Where to join panel weld on short sill?

[waltraud]

My short sill (front end of lower rear wheel arch) has holes where it joins and is spot welded to the out sill edge so i'm thinking of cutting out as little as is needed and welding in a new panel. thing is,. I don't have a joddler and was wondring if its acceptable or possible to weld a joint along the indentation where the new repair panel meets the upper part of the orignal. I've added a pic from here of another similar job although i think i'd be lucky to get away with just having to but weld a panel like this. I've only ever bodged joints between new arches or sliding door bottom panels with a few spot welds and fibre glass paste...yes I know....but i'd like to do it properly and to last if anyone can help. thanks. Pic of my van just for the sake of it!

[Plasticman]

Picky ??
mike

[waltraud]

Thanks Mike, i've tried to aupload attachment pic but get message saying the board attachment quota has been reached! I was thiking that perhaps it's ok to fit a new lower pody panel onto the upper one- be it sliding door or lower sill etc by punching some holes along the line of the body 'indentation' about 2/3 rds of the way down the side of the van and welding the new panel so that it sits into the 'V' shaped (with a flattend bottom) section? Maybe i just need to work out another way to post pics!

[Plasticman]

Well you could do that, was you like thinking of leaving the old panal in place? and what were you planning on doing with the sides?
mike
use photobucket or such

[waltraud]

http://s1104.photobucket.com/albums/h328/waltraud0483/


this is not my pic but gives an idea of the area I need to fix, if i but this whole lowr short sill for OS am thinking of drilling out spot welds on lower panel where it meets the sill and then cutting a section out a bit like on this photo so that i don't have to join the new panel on either edge as I can't really work out how to do this without cutting out the whole arch?

[devoncamperman]

I think i understand what you mean, can you not drill some holes in the existing panel after cutting the bad bit out then weld in straight bits of metal creating a overlap for the new cut panel to rest on. With this tight up against the flanges you could butt weld it in then grind it down flat. This way there is less risk of blowing holes in it?

I tried to upload photos and got the same message, started taking my van to bits and was also looking for a bit of support how it should go together but without supplying pictures it is hard to explain.

[waltraud]

Thanks Devon, good plan, have done that before and makes more sense that 40 quid on a joddler. Have just set up a photobucket account and must say its pretty easy. Once you upload pics from your pc's memory it gives you a code which you just cut and paste into the section of the post that says URl or IMG it should be that easy! He says after a few tries!

[Plasticman]

Hi , yes by all means do as your suggesting, fit a bit behind is a good idea as the mig can blow holes easy on a butt join,especially with pattern panels and their lack of thickness
joddler not that much use in a tight area like that,
mike

[waltraud]

One last question, got to replace lower sliding door outer and a bit of inner, unless I make joint at V line about 12" up would this be a joddler job or best joined at a 'seam'? Cheers

[Plasticman]

With the slider, if youve bought a bottom outer repair bit Im happy to cut if needed to weld on the seam , how to describe er, make the weld on the first flat bit as it goes into the reccess of the seam . drill some holes in the outer bit and spot through.if you cut it and joddle it youre making work for yourself in my opinion
mike

[waltraud]

Cheers Mike, that makes sense, so if i essentially spot weld through a series of holes on the new outer panel on the first , lower 'flat bit' of the flattened V area does the join line where the new metal meets the old need to have a seam weld or will close enough together spots be enough? thanks a lot, your expertise and knowledge is priceless for this soet of thing and likely makes the difference between a slight bodge and a decent job!

[Plasticman]

spots/tacks every 3/4" or so will be fine
mike