veesix

Before.


After (rivets look shabby but I can always take it apart and do it over.)

wilburk

Way to be a problem solver--I never would have thought of riveting...

veesix

Well, I can't get involved with a welder right now, and looking at this truck in the garage is driving me nuts. I am considering adhesive.

Drill out the rivets, spread the panel adhesive then reinstall rivets until the glue sets. Remove rivets then fill the holes with Bondo and paint

veesix

Anyone good with welders? They have Lincoln machines at Lowes for about 400 bucks.

Wondering if I can use a stick welder to do this panel repair.

TheRepairMan

It's awfully thin metal to stick weld. I would think just a light weight MIG or even a Flux Wire Welder would work best. You're just going to spot weld it in anyway, right? Then again, I guess to do it right you spot weld first and then fill in between the runs with a solid bead once all is stable. Like this guy did... I like his technique. The video is over 10 minutes, and he doesn't really get into the butt welding segment until about 7 minutes in. Pretty nice work!
I'm guessing this is one you have looked at... a Lincoln MIG/Flux Core wire feed welder. Yeah, it would come in handy, especially at less than $400. http://www.lowes.com/pd_366784-1703-...=#BVRRWidgetID

And, this is not bad... http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2691_200332691

Me, if I wasn't planing to use the welder every day, but just for occasional home projects, I'd probably go the cheapest route, like one of these... http://www.harborfreight.com/welding...mps-68885.html ...or, this ... http://www.harborfreight.com/welding...mps-68886.html

...but that's just me ...I'm cheap!

-R

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1994 D21 2.4, 2wd, 5spd XE

veesix

I went to Lowes and picked up some new tools. Not cheap, but hopefully it will be a good time. So, after some practice, I'll drill out those rivets and weld the patch panels.

TheRepairMan

Wow, I don't think you could go wrong there. Looks like very nice equipment. With welding, practice makes perfect. You just have to follow good examples and try to replicate. Fortunately, with the net it's not so hard to see those examples as it was way back when I was learning. I had some good welding instructors, but I never became an artist at it.

-R

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1994 D21 2.4, 2wd, 5spd XE

wilburk

No kidding, that's awesome! No better way to learn than that. Wish I had the space for that gear (and the money).

veesix too bad you don't live close so I could borrow your stuff.

veesix

Check out the ground effects kit on this truck. Anyone know where this lit comes from?

Salvage 1989 Nissan D21 US SHO Truck for Sale

SPEEDO

the first thing that popped into my head was Lund

TheRepairMan

I was thinking JC Whitney ...but I digress! I searched around a little and it looks like body kits are getting hard to find for our D21's. Probably because they haven't been in production for so long. I got nothing.
-R

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1994 D21 2.4, 2wd, 5spd XE

veesix

The rivets are out and, with a grinder, I cut away the old steel. Here is a look at the first fit.



Three panels will come together here. Not sure how that will look, but this is a test bed (hey, I just made a pun!)

TheRepairMan

Getting all that stuff to line up perfectly probably isn't as easy as it looks. I've never done it, but I've seen it done, and it's an art. Skills I don't have. I'll stick to turning wrenches. Keep us posted on your progress!

-R

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1994 D21 2.4, 2wd, 5spd XE

veesix

I have 2 patches in, and one to go.

veesix

Passenger side tail lamp. The welds are not great (or even good) but they are better than when I started.