LocostUSA.com

My chassis is currently in the below shape, mostly complete, but a lot barely more than tack welded.
Without a welder, I've been biding my time until I could either get my dad & his MIG down to my house, or haul the chassis up to his for a weekend.

Noticed a fab shop on my commute home recently & was thinking about giving them a call to possibly get an estimate on dropping it there to get it all welded up.

Anyone know, ballpark, what this might potentially cost? Are we talking a couple hundred, or a a couple thousand?
Obviously there are a lot of factors that can't be predicted, just curious if it's a feasible solution without being overly expensive.

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1975 MG Midget
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=24382
13B Powered Rotus Geauxkart
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=20899

4 to 6 hours times labor rate, so less than a grand.

I turned my fully tacked frame into a fully welded frame in a couple of evening sessions

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Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

That's an awful lot of short welds. I'm guessing that the cost would be on the high side of $2K (somewhere quite "north"). To complete the welds you would want to put it on a rotisserie or back on your build table so you can turn it over to get all four sides easily. I TIG welded my Lotus 7's which would be a lot more labor than to finish in MIG.

Good luck.
Roy

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Build log http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16510

If Tommy can do it in 6 hours I'd ship it up to him. Man, what a bargain.
Cheers,
Roy

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Build log http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16510

Thanks guys, may try to stop in their shop on my drive home, if they're open & see if they can give a ballpark number.

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1975 MG Midget
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=24382
13B Powered Rotus Geauxkart
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=20899

It’ll probably cost you about the same as a decent gas mig rig.

I’m sure you will select welder who is a consummate professional, known for his penetration, and one hellofan American but in the process of meeting your flat rate, he may also warp the hell out of your tacked birdcage, saving you no time.

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Miata UBJ: ES-2074R('70s maz pickup)
Ford IFS viewtopic.php?f=5&t=13225&p=134742
Simple Spring select viewtopic.php?f=5&t=11815
LxWxHt
360LA 442E: 134.5x46x15
Lotus7:115x39x7.25
Tiger Avon:114x40x13.3-12.6
Champion/Book:114x42x11
Gibbs/Haynes:122x42x14
VoDou:113x44x14
McSorley 442:122x46x14
Collins 241:127x46x12

Go with Mv8's suggestion and get a decent MIG welder. It's just another tool you will have to buy to complete that car.
You will be making 47 more trips to the weld shop, because you still have axle brackets, brake lever, rad mount, pedals and pedal box, light mounting brkts, etc.etc..
Then after that, there will be one little tab that has to be welded on before you can finish with a system, before you can move on to the next area. Too much frustration and the build will just comes to a stop!!!!
A couple of hours with a welder, on scrap metal and you can start on the non-critical welds.
You can also check with the local jr college about welding classes. You will use that skill for the rest of your life.
Davew

^ Most of that is done. Geauxkart had this thing probably 70% when I picked it up, with most of that already mounted. The RR suspension is incomplete, and probably multiple mounting plates are needed, just need to get the bulk done.

Thinking the most practical method is going to be hauling up to my dad's to spend a weekend welding on it.

Glad these frames are light & should fit in a pickup bed, though may need a small jig to support it.

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1975 MG Midget
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=24382
13B Powered Rotus Geauxkart
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=20899

I used to work as a production welder and have engine stands to use as rotisserie. About 20 out of position welds to make on the flat table to stiffen it all up and lock things into place, then move to the rotisserie and skip weld all over the frame to keep warping to a minimum.

_________________
Too much week, not enough weekend.

OOPS I did it again
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=17496

Blood Sweat and Beers
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=15216

Might be easier to take the welder to the frame, than take the frame to the welder.
That will also allow you to take your time welding it up and any other work needed.
That would also eliminate multiple trips to your dad's if it's a long haul.


Unless you need dad to pull the trigger! :^)

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Honey anyone?

More that he has the MIG & the space to get it done. Would have to re-erect my tent in the garage to keep the rest of it clean.
Also, he has no immediate neighbors, so don't have to worry about shielding the welding arc from neighbor eyes (kids especially).

His place is just over an hour away, so not a bad trip & not a bad way to spend a weekend. Figure I can get the major structure (including finishing the RR suspension area) done & if needs be, he can bring the MIG down for any follow up bits.

_________________
1975 MG Midget
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=24382
13B Powered Rotus Geauxkart
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=20899

It takes me a solid 8 hours to weld a frame. And there's half the connections that one has. I'd suggestion buying a MIG and learning lol. Welding outside with MIG isn't a great idea, wind can blow away your sheilding gas.

Flip chassis over practice on the bottom, save the higher stress areas like the suspension link connections for last. You can weld flat and down hill. Lease a bottle of 75/25. Your in Texas so should be plenty of weld and gas supply shops around

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AWD Exotruck 525hp Subaru EJ22 http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19011

True, there's tons of welding supply shops around here.
May peer around & see what's available, but it's a tool that'll take up valuable & limited space in a crowded (3 car) garage.

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1975 MG Midget
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=24382
13B Powered Rotus Geauxkart
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=20899

I had 3 cars a motorcycle and a big ass snow thrower in my garage, so I get the space thing. And your interests may vary, but the little Miller 120v welder I got to build my car is my life’s favorite tool. I’ve built my chassis, a swing set, a bunch of small things around the house, science fair sub assemblies, you name it. It’s the bomb.

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Figuring out how to build in the bucolic garden state
Build log: viewtopic.php?f=18&t=18224

Did a brief search, looks like the cheapest Miller is just shy of $1k, not including a cart, gas, hood & gloves.

_________________
1975 MG Midget
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=24382
13B Powered Rotus Geauxkart
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=20899