hj to hz nose cone mod or repair

**ozbox** · 16-05-2010, 05:45 PM

my wb ute/van modified to hj to hz promo van needed a bit of an uplift i thought to the nose...well i like my single headlight nose but dont like the rounded centre section and do like the statesman/premier squared off look so today i thought i would get stuck into it and do a cut and shut...this is also an easy way to repair your damaged centre section if you needed to...the pics show how i have cut the replacement nose wider than the peice i have cut out so i could trim it down and also get it centred to realign with the bonnet beauty lines...took me about 3 hours to the prior to final finish stage..

**stickthis** · 16-05-2010, 05:52 PM

And to think you was doing some of this while chatting to me on the phone.

Looks the goods!

**kaido17** · 16-05-2010, 06:50 PM

nice work looks cool a litlle squarer. hey ozbox this might seem like a stupid question but i am new to restoring cars and was wondering if a mig welder is the best for welding in panels, i need a fair bit done to mine and have aquired a mig of a mate

**Absinth** · 17-05-2010, 02:05 PM

Neat idea Greg, I prefer the squared off nose also. Be interesting to see it once it is painted.

**ozbox** · 17-05-2010, 02:15 PM

Originally Posted by kaido17

nice work looks cool a litlle squarer. hey ozbox this might seem like a stupid question but i am new to restoring cars and was wondering if a mig welder is the best for welding in panels, i need a fair bit done to mine and have aquired a mig of a mate

i used a mig with gasless wire to weld that in...best thing to do is get some scrap metal the same thickness..(old gaurds or nosecones are good as they have curves in them) and start practicing with your voltage and wire speed...practice doing overlaps and butt welds...the nose cone i did was butt welded so thats when you need to play with the mig settings as blowing holes is more prevalent..

just to add..nothing about teaching yourself how to do bodywork or mechanical is a stupid question...i drove my panelbeater, spraypainter and mechanic mates mad when i was young asking questions on what to do...

**ozbox** · 17-05-2010, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Absinth

Neat idea Greg, I prefer the squared off nose also. Be interesting to see it once it is painted.

i did chuck some paint over it to protect it over the week until i get back to finishing it...

Gas On · 17-05-2010, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by ozbox

just to add..nothing about teaching yourself how to do bodywork or mechanical is a stupid question...i drove my panelbeater, spraypainter and mechanic mates mad when i was young asking questions on what to do...

Gday,

Great advise oxbox, I was told young that "Theres no such thing as a stupid question, if you dont know the answer".

Cheers

**wbute** · 17-05-2010, 08:05 PM

Hi ozbox, I am a novice to mig welding but have done a fair bit of stick welding. Why use gasless wire?

**stickthis** · 17-05-2010, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by wbute

Hi ozbox, I am a novice to mig welding but have done a fair bit of stick welding. Why use gasless wire?

Gas v's gasless

- gasless can do outdoors when windy.
- gasless rolls of wire is expencive. But if not using it often it saves you money on gas bottle rent.
- gasless burns hotter. So not ideal compared to gas.
- gasless leave a flux. so needs to be cleaned more than gassed welds.
- gasless gives off more splatter.