Hey all, i知 getting an Eastwood 135 mig welder. I知 going to box off the rear of the frame with some square tubing and put some gussets from trail gear. I need to replace the gas tank holding cross member due to rot. I need to replace some sections of the floor and the rocker panels. If the junkyard doesn稚 have any Yotas with good rockers, I am going to get them online or maybe attempt to make them myself. Also, I need to weld on some new shock tabs on top of the rear axle. I致e done a little bit of welding years ago when I worked at a muffler shop. I am going to practice some first. And I will tack something across the frame to insure that it does not move on me. What to start with first? What is the easiest/hardest thing to weld?

I’m in Pennsylvania, truck will be on jackstands in my driveway. For now it’s in the open but I plan on getting a car port sooner or later. I already have the sky shock relocation bar on there but since I fixed the angle of the rear pumpkin the old shock tabs are just slightly off. Thank you for reminding me about the fire extinguisher. Bumping that up to the top of the list. I think I’m gonna try to find one that I can fill up with water and pressurize with air Do I need to bump my welder purchase up to the 175 to be able to weld the frame stuff? Or just practice? Lots of prep work to be done. I’m going to get it as clean as I can before I weld the truck. Going to get multiple grinding wheels cutoff wheels and wire wheels for my Milwaukee 4 1/2 grinder. Also I have a little pneumatic die grinder. It is a project so really no rush. It will be my daily driver. I just want to be able to bomb over potholes and take it wheeling on the weekends. The very back of the frame is all bent up due to hooking tow straps to it years ago. So it’s kinda flimsy, and rusty. That’s the only real reason I want to box it off. I’m gonna be on the lookout for free couch cushions or something to lay on/lean against while I’m welding the upside down stuff.. or is that a bad idea due to fire hazard? Maybe couch cushion then some rubber roofing material over the cushions lol. Just for comfort so I can be “in the zone” Thanks Guys

i was planning on getting .030 flux core wire to weld the frame stuff. Along with the correct tip and the correct knurled drive roller (key way style)

Oh yeah! I forgot about those wheels! Thanks dropzone

Plymouth PA. Good idea about having multiple grinders for different wheels. I have a corded craftsman and a corded Makita somewhere. I love my Milwaukee fuel with the paddle. So, don’t bother with the flux core? cause that will save me $40. And I probably shouldn’t have even mentioned the couch cushions. The likelihood of me actually doing that is pretty slim lol. I do all kinds of construction, mostly roofing. Maybe my experience with soffit and ceiling type work will help me out with the up side down stuff ��

so, if I practice and get good enough, a 135 Eastwood will penatrate enough to get good mig welds on the frame?

Thanks Co, I don’t know those terms which tells me I need to do some reading while I’m waiting for my welder to arrive.

Gas tank is coming back out for sure! Oh ya, many times a wheel has blown apart and hit me in the face/eye area. I thought: wow, if I wasn’t wearing these safety glasses, I’d be on the way to the hospital right now.. one time I was using one of those big concrete saws with an old brittle metal cutting wheel with no glasses and I got a small piece of metal stuck right in the center of my eye. I couldn’t tell where it was cause it was right in the middle of my pupil. I wear safety glasses basically all the time now. I think I have a full on face shield somewhere, good call fish guy.

I’m just gonna practice with solid and see how I do for a while. Small world wyoming