Thread: A well used 80''called Klonk

Steve its been a whilst since I visited Klonks thread.You are working wonders,well done.
I'm sure you will find motivation once the weather warms and the job situation improves.
GOODLUCK
Andrew

Hi Steve,
I'm impressed with your tailgate and motivated to have a go at mine now. I also have tears in each corner and busted spot welds.
When you welded it back together, did you weld ALL along the frame to join it to the gate panel? Is this how people overcome the spot weld issue?
Also, did you reinforce the corners with Ali angle at all?
Keen, to heard your tips on this.
Thinking that I need a new welder and may need to spend some time developing a careful touch on a MIG.
Cheers,
Phillip

Originally Posted by Mustlust

Thinking that I need a new welder and may need to spend some time developing a careful touch on a MIG.
Cheers,
Phillip

Phillip I wouldn't recommend a MIG for those sort of repairs. Use an oxy or a TIG for the small fiddly repairs.

Is it worthwhile to make a new tailgate? That is what I shall do for mine and I will probably glue it using Sikaflex and make some dummy spot-weld marks,

Cheers Charlie

Thx Charlie,
I'm gradually getting a handle on the different welding types and have concluded that for this job I am better sourcing a tig welder that has relevant experience.
Looking at the tailgate, I think that once the tears are welded, sikaflex will bond well enough where the spot welds ave failed.
Good luck with yours.
P

This may be of use

I made a tailgate , its held together with liquid nails mostly

The trick is to rub some sandpaper on the ally and wipe off with metho , this gives a rough finish for the liquid nails to adhere to .

I made the corner sections using a home made folder and dies.

The 3 rope tags are held on with counter sunk rivets , I made new tags .

Sorry guys, Im slipping.

Philip
Yes like Charlie said, I use oxy to weld with, the English people refer to this type of welding as puddling aluiminium, describes it to a tee. It can be frustrating sometimes.
I drilled the spotwelds with a flat ground drill bit the same size as the spotwelds, it only cuts one layer at a time so dont drill right through. Every thing was straightened and repaired. I welded the corners of the tailgate that were just folded but didnt put anything else in there. Then made the 90 deg plates that go to join the frame in the corners, these were pop rivited in as I glued the frame into the tailgate.
I used sikaflex 525 this the body adhesive used on buses,trucks etc. Available at most hardware shops, keep it warm when using, its hard to push out of the tube otherwise.
The dummy spotwelds were made using a pin punch with the corners rounded off and using a steel bar dolly behind.
There's roughly 20 hrs work, but I have retained the character and history of this important work surface and may or may not have anything to do with the memory's of land rovers and girlfriends of past. Ah thats why it took so long to do.

Series 1 buff
I have glued the gunnel rubber around our 15ft boat with no more nails,4 years ago, despite numerous attempts at knocking the jetty's over I've not succeeded in loosening the rubber.

Cheers Steve

Forgot,

Have been working on the drivers side inner guard, Made up a cover around the steering box.

Have you considered spot welding it again alongside the old spot welds.
There are some pretty reasonably priced spot welding machines available on eBay and the like nowadays. Obviously not as cheap as sikaflex or the likes, but still ok prices.


Cheers, Mick.

Originally Posted by Mustlust

Thx Charlie,
I'm gradually getting a handle on the different welding types and have concluded that for this job I am better sourcing a tig welder that has relevant experience.
Looking at the tailgate, I think that once the tears are welded, sikaflex will bond well enough where the spot welds ave failed.
Good luck with yours.
P