Anybody stitch welded their car?
 

I saw these Japs in BMI stitch welding an AE86 to improve body rigidity. But they have a special tool that compresses the body sheet metal and lays a nice tack weld. I think this is do-able with a MIG and probly a vice grip. any thoughts?

Re: Anybody stitch welded their car?
 

Many people have seam welded there car. It's a long process because you don't want to overheat your panels and warp them. Being that you car is only spot welded together (trust me, RHD Conversion makes you learn this!!) some guys lay 2" Sticthes every 4-6" on the 2 overlapping panels.

The unit you are talking about uses a High-Current electrical weld that clamps the 2 panels together a fuses them by using this very locallize current to create the heat. Have you efvery seen a New Gas tank that is un-coated, exactly how they weld the top and bottom portion together.

Re: Anybody stitch welded their car?
 

It's a common practice to do when you are building a car for motorsports. The factory spotwelds make a flimsy unit-body vehicle even more flimsy. Suspension pickup points move all over hell. In most instances( ie daily driver/lo-po), I don't think it's worth stripping the car and welding all the seams. I ,however, haven't done such to a car yet so, I can't speak from experience how big of a improvement it makes.

Re: Anybody stitch welded their car?
 

Yeah I am planning on weekend road racing my car. It is a convertible that's why i'm doing every possible mod to stiffen the chassis.

Re: Anybody stitch welded their car?
 

Have you looked into cages/bars yet? I know it might be a bit cramped in an MR2 Spyder, but those definately stiffen everything up like a 3rd grader during sex-ed.

BTW, you car = teh sex

Re: Anybody stitch welded their car?
 

Yeah that's on my list too including breast plates and some more lower chassis brace. Thanks

Re: Anybody stitch welded their car?
 

Is that actual Wheel to Wheel road racing or HPDE/Open Tracking? The cage and strut tower brace will help. I am not familar with how the front suspension attaches to the body to say a g-brace will work.

On a slightly different topic, look for some more race oriented front pads. Stock pads will suck after a few hard applications.

Re: Anybody stitch welded their car?
 

open track. yeah that was also the same suggestion of a fellow Mr2 driver. He said stock brakes on mr2 are very good dont fade, for security an aftermarket pad will do.

Re: Anybody stitch welded their car?
 

the hb we built for rally took just shy of 20 hrs to fully seam weld, fab strut bars/braces, clean and prep for paint. made a huge difference. Just remember to wear a resperator, and cleann all the welds before you start

Re: Anybody stitch welded their car?
 

uibodys are actually quite a good design, when done right. pound for pound a unibody car is stiffer than a frame+body car

Beau