6 replies to this topic

[bluesprite]

Hello friends,

Do the rear valance closing panels have to be welded along where it follows the contours of the valance?  If so, does it have to be seam welded or spot welded?

The picture here suggests a few spot welds, just like along the bottom lip:

 

 

Which will make a mess of the paint on the visible side of the valance but isn't a huge problem.

 

Any advice would be great!

 

 

More detail:

My miniature motor vehicle failed it's MOT (amongst other things) due to the sides of the closing panel (the bit that faces inwards) having holes in and (presumably) their proximity to the subframe mounting point.  there's enough metal to patch up the hole and there is room to do this without taking the subframe out but welding along the curve of the valance will be more of a tight squeeze.

 

Any help would be jolly good.

 

Thanks!

[sonikk4]

Hi yes the closeout is spot weld on the contoured section.

 

You will not have a lot of choice about the area you need to weld. The closeout is spot welded in place however if its holed then you will need to seam weld the repair section in place apart from the flange that attaches to the rear valance.

[bluesprite]

Hi yes the closeout is spot weld on the contoured section.

 

You will not have a lot of choice about the area you need to weld. The closeout is spot welded in place however if its holed then you will need to seam weld the repair section in place apart from the flange that attaches to the rear valance.

 

Thanks for your help sonikk, I seam welded the patch and spot (plug ) welded along the 'flange' and it passed its retest!

Thanks again, it's great to be back on the road.

[skoughi]

Little question for you sonikk, I made my own closing panels which I stich welded onto the valance and I drilled two holes about 25mm one on each face so I could spray in some zinc paint once I finished welding to help keep down on rust forming. I'll also spray in some waxoyl then seal on some rubber grommets. Will these holes be a problem with regards the mot then?

[sonikk4]

Little question for you sonikk, I made my own closing panels which I stich welded onto the valance and I drilled two holes about 25mm one on each face so I could spray in some zinc paint once I finished welding to help keep down on rust forming. I'll also spray in some waxoyl then seal on some rubber grommets. Will these holes be a problem with regards the mot then?

 

There are quite large holes to drill for spraying in paint products. Normally if memory serves me correctly the holes that used to be drilled for injecting Waxoyl etc were somewhere around the 1/4" mark then a grommet installed. If you install some large grommets then i can't see it being a problem. BUT that will be up to the MOT tester on the day. They may for arguments sake say "why two large holes" and i have to say i see why you have done that but they may be seen as being excessive in size.

[minidaves]

i think from memory if u drill a hole its not a mot fail however if its a rust hole it is, of course the tester can say the stucture is weak due to hole being made in metal work

[skoughi]

Ok fair enough, no real reason to panic then. I made them that size because its the same size as the holes in the floor pans so will buy a batch of grommets the same size and any smaller and it makes it very difficult to spray some paint into the cavity.