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Track car build

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TMO likes track car builds. Good luck with #2.
 
Hey Spartan,

Curious about why you are using welds. The adhesives that auto manufacturers and even body repairs shops now use are so strong that they form a stronger bond than weldment. Have you considered using adhesives instead?
 
Fire hazard, weight, paint adhesion, nobody likes adhesive....
Fire hazard? Manufacturers and body shops regulary use adhesives. They are lighter, cleaner, cheaper, stronger, easier to apply. Seems like a winner. Look at the photos above and see how many welds were made on the frame. Adhesives are much lighter than weldment. I used to be a professional welder on nuclear submarines. Adhesive technolgies now are more advanced than they use to be. Aircraft builders use adhesives to manufacture aircraft frames. With welding on thin materials you have to be concerned with burn through. Another drawback is welding will weaken the surrounding materials in the heat effected zone when heated to these high temperatures. IMHO a strong case could be made for auto frames held together with adhesives being structurally stronger than a welded frame.
 
2,198
1,065
Bay Area
Fire hazard? Manufacturers and body shops regulary use adhesives. They are lighter, cleaner, cheaper, stronger, easier to apply. Seems like a winner. Look at the photos above and see how many welds were made on the frame. Adhesives are much lighter than weldment. I used to be a professional welder on nuclear submarines. Adhesive technolgies now are more advanced than they use to be. Aircraft builders use adhesives to manufacture aircraft frames. With welding on thin materials you have to be concerned with burn through. Another drawback is welding will weaken the surrounding materials in the heat effected zone when heated to these high temperatures. IMHO a strong case could be made for auto frames held together with adhesives being structurally stronger than a welded frame.


Some of my response was sarcasm. I know it’s hard to tell from a response ona a forum... BTW, I used to repair and rebuild aircraft airframes and hydraulics.

And yes adhesive is great for the masses and complies with federal and EU regulations, but this is a racecar build. Not your typical Camry.

But I do have a technical question sub welder. How does a one apply adhesive underwater?
 
The new FP350S and GT4’s are all seam welded. On the Boss 302S seam welding was not an option on the 12’s, was optional on the 13’s and the 14’s were all seam welded. I was told the seam welding makes a noticeable difference. If I buy a used 302S it will be one that was seam welded.

Adhesive will allow flex. A welded joint won’t.


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I seam welded because Kohr Motorsports runs their GT4's that way. I tried to emulate the GT4. Dean Martin is a chassis engineer and knows a thing or two about how to build a good race car. I'm no expert, just doing "best practice" stuff. I get advice and many parts for my builds from Dean.
 

yotah1

Ford Employee
386
598
Detroit
I'm sure adhesives have got a lot better over time, and what was used in my 68 Cuda is dog poop compared to what we use today. And I agree with one thing : adhesive is cheap(er) than a fully welded body. But adhesives deteriorate over time too, stitch welds won't when done properly.

Fred, that's a ton of work on the body, congrats!!! I'll have some for you very soon by the way :)

And I'm jealous of that rotisserie, I need to get or build one for next winter when we'll paint the Cuda!
 
I'm sure adhesives have got a lot better over time, and what was used in my 68 Cuda is dog sh*it compared to what we use today. And I agree with one thing : adhesive is cheap(er) than a fully welded body. But adhesives deteriorate over time too, stitch welds won't when done properly.

Fred, that's a ton of work on the body, congrats!!! I'll have some for you very soon by the way :)

And I'm jealous of that rotisserie, I need to get or build one for next winter when we'll paint the Cuda!
Look forward to your design concepts. You can borrow the rotisserie when I'm done.
 
Fire hazard? Manufacturers and body shops regulary use adhesives. They are lighter, cleaner, cheaper, stronger, easier to apply. Seems like a winner. Look at the photos above and see how many welds were made on the frame. Adhesives are much lighter than weldment. I used to be a professional welder on nuclear submarines. Adhesive technolgies now are more advanced than they use to be. Aircraft builders use adhesives to manufacture aircraft frames. With welding on thin materials you have to be concerned with burn through. Another drawback is welding will weaken the surrounding materials in the heat effected zone when heated to these high temperatures. IMHO a strong case could be made for auto frames held together with adhesives being structurally stronger than a welded frame.

I grew up in a family owned body shop of 45 years in business. You are correct, adhesive is VERY strong....sometimes stronger than welding. The problem with your idea though is that it’s only good when assembling panels. You can not use it on pre-existing panels.


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Adhesive will allow flex. A welded joint won’t.


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This isn’t necessarily true. When a body panel is correctly done with adhesive the adhering joints must both be prepared correctly and then clamped during cure time. When done correctly it is stronger and sturdier than a weld.

Production vehicles are spot welded as they are because they are also crumple zones. Meaning spots welds are spaced apart to allow the vehicle to accordion during impact to absorb energy.
Glue and or stitch welding is way stronger than spot welding.
When done correctly that is.


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I'm sure adhesives have got a lot better over time, and what was used in my 68 Cuda is dog sh*it compared to what we use today. And I agree with one thing : adhesive is cheap(er) than a fully welded body. But adhesives deteriorate over time too, stitch welds won't when done properly.

Fred, that's a ton of work on the body, congrats!!! I'll have some for you very soon by the way :)

And I'm jealous of that rotisserie, I need to get or build one for next winter when we'll paint the Cuda!

You don’t think welds fail or deteriorate?
Ever hear of rust? Lol.
I’m sure your Cuba has / had rust.


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