Seam welding
04-05-13, 11:42 AM
#1
Seam welding
I know on most all unibody cars seam welding helps a lot. But a few have told me that it's a waste of time on an FB.
If anyone has any info on seam welding the FB (Pros and cons) I would like to hear it.
Thanks in advance.
If anyone has any info on seam welding the FB (Pros and cons) I would like to hear it.
Thanks in advance.
04-11-13, 01:33 PM
#3
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I agree it does help, I can't imagine why it wouldn't help the FB. Seam welding is a major stiffening modification and the FB is just as unibody as any other rx7.
BigAl...
BigAl...
04-15-13, 05:48 AM
#6
I have two rally shells, both of which have some level of seam welding on them.
I have no doubt that this has helped them to survive as long as they have.
If I was to build or have built a unibody shell for any serious motorsport activity, there is no question that I would seam weld to help improve chasis stffness and to promote longevity.
I have no doubt that this has helped them to survive as long as they have.
If I was to build or have built a unibody shell for any serious motorsport activity, there is no question that I would seam weld to help improve chasis stffness and to promote longevity.
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04-18-13, 10:09 AM
#9
1" at 1" spacing is the norm.
Ok. I figured as much. The only thing that held me back was once I did it. The car will not be SCCA IT legal (resale value)
Originally Posted by speed_monkey
I don't see how it would be a waste of time in a fb... unless secretly the fb is the stiffest rx7 ever lol ....
04-19-13, 07:26 PM
#10
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I did a kind of seam weld on my S14 front end when I tubbed the front end. I'm not sure how thin the sheet metal is on the FB but on the S14 it was very very thin and easy to blow through (ask me how I know). I ended up doing spot/tach welds on the seems every inch and it worked out much better than trying to run a 1" stitch weld. If the sheet metal is thicker than the 22 gauge on the S14 and you are careful 1" stitches would be ideal.
05-29-13, 03:01 AM
#14
its necessary the faster u want to go. a FB benefits from it the most. but lets be real here, theyre japanese cars made for a profit. if you want to make it faster u need to start with the welds and metal work. its that simple. the hardcore race shops do it, so why not?
07-15-13, 06:56 PM
#15
Respecognize!
per my friend, builder of rally cars for a few decades.
As for what to weld... I love it that Ford Motorsport said in all their books from RWD Escorts onward---including Sierra, on page 1 paragraph one: Shell Preparation. They stresed that this make for a stronger shell and for us privateers
Goes on to say
They mean it when they say EVERY and should stress they mean to do this AFTER the cage is welded in... cars to twist and tweak if you weld like a maniac in one area..I have warped a sand truck trailer body by 4" welding too long in one area..long *** trailer made of pretty thich plate and it pulled up 4" at one end...Fortunately the boss was sharper than me and by time he was done it had pulled back town to flat..
So move around a lot.
As for should you get so thorough---local rallyguy in his first event too a wrong slot at a Y that some fool had seeingly intentionally driven thru the tapes and met a Subie guy and kind of banged into the Subie guy---who had realised they had gone wrong and turned around and was heading back..
VW Rabbit , gently kiss and the car is tweaked seriously...if the car was stronger, the one corner would be smooshed, but the other parts straighter and an easier fix..
I guess it depends on how long you want to keep the shell--and the cage you spent time and effort installing.[/quote]
As for what to weld... I love it that Ford Motorsport said in all their books from RWD Escorts onward---including Sierra, on page 1 paragraph one: Shell Preparation. They stresed that this make for a stronger shell and for us privateers
"for 2 major reasons:
1) It will help prolong the life of the shell by reducing fatigue failures and
limiting accident damage.
2) It will improve the car's handling by increasing the stiffness of the structure"
1) It will help prolong the life of the shell by reducing fatigue failures and
limiting accident damage.
2) It will improve the car's handling by increasing the stiffness of the structure"
"Start from an absolutely clean shell. Work gradually around the shell "[size=large]stitching" a 1/2" run[/size] of weld every 1 1/2" or so (15mm every 40mm or so) along every exposed spot-welded body seam you can find. Work underneath the car, in the engine bay, inside the car--anywhere thit it is possible to see and to reinforce a seam"
They mean it when they say EVERY and should stress they mean to do this AFTER the cage is welded in... cars to twist and tweak if you weld like a maniac in one area..I have warped a sand truck trailer body by 4" welding too long in one area..long *** trailer made of pretty thich plate and it pulled up 4" at one end...Fortunately the boss was sharper than me and by time he was done it had pulled back town to flat..
So move around a lot.
As for should you get so thorough---local rallyguy in his first event too a wrong slot at a Y that some fool had seeingly intentionally driven thru the tapes and met a Subie guy and kind of banged into the Subie guy---who had realised they had gone wrong and turned around and was heading back..
VW Rabbit , gently kiss and the car is tweaked seriously...if the car was stronger, the one corner would be smooshed, but the other parts straighter and an easier fix..
I guess it depends on how long you want to keep the shell--and the cage you spent time and effort installing.[/quote]
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