A light rear end rebuild before Tea

[citsncycles]

I've used gasless for years, mainly because at the time I bought it gas was expensive, plus I was having to weld outside.

When I replace it (I'm just waiting for it to die at the moment!) I'll go for a conventional gas set up as although I still do welding outside it's more sheltered than where I used to work.

Gasless has a flux in the middle of the wire, which melts and (in theory) floats to the top of the weld to do the job of the gas. The wire is a lot more than the normal stuff, but against using disposable bottles the cost isn't a lot different overall. You'll never get as good a finish as with normal MIG, and it's more difficult to weld thin metal, but it's also a lot easier then MMA!

I bought an old spot welder locally a couple of years ago, and with new panels it's great, although it's very heavy to handle. Mine cost around £200, and cane with a selection of arms, which are definitely needed if you want to use one as much as possible. Although welding clean bright metal is always recommended, with a spot welder it's an absolute must, any dirt between the leyers and it will not weld, and any on the outer surfaces will result in you having to constantly clean the contact ends.

If money were no object, I'd love to get myself a decent TIG setup, one which could do aluminium aswell, but they're still way out of my proce range, even 2nd hand, at the moment.

[citronut]

you can ally weld with a mig,
just need a roll of ally wire and a bottle of straight argon, no good with bent argon

regards malcolm

[Vanny]

Thought I should probably finish off this thread.

Started painting her up at the end of May, but selling of the house put pay to any progress so it wasn't finished until end of June.

Priming, and sealing the seams;


Used a 2k aerosol for top coat, saves lacquering, and it will all be out of site in the end so finish isn't too critical.


Finished

[Thread Bear]

As a newbie I am greatly encouraged that this is the degree of challenge that the enthusiast for BX is prepared to make to keep these cars on the road. I had though the TZD would end its days as someone's parts car. However if their are folk who are doing these refabrications there is every chance that it can go again. TZD Turbo Estates might not be the rarest BX on the block but they certainly are one of the most useful in work. Even Homer might get done as it has this same issue. Sadly I am a rotten welder. Got the kit etc, and its certainly a lot easier with a light sensitive welding mask, but it is not a talent I possess, I fear. So thin steel I tend to outsource.

[electrokid]

Very nice job Vanny

i buy Co2 from my local drinks trade supplier, i think the last re/fill was around £16 quid, no rental charge at all,

I've modified an old pub CO2 bottle for a mig supply but I've noticed that the drinks trade have now moved to a CO2 / N2 mix. Is straight CO2 still available Malcolm ?

[Tim Leech]

I guess Alan that now you just cant go out and buy another "just like that" anymore and sometimes its better the devil you know....eventually all BX's that are used in all weathers will need welding and once they are done (properly) should out last the rest of the car. About 7/8 years ago I bought a BX every couple of months for peanuts (normally petrols noone else wanted) but they have all disappeared.