Ram Body work
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Legend
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX
Well after a couple days in Austin for work, and an extra day changing the clutch on my Yota in hotel parking lot.....got back home and did a little buffing on the Ram today. (cab fare is way too expensive...)
Driver side in progress:
Reinstalled tailgate:
Driver side in progress:
Reinstalled tailgate:
Banned
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
the best place would be between the two body lines, where the facory trim usualy is. this gives you a flat area to block out and make a nice job. does your replacement panel wrap around under the tail lights? if it does i would drill the tack welds off the factory panel and spot weld in the new one. take your time welding in the panel it will warp very easy. a half inch of over lap should be lots.
The last thing you want is a lap joint on a replacement panel, that is just asking for water intrusion.
Start with a lap joint of an inch or so and screw it together with several self tappers. Then take your cut off wheel and cut a line between the screws, peeling back the spare metal as you go. Now take your MIG welder and tack the panels together as you hold them in line with a screwdriver. Now remove another screw and cut some more and repeat the process. Once you are tacked all the way across you can come back and weld the seam shut BEING EXTREMELY CAREFUL ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF HEAT YOU ARE PUTTING INTO THE METAL. Warps are a PITA.
This way you have a nice butt joint and NOBODY will ever know its there once you grind it smooth.
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Legend
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX
Thanks guys. When I get this done, there is no way I will be parking in a Wal Mart parking lot!
Being old...I am starting on the part I can reach when standing. Then will use a stool to get the lower part. I am taking it slow and easy, sanding lightly. After buffing, I have been able to see some slight uneveness, so lightly sandin those spots with 2000 grit and buffing again. Good thing I am not charging me by the hour!
Being old...I am starting on the part I can reach when standing. Then will use a stool to get the lower part. I am taking it slow and easy, sanding lightly. After buffing, I have been able to see some slight uneveness, so lightly sandin those spots with 2000 grit and buffing again. Good thing I am not charging me by the hour!
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Legend
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,259
Likes: 4
From: Austin, TX
While my Yota was down in a hotel parking lot in Austin (200 miles south of home) I was calling my youngest son to get him to go by my house (200 miles NORTH of home) to get my car hauler to come get me. He decided to use his trailer instead, but then broke his ankle that morning! I said something to him about filing on his homeowners insurance, and he said somemthing about MY insurance! This left me no choice but to do the work in the hotel parking lot!
Not going to be able to work on Ram any today - have to go BACK to Austin this evening for meetings again! I think I need some kind of insanity insurance! SOn has surgery schedule tomorrow for his ankle, and the worst thing, he could not bring the grandkids down here for Easter this time!
Administrator
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 87,381
Likes: 4,210
From: Clayton MI
I hope your son recovers quickly. That really kinda sucks.
You have to travel on EASTER???? That REALLY sucks. Can you reschedule the meetings?
Changing a clutch in the parking lot? Do you regularly carry all those tools around in the Yota????? (there goes the gas mileage.
)
You have to travel on EASTER???? That REALLY sucks. Can you reschedule the meetings?
Changing a clutch in the parking lot? Do you regularly carry all those tools around in the Yota????? (there goes the gas mileage.
)