Auto body welding (cut roof off)

[sirhk100]

A week ago...




Last night...





Now I'm no body guy and I'm not even really going to pretend I am and this is the first time I've ever done this... But... I'd like to do as much as I can before it goes to the body shop for prep and paint.

I'm assuming my next step is to finish cleaning off the paint along the cuts. Weld up the seams from the exterior and then grind down the welds as smooth as possible. Start with a heavier grit and then work my way fine till it's smooth correct? What should my finished grit be?

At that point though, I'll probably call it done and leave the rest up to the body shop. Anything else I should know? Anything I can do to save a bit of money and make the job easier for the body guys?

What would their next step be? Really thin smooth layer of bondo sanded smooth? If so, what grit would I sand down to?

[SPONSOR]

Membership in the largest desert racing community has its advantages - Participate in Forum Discussions - Send and Receive Private Messages - Maintain Public Photo Albums - Access to Groups - User Profile in our Social Network - Increased Access to more Sub Forums - Reduced Online Advertisements Join our community today

[mike mcqueen]

The first thing to do is ask the body shop you are using to advise you,duh. The other thing is to have the doors hung if you are putting a stock top on it, so they can get the fit correct.

[sirhk100]

Already actually have fit the doors. The top is actually tack welded in place already at all 6 pillars and doors function fine. Haven't even given which body shop to use any thought what so ever cause that's way down the road still. Just looking to get the roof back on and semi prepped right now though since that's what I'm working on next. Any general advice would be appreciated.

I used the actual saw blades I cut it with as spacers while fitting it back into place and linking it up to keep the openings the same.

[Broncodawg]

Nice job sirhk. Your're on the right track I believe. Cut will be tiny bit wider than the blade width,
but its gonna be close enough for the girls we go out with. Do you have another build thread going?
Like to follow along. Talk to you next week, got a list going.

[sirhk100]

Starts off a bit slow but get to the may postings and it takes off. I'll admit, I've got bigger better build threads on some other forums for this truck cause I'm a little bit intimidating posting my work on this forum being that it's mostly a bit higher of level of fab then I'm capable of. I think our truck will be fun though and I'm busting my butt trying to have it in the dirt for the make a wish run in Nov!!! Might not be 100% but hopefully it's good enough to give the kids a ride cause we all know they won't care!

https://www.race-dezert.com/forum/sh...cing-The-Duece



And for back on topic... I popped the roof back into position, the driver side pillars all just fell right into place. Pass side, the A and C pillars were lined right up too. The b-piller was off a little bit. Just enough that it was a pain to do with only two hands. I could flex it into position by hand but then I had no hands left to place a tack and hold it in shape. LOL Took me a bit with random clamps and vice grips, etc but I managed. It's a bit ugly but I think it'll smooth out fine. No I just have to figure out what to use to grind down the welds in the corners and sharp profile areas!




Like I said, first time doing this... A bit clueless but I figure a body shop can hopefully fix anything I screwed up that I just don't know about yet! LOL Not to mention it's not going to be a show truck, it's getting raced but we want it to at least look nice once you know!!!

[Pauly 303]

Grind those welds with a thick blade 3" cut off wheel right down to the level of the sheetmetal. Then a quick swipe with a 24 or 36 grit 3" 90 degree grinder to square it up. Sand adjacent areas with 220 grit sand paper and primer with a heavy coat of epoxy primer. Wait a couple hours and put a skim coat of bondo. Sand with 36 grit and then 80. Put another coat of primer and then send it to the professionals to finish it up.

Starts off a bit slow but get to the may postings and it takes off. I'll admit, I've got bigger better build threads on some other forums for this truck cause I'm a little bit intimidating posting my work on this forum being that it's mostly a bit higher of level of fab then I'm capable of. I think our truck will be fun though and I'm busting my butt trying to have it in the dirt for the make a wish run in Nov!!! Might not be 100% but hopefully it's good enough to give the kids a ride cause we all know they won't care!

https://www.race-dezert.com/forum/sh...cing-The-Duece



And for back on topic... I popped the roof back into position, the driver side pillars all just fell right into place. Pass side, the A and C pillars were lined right up too. The b-piller was off a little bit. Just enough that it was a pain to do with only two hands. I could flex it into position by hand but then I had no hands left to place a tack and hold it in shape. LOL Took me a bit with random clamps and vice grips, etc but I managed. It's a bit ugly but I think it'll smooth out fine. No I just have to figure out what to use to grind down the welds in the corners and sharp profile areas!




Like I said, first time doing this... A bit clueless but I figure a body shop can hopefully fix anything I screwed up that I just don't know about yet! LOL Not to mention it's not going to be a show truck, it's getting raced but we want it to at least look nice once you know!!!