Seam welding?

[s14=pimpin']

This seems like a good way to add rigidity to any vehicle. Just wondering if anyone had any experience with this method, what areas do yuo weld, and what not to weld (obviously the parts that are on hinges, just wondering if there are any problem areas).

What tools are necessary, can this be done at home, and a procedure outline, if possible. Just trying to gather info, don't know anyone who did this to their street car, is it worth the time?

thanks in advance

[neurovish]

This seems like a good way to add rigidity to any vehicle. Just wondering if anyone had any experience with this method, what areas do yuo weld, and what not to weld (obviously the parts that are on hinges, just wondering if there are any problem areas).

What tools are necessary, can this be done at home, and a procedure outline, if possible. Just trying to gather info, don't know anyone who did this to their street car, is it worth the time?

thanks in advance

I wouldn't really do such a thing to a street car. Adding on bars and such for rigidity is one thing, but once you start welding stuff you risk drastically altering the way your car will handle a crash. The downside to rigidity would be during an accident...all the energy that your car does not absorb gets passed on to you. If you go and start welding everything that can stiffen up the car, then you risk undoing years of research to make a car safer and less likely to hurt the driver in a crash.

Most aftermarket rigidifiers will stiffen the car in a lateral fasion (stb, ladder bars, rear x bar, etc), so that in a frontal or rear impact, the car will still mostly behave the way it would have without the extra support. When you start welding stuff you'll strengthen the car in x, y, and z planes...not just laterally. If you really want the most rigidity in your car without sacrificing safety and crash performance, the easiest route would be getting a cage installed...it will strengthen the car considerably, and won't interfere with any of the energy absorbing areas built into the car.

If you really know what you're doing and what to weld in order to not make the wrong parts stiff (which I guess was part of your question in the first place), then it could be pretty beneficial.

[s14=pimpin']

hey thanks neuro, I didn't even consider the side affects during impact! I agree with your theory, diverted energy will have no choice but to be transfered onto the driver, and I already don't have air bags, so yeah, I'd be risking alot!

Perhaps i could just weld certain area's where the seam welding could be used to its fullest? ex. strut towers?

Maybe sometime down the road, when I have another reliable daily driver and my 240 is mainly for track use, the seam welding may be more practical. I believe cages are illegal up here for street driven cars because they encourage racing. Not 100% certain on this, its heresay, but the laws are funny up north!

Would you know the procedure used to seam weld, the type of weld and metal used? A roll cage is definitely an option, and I'll probably do both a cage and seam welds in the future. Right now I'd just like to add a bit more rigidity, especially in the rear, without the expense or extra weight of a roll cage.

thanks again Neurovish!!!