The other possibility which would be much much cheaper would be to do it like this chap has:
Im just a little bit worried that it wont be strong enough as the chassis tubes are only really thin...?!?!
Any thoughts?
I have a stainless(419 grade) 2B with sliding pillar suspension.
I am going to cut the suspension off and fit wishbones.
The question is, can I weld mild steel to the stainless chassis and get a strong weld with a MIG welder?
Thanks.
do not do it.
lots of people say that you can with the right wire etc. but it will be a weak joint and you do not want your suspension to fall apart.
I suspected as much....
If I can not MIG weld the stainless to the mild what can I do?
Dunc
[Edited on 12/6/06 by tegwin]
I guess the safest method would be to manufacture the suspension brackets from the same material as the chassis and get them TIG'd on.
The way I was thinking of doing the job was to weld four stainless box sections across the front of the car to take the wishbones...However, a quote
for enough stainless box section sits at about £80...which is a lot!!!
The other possibility which would be much much cheaper would be to do it like this chap has:
Im just a little bit worried that it wont be strong enough as the chassis tubes are only really thin...?!?!
Any thoughts?
There is nothing wrong with welding mild to s/s as long as you use correct wire or rods,it has been done for years and years in industry
yes you can weld it.
but you will need to do it with stainless wire.
Tig is preferred with pure argon!
and stainless sheet strips.
(same qually as the stainless you have got)
Tks
of course the weld will be weaker but stainless is weaker sow quet normal.
Mig is a bit cold, so i would use arc or Tig.
else make something up and just bolt it!
[Edited on 12/6/06 by tks]
quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
Im just a little bit worried that it wont be strong enough as the chassis tubes are only really thin...?!?!
quote:
Originally posted by tegwin
I have a stainless(419 grade) 2B with sliding pillar suspension.
I am going to cut the suspension off and fit wishbones.
The question is, can I weld mild steel to the stainless chassis and get a strong weld with a MIG welder?
Thanks.
Mike RJ....
A step up from yours is to get some very short lengths of box section and concave the end as shown in your photo and weld those on...that way the
holes are more likley to line up.......However, is that really going to be strong enoug? Im worried that the forces involve will try and twist the
chassis tubes?!?
I was told it was 419....the person who told me might be wrong...apparently its the same stuff they make exhausts out of....Its still slightly
magnetic and not very shiny
Dunc
No offense but... how about spending the summer shopping for another kit and get some nice donor parts and next winter putting it together? 
409 is what's used for cheapo exhausts.
It can only be welded using 309 filler metal. Anything less and it will crack.
309 is also the alloy used to weld mild steel to stainless.
hth
Paul G
leto....Because im not made of money!
Err this is the LOCOST site!
Not everyone is building at locost but some of us are! If your existing suspension is original leave it and sell the car, start again on a new build
and don't be conned by some on here into putting a bike engine into it!
Caber
come on, its got to be easier to weld on a new front suspension than build an entire car and front suspension.
quote:
Originally posted by MikeR
come on, its got to be easier to weld on a new front suspension than build an entire car and front suspension.
you haven't seen my build
It hasnt been SVAd yet, but I dont see the point in spending hours setting up the sliding pillar suspension when it seems totaly crap....it has really
bad bump steer tendancies and I cant see a way of removing that....
It also wants a new set of struts for the sliding pillar...so why bother..might as well do the wishbone converstion...
Just got to figure out how :p
Dunc
have you tried contacting robin hood - they might have some suggestions as i'm sure its now an option.
In fact isn't volvosport on here the technical person at RH now?
dosn't mnr dor an inhouse conversions aswell
If the car isn't finished another kit is not an option, sorry.
How about a mild steel sub frame? If you can spread the load well enough the weaker welds and thin tub walls won't be a problem.
all RH chassis are mig welded .
we had a discussion about kits to re engineer the front and back to existing cars , from our point of view its easier to build a new car .
the box section idea for the wishbone mounts seems like the easiest option , give RH a ring im sure well sell you some box section for the job . we
may have som esuitable wishbones for the job also .
See knew he'd help. Well done that man.
Hi Volvorsport.
Just to satisfy my curiosity, is it 409 that's used on RH chassis?
Paul G
ill have to check tomorrow .
It has to be....its what they use for exhaust pipes and the 419 grade that someone assured me was used doesnt actualy exist! 
They probably meant AISI 416.I used to work in a foundry where we cast a lot of this and other ingots. Although it is stainless it does rust.
[Edited on 13/6/06 by Peteff]
yes , 409 the grade it is
very yoda'ish response that
dont fear young padowan , the future clear it is .
These are not the droids you are looking for.
Han fires first, do not forget.