Shaving drip rail?

[DreKoushRanada]

Do I weld at the seam shown in the photo? I will doing it in 6" sections. The vehicle is a 1970 Cutlass.

[somebody]

looks like it. i would weld in sections a lot shorter than 6" though.

[jlcustomz]

Yep.
Most people cut a few inches of metal , tack it & THEN cut a few more inches off. Just makes it easier to not distort the roof that method.

[raustinss]

On this whole shaving drip rails thing I'm stuck on what happens if you want the window down yet there's dew on the roof ....just asking because I was missing the small "corner" piece on my 70 chevelle and I want to think I hated that because the dew or in a slight rain I couldn't have the window open because it would come right down the door panel

[DreKoushRanada]

Thanks for the info. I cut and tacked it. Still working on my welding skills as you can see. Plus welder needs adjustments I feel.... Fun times. I am using a Lincoln 140 with. 023 wire with gas. I will swap out the ground clamp and see if that helps. I'm getting the popping welds, not the sizzle.

[DreKoushRanada]

I'm thinking I need to hold my spot welds a bit longer. Some grinding is in action. I will dial my welder in before starting my next run.

[minendrews68]

was your welder, at one time, set up to use wire with flux in it?

[DreKoushRanada]

It probably was. I checked the connections and they were correct. I will check it again though.

[jlcustomz]

If you don't have em, stronger lighting & an auto darkening helmet will help. rotary wire brush the area before & between tack welds to keep it clean. Mig in general is easy to do something , but hard to be neat & accurate.

New cars don't have drip rails, but the modern roof seam area diverts much of the water to the front & rear window ends. retaining a small kick up at the deleted drip rail areas should keep any water from top of window.

[DreKoushRanada]

I have those items. I will clean the area better.

[minendrews68]

It probably was. I checked the connections and they were correct. I will check it again though.

The reason I ask, is because I have a Hobart 140 that ran on flux wire. I converted to gas and it wouldn't weld for anything. I was told to reverse the positive and negative leads at the machine. I did, and it welds like it's suppose to now..

[DreKoushRanada]

Was able to get the MIG running how it's suppose to. Got one side knocked out. I'm going to grab the flap wheel and grind the welds down.

[DreKoushRanada]

What do you all think? First time ever doing something like this.

[jlcustomz]

Smooth out the lower edge a little more & get some good epoxy primer over it before body filler & you should be good.

I don't miss your old driprail one stinkin bit.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

that came out great!

[DreKoushRanada]

Smooth out the lower edge a little more & get some good epoxy primer over it before body filler & you should be good.

I don't miss your old driprail one stinkin bit.

I don't miss it either. Lol. .. I'm working on smoothing the lower edge out now. The other side went much smoother and faster. I'm going to start on flush mount door handles next. Going to use late model GM handles.

- - - Updated - - -

that came out great!

Thanks. I'm happy I actually can make some progress.

[raustinss]

What door handles are you planning on using,I'm using a set from a cadillac catera which I'm told is the same as the 04-06 gto's

[DreKoushRanada]

What door handles are you planning on using,I'm using a set from a cadillac catera which I'm told is the same as the 04-06 gto's

I am going to check those door handles out. Do you know how you will work the door handle mechanism?

[raustinss]

No I'm not to sure to be honest ....I've got the handles and a few inches of surrounding sheet metal, as for the mechanism well that I believe will be a fly by the seat of my pants kinda thing. I'm a fabricator so I'm not completely lost when it comes to this . It will only take time ,beers,some swearing and some "why the he'll am I doing this" lol

[DreKoushRanada]

No I'm not to sure to be honest ....I've got the handles and a few inches of surrounding sheet metal, as for the mechanism well that I believe will be a fly by the seat of my pants kinda thing. I'm a fabricator so I'm not completely lost when it comes to this . It will only take time ,beers,some swearing and some "why the he'll am I doing this" lol

I love the way you think my friend. Lol