M151A1 begining of new project

[hambone]

Looks like you're getting the hang of it, looking good, you can clean those welds up to your liking, those mig welders don't like rust at all, just dress your metal the best you can before welding. Nothing like new metal, it way outlasts body filler.

[markrdje]

I think you did a very good job !

[Hell On Wheels]

I’m trying and learning as I go, thanks

[Rickf]

when I first bought this rust bucket I had to cut off the spare tire bolt and couldnt get it to work. So in my earlier pictures I welded in the bolt but I never addressed the back plate where the hole was left and the bolt ran though it had a hole so well I have A.D.D. and just decided to cut a piece to fill it in.


well here it is. I dont know why I didnt address it when I worked on the passenger side. I need to clean it up better but for now its filled in.

When you say it is "filled in" do you mean it is welded in or filled with bondo? That is a high stress point with that heavy spare hanging on that one bolt so you want that back plate good and strong. Looking at where you ground it looks like maybe someone brazed it? Or is that previous bondo?

[Hell On Wheels]

Welded in of course I thought I took a picture of that. In fact, let me tell you a funny story so all this time I’m working I’m wearing gloves and so I go to drill that round circle out of the spare metal left over from repairs with a hole drill bit and before I knew it when I picked up the drill the round patch dropped out of the drillbit and I caught it realizing I didn’t have my gloves on and I burn my darn three fingers, that was a first. But yes welded in a round plug with a center small hole to start my first weld then welded in a full circle and my three finger surface burned.

[lpcoating]

On the A1's I believe that bolt for the spare tire was brazed from the factory.

[Hell On Wheels]

brazed on the tire side or rear side in the bed? I couldnt get that bolt out so I brazed a grade 8 bolt on the front side many years back and have had no issues. I just decided to cover the rear portion of the housing.

[lpcoating]

Bolt head brazed - inside bed of truck.

[Hell On Wheels]

looking at the frame section I still have no idea how to cut out the base sections that are welded. It a hard loction to get into. Also does anyone have any idea how to clean the surface being a tight area. Im thnking a wire brush with an extension but I dont see how effective it going to be.

[Rickf]

Right angle air powered die grinder and whiz wheels. You can also get smaller wire wheels that will chuck up in that collet.

https://www.amazon.com/grinder-sanding- ... 2763&psc=1

[Hell On Wheels]

i tried that it doesnt reach up enough to get up in there. I need like an extension, im going to try one of thoses quick disconnect extension. Let me give that a try.

[markrdje]

Would a sandblasting gun work?

[Hell On Wheels]

Actually that is a great idea I need to check on that if it is cost effective, trip to harbor freight

[Hell On Wheels]

Ok here is my try at replacing the driver side frame section. I tell you this was in bad shape.


I decided to cut down as far as I could reach. Cutting all the way to the A - frame mount bracket and up to the bottom of the floor board. This was tuff and I have no idea how anyone is supposed to cut this out. I cut it down in sections until I couldnt reach any further. I also couldnt drill out the welds becuase this is the thickes part of the body. The rust only reacehd about an inch to the body. I figured that was good enough to leave in place.


Cutting this bad frame out enough allowed me to mark the spot welds would go. You can see in the picture I marked them with white paint.


Cleaned up the only surface rust and welded in the frame section. After welding and grinding down I decided to lay a cost of RTV to seal up really good.




Well better than before. On to the next repair.

[Hell On Wheels]

Ok I'm going to work in the dash area. The previous owners drilled many holes in this dash. I have no idea why. So, what I need to know does anyone know the exact placement of the grab handle. I'm going to weld all the holes and place the grab handle in the correct location. All those holes look ugly. I placed the grab handle in holes that would work but I know that is the correct location. Any help would be appreciated.