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Location: Hobart
Registered: May 2005
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Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Thu, 24 November 2005 21:37
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I have a 1984 KE70 corolla that im slotting a 300bhp 4AGTE into, the car is cleaned down to base coat and mates suggested that i weld the chassis to improve rigidity. I was wondering what is better....
Seam or Stitch?
I want durability as well as strength.
Iain
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Location: Baulko Hillo
Registered: April 2004
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Thu, 24 November 2005 22:25
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I'm not too clued up on this, but in my opinion, stitch may actually be preferable due to it allowing some (although very minimal) movement. Wouldn't completely seam welding everything put a lot more stress on other areas that do not experience it with non-welded seams, possible leading to fatigue?
I'm probably wrong, but that's my theory.
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Location: ghetto area 2745
Registered: November 2003
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Thu, 24 November 2005 22:36
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anyone try pot rivets as i hear they are good
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Location: Newcastle
Registered: June 2004
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Thu, 24 November 2005 22:39
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I thought stich cause if ur have a prang then u can open up the welds again and straighten the car.
Fully welded car can't be straightened?
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Location: Hobart
Registered: May 2005
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Thu, 24 November 2005 22:41
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So everyones thoughts point towards stitch welding, will there be a big difference with strength and rigidity?
Iain
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Location: Toronto, Downtown
Registered: September 2004
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Thu, 24 November 2005 22:45
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isnt there legaities regarding stich welding an cumple zones etc??
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Location: ghetto area 2745
Registered: November 2003
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Thu, 24 November 2005 22:47
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smashed up evo 7 rally car in corner of work has stiched all over except for strut towers
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Location: Hobart
Registered: May 2005
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Thu, 24 November 2005 22:48
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I want to get the car registered, but i am not really worried about that at the moment. I just want strength and durability.
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Location: Baulko Hillo
Registered: April 2004
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Thu, 24 November 2005 23:00
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Contact Bubbles Performance over in Gayz0r Town... They'll sort you out with a rivet job from hell.
Nah, I'd go stitch for sure.
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Location: Hobart
Registered: May 2005
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Thu, 24 November 2005 23:14
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alright, with the welds anyone got good ideas with spacing?? 2cm weld 2cm off?
Iain
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Location: Canberra
Registered: June 2005
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Fri, 25 November 2005 05:59
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Seam welding is really what is being done. How you get there is to either stitch or fully weld the seams. Both cases the seams have additional welding to add to the existing, mostly spot welds.
Full welding adds a lot of material and therefore weight to the car. Also adds a lot of local heat which can deform the panels.
So
A 50% weld. 2cm or even 1cm of all the seams, is about right and this is what is done on most race and rally cars I have seen.
Race teams also add sheet material into critical areas, such as around where the front chassis rails meet the door pillars (in behind the guards). This would be benificial to you application.
Some rally cars have been known to have the front of the car start to fall off.
If you are worried about legalities and crumple zones then maybe leave anything forward of the strut towers alone.
Regards
Rodger
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Location: Brisbane / Gold Coast
Registered: May 2002
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Fri, 25 November 2005 07:18
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Stitching is good.
It allows the body to gradually absorb energy in a crash far better than a solid seam weld. It also stops the propogation of cracks if one of the welds starts to let go.
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I supported Toymods Banned User
Location: Brisbane
Registered: May 2002
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Fri, 25 November 2005 08:38
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Bill Sherwood wrote on Fri, 25 November 2005 17:18 | It also stops the propogation of cracks if one of the welds starts to let go.
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Exactly right!
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Location: Adelaide
Registered: May 2003
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Fri, 25 November 2005 10:43
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Means that you dont have to grind back the entire seam as well.
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Location: new castle
Registered: July 2005
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Fri, 25 November 2005 11:28
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where's stu our local metal urgist when you need him
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Location: Kita-Ku, Sapporo, Japan
Registered: January 2003
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Fri, 25 November 2005 17:24
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havabeer wrote on Fri, 25 November 2005 22:28 | where's stu our local metal urgist when you need him
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since when have i been urging metals??
and anyway, this isn't a metallurgy thing, it's a mechanical thing
surely everyone knows that to be D1 ready, you need rivets
i'm assuming you already have a proper cage to stiffen things up and that the seam welding is just the next step?
what will you be doing with the car to be able to notice the extra stifness? can you notice the body flex now?
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Location: Hobart
Registered: May 2005
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Sun, 27 November 2005 23:08
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At the moment the car is in peices in my garage. The cage wont be going in until next year i doubt as money is low. I have never driven the car with anything more than a 4K and it was years ago (mates parents family car) I was going to just grind back all the seams then do the stitch welds in the interior, the boot, the engine bay and i dont know if i need to do inside the guards (can someone help me out) I was going to leave under the car as i dont have a hoist and might get it done down the track. Any ideas would be great.
Iain
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Location: 1st street on the right
Registered: November 2002
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Mon, 28 November 2005 00:34
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If you really want to do it then now's the time since the cars already apart. 2 on, 2 off is the best bet. Localised heat, weld one spot, then another somewhere else to minimise heat distortion. If you are fitting a cage plan now and weld in your leg plates.
Pillars and inner guards are probably more important for what you want than the chassis. I've seen more cracks around here than benefits from seam welding.
FWIW. Seam welding = welding the seams. Stitch welding = welding in stitches, ie: 2 on 2 off, looking like a sewing stich.
Get a GAS mig, do an evening college course and tell the teach you what you want to achieve. Profit from your experience.
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Location: Hobart
Registered: May 2005
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Re: Stich Or Seam Welding - What is Better?
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Mon, 28 November 2005 02:46
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thanks for that info, i reckon i will get my plates welding in. Simon from SA meantioned welding in a brace between crossmember and chassie rail and also between firewall and chassie rail. I was going to get ever seam inside car done with mates dad help (welder by trade) and also inside gaurds and engine bay.
Iain
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