I know this is not about first gen rx-7's, but I have some advice to ask about another car.

I have to finish fixing a quarter panel on my daily driver before I can embark on any serious project for my 85 GS.

I have a bunch of people freaking out over the fact that I intend to weld the quarter panel on without dropping the gas tank off the car. The panel is on the other side of the car from the gas tank ( it's a honda prelude). It would be a lot of extra work to remove it, but obviously I don't want to burn myself to a crisp. So, am I being careless or are my family members being paranoid? I know what I am doing with a welder, but I don't have a ton of experience yet. I'm going to Tig the body panels.

 

I'd do it.

 

If it's on the OTHER SIDE of the car completely, it SHOULD be okay. There's ALWAYS gonna be a risk, but, hey.

 

If you die, can I have your 7?

 

well, all it takes is vapors to ignite.. the gas tank doesnt even have to be that close. so umm yea, take that **** off or go ahead and give "lovintha7" your FB. hahahaha

 

or drain it....

 

Oh, and be sure to vent the top of the tank. stick a screw-driver in the filler neck and blow compressed air in to purge the tank of any vapor.

 

Umm, if its the vapors that are explosive wouldn't it make more sense to fill the tank to the top? Just wondering, but that's what I have heard in the past...

 

Yeah, ditto on that. In welding class when we cut apart 55 gallon drums, we filled them with water until they were overflowing. No air means no vapor. However, think of this, if you take your car somewhere to get exhaust built for it or something similar, they weld on the cars all the time all day. Ive welded on a couple cars with tanks on em with no problems so far, just make sure the system doesnt leak around the filler neck or vent tubes and keep a fire extinguisher handy. Hoping for the best is a good idea too

~T.J.

EDIT: It kind of scares me thinking about having the tank empty and "venting" the vapors honestly. I would rather have a semi full tank, leave it alone, and just go for it. I mean, sparks going everywhere while welding could land in the "vented" tank area and ignite it, whereas leaving it alone and sealed up that wouldnt happen. Just my opinion though.

 

A fan or outside breeze should help with the vapor issues. I would start with a full tank of gas to reduce vapor potential too.

 

We've welded a gas tank before that's just been drained at my stepdads shop and done it plenty of times before.

The fumes will start to light up so you do a faint mixture of oxygen to where it barely burns so it's not hot enough to spark up the fire.

*I accept no responsibility for crispy cream humans, you do this at your own risk*

- Tech

 

you should be fine, as they say put a full tank of gas in, if its only gas right to the top you could weld the outside of the tank theoretically, as long as you didnt make a hole, im not saying i suggest it or tried it, but its not necisarry to drop the tank to weld on a quarter panel, besides if your welding quarter panels you gotta go really slow and do only spot welds at a time, otherwise you risk warping the whole thing!!, i did some welding on my rex with barely any gas in, not thinking and nothign happend, just take alll the precautions etc
be safe
and im with everyone else still though
not my fault if you burn to a crisp,

 

yep, thanks guys, i talked to a guy who has a shop next to mine and he said it wouldn't be a problem.

I gotta get this done tomorrow, i've been putting it off heh. but i got this conversion i want to do to the 7.