102
Great job on the rockers.
05-21-2013, 05:06 PM
#103
05-21-2013, 09:59 PM
#104
NOM NOM NOM
Thread Starter
Thanks for the suggestions. And I apologize, you picked that up right away. It is NOT galvanized sheet metal I am practicing on, it is just stock sheet metal. Whew, ya, very VERY bad juju....
Also, for others who may be novice welders like me, make sure you have adequate voltage. You NEED a heavy duty extension cord if you use an extension cord. I mean BIG. I have to get a 10g x 50 foot cord for myself; I think a major problem I have experienced (self diagnosed) is the lack of the cord. The welds just DIDN'T look like the ones I'd seen on the 'net and seemed very weak.
I did get some wire from Lowes; funny, I have seen the comment about the wire from TONS of other posts I have read about the HF 90 amp welder.
I have the self darkening helmet (also HF, hehe!) but I am working with the settings to be able to see what I am doing.
Also, on a personal note I am beginning to realize just what it is I am getting myself into. Seems like one purchase just requires another;one decision leads to another. For instance, how do you seal the seams to prevent rust? Seam sealer? Do I need to find an area to do this rocker replacement (like rent a garage space) or do I try to do it at home? I just realized, for instance, the nearest 20A circuit (for the welder) is located downstairs in my home theater, hence the need for an extension cord.
Oh, and how nice it would be to have a compressor/air tool setup?
Stay tuned!
Also, for others who may be novice welders like me, make sure you have adequate voltage. You NEED a heavy duty extension cord if you use an extension cord. I mean BIG. I have to get a 10g x 50 foot cord for myself; I think a major problem I have experienced (self diagnosed) is the lack of the cord. The welds just DIDN'T look like the ones I'd seen on the 'net and seemed very weak.
I did get some wire from Lowes; funny, I have seen the comment about the wire from TONS of other posts I have read about the HF 90 amp welder.
I have the self darkening helmet (also HF, hehe!) but I am working with the settings to be able to see what I am doing.
Also, on a personal note I am beginning to realize just what it is I am getting myself into. Seems like one purchase just requires another;one decision leads to another. For instance, how do you seal the seams to prevent rust? Seam sealer? Do I need to find an area to do this rocker replacement (like rent a garage space) or do I try to do it at home? I just realized, for instance, the nearest 20A circuit (for the welder) is located downstairs in my home theater, hence the need for an extension cord.
Oh, and how nice it would be to have a compressor/air tool setup?
Stay tuned!
That's with .30 wire. Cut that time in half for .35 wire. If I'm running beads, I weld a few seconds, take a break for a few.
You will be doing 2 second welds at most.
I actually did mine out on the street in front of my house. My truck won't fit in my garage. Took about 10 hours for the first side, being overly cautious. The second side went much, much quicker once I knew what I was doing.
05-22-2013, 09:27 AM
#105
Another inquiry please ...
I hate to keep asking, but what is the procedure for getting the driver/passenger side doors off? When I was looking for parts at the "recycle yards" I looked at the doors to see if I could figure it out....No luck
05-22-2013, 01:06 PM
#106
Thanks again Skizriz. you are becoming my mentor, like it or not
I hate to keep asking, but what is the procedure for getting the driver/passenger side doors off? When I was looking for parts at the "recycle yards" I looked at the doors to see if I could figure it out....No luck
I hate to keep asking, but what is the procedure for getting the driver/passenger side doors off? When I was looking for parts at the "recycle yards" I looked at the doors to see if I could figure it out....No luck
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chinaclipper (05-22-2013)
05-22-2013, 01:43 PM
#107
Do you mean....
From my experience it's a real pita. You have to unplug every plug in the door and pull them all out the little hole there's no plug on the inside of the truck. That I could find at least. Then just unbolt the hinges. (mark where they were originally so it'll be easier to get them lined up to operate correctly.)
What about the "door over-open" thing? (I don't know its real name) How do I remove that?
Thanks
05-22-2013, 07:43 PM
#108
NOM NOM NOM
Thread Starter
Just like Superduty said. Unplug everything, and pull it all out through the rubber boot.
If I remember correctly, I popped the boot loose, and left it in place on the wires, and slid everything out. Some of the plugs are more of a PITA to get to than the others.
TAKE PLENTY OF PICTURES OF THE WIRING before you unplug anything, or unhook anything. You WILL forget where everything goes, and how it is routed. The pictures will be a big help when it comes time to put everything back together.
Should be a T30(?) torx bit to remove the "door over-open" thing. (I like that name, it works.) I knew exactly what you were talking about.
Remove it from the door itself, not the door jamb.
If I remember correctly, I popped the boot loose, and left it in place on the wires, and slid everything out. Some of the plugs are more of a PITA to get to than the others.
TAKE PLENTY OF PICTURES OF THE WIRING before you unplug anything, or unhook anything. You WILL forget where everything goes, and how it is routed.
The pictures will be a big help when it comes time to put everything back together.Should be a T30(?) torx bit to remove the "door over-open" thing. (I like that name, it works.) I knew exactly what you were talking about.
Remove it from the door itself, not the door jamb.
The following users liked this post:
chinaclipper (05-23-2013)
05-22-2013, 07:52 PM
#109
NOM NOM NOM
Thread Starter
Here's a picture of the wiring. Here's what you are up against.
In this picture, you can see the hinges, the "door over-open" thing, and the wires coming out of the jamb with the rubber boot on them.
I can see that I was correct above in saying that I popped the rubber boot out of the door along with the wires, instead of pulling the wires through the boot.
You can see the boot still in place on the wires in the picture.
I also learned that putting the window down makes it easier for somebody to lift the door while you take the hinge bolts out. It's heavy, and reaching in through the window to grab it worked out much better.
In this picture, you can see the hinges, the "door over-open" thing, and the wires coming out of the jamb with the rubber boot on them.
I can see that I was correct above in saying that I popped the rubber boot out of the door along with the wires, instead of pulling the wires through the boot.
You can see the boot still in place on the wires in the picture.
I also learned that putting the window down makes it easier for somebody to lift the door while you take the hinge bolts out. It's heavy, and reaching in through the window to grab it worked out much better.
Last edited by skizriz; 05-22-2013 at 07:55 PM.
05-23-2013, 11:09 PM
#110
Thanks again!
I think I got that part down. I will take pics and lower the window before I unplug things.
I have been practicing my spot welds, and they aren't gettin' better with my handy dandy Eastwood tool for spot welds.
In fact, I do better with out the tool.
I MAY be looking at their 135 MIG welder on a trade-in for the HF 90A.
Oh well, lots of time. I told my wife this was one of my summer projects!
I have been practicing my spot welds, and they aren't gettin' better with my handy dandy Eastwood tool for spot welds.
In fact, I do better with out the tool.
I MAY be looking at their 135 MIG welder on a trade-in for the HF 90A.
Oh well, lots of time. I told my wife this was one of my summer projects!