Before:
http://mattblehm.com/pics/car/crossmember/IM001075.JPG

Work in progress:
http://mattblehm.com/pics/car/crossmember/IM001081.JPG

Notice the welded seams as well:
http://mattblehm.com/pics/car/crossmember/IM001084.JPG

I beefed up the dinky welds on all of the bushings so it shouldn't ever happen on the back either.
http://mattblehm.com/pics/car/crossmember/IM001083.JPG
http://mattblehm.com/pics/car/crossmember/IM001085.JPG

Completed welding, before painting..
http://mattblehm.com/pics/car/crossmember/IM001088.JPG

After:
http://mattblehm.com/pics/car/crossmember/IM001091.JPG

Once it's back on the car, you can hardly tell it's been worked on!
http://mattblehm.com/pics/car/crossmember/IM001097.JPG
http://mattblehm.com/pics/car/crossmember/IM001098.JPG

Oh.. I also had a helper working with me last night
http://mattblehm.com/pics/car/crossmember/IM001077.JPG

Now that I've got it back on the car, the car runs soooo much smoother! no more jerky shifts and weird noises on bumps! Yaay!

 

Matt, you are unbelieveble. You got skills man!!

 

Sweet!


Nice helper too

 

Amazing. It looks so clean.

 

Looks good, now you need to paint the mounts to match

 

Very nice Matt, what would 3rd gen owners do without you.

 

be like other gen owners?

 

Matt, one question, what is that welding gel stuff? I cant even find it on lincolns site, google wasn't to helpful. I remember seeing it in Home Depot, but didn't really look at it

 

Very nice Matt. Very nice welding.

 

Looks good!

How did you hold up the engine while you did the work?

Brian

 

It's nozzle gel.. you stick it on your nozzle to keep spatter from sticking to it. (read that as you will )

I also use it on parts that I don't want to get welding flash on.. I use a small brush and wipe it on the surfaces that I don't want to get anything stuck to (flat parts of caliper brackets, bolt holes, threads on bolts holding stuff together for welding, etc). works great. washes off with water later, or it burns off with the welding heat.
It's rather $ for a can of it, but it goes a looooooong way. that jar is about 5 months old and still 90% full.

 

I think you may mean spatter. Flash is the actual light the arc puts out.

I can see where the nozzle dip helps to keep spatter (notice no L in the word) from sticking on stuff pretty well. They make a spray on anti-spatter that comes in an aerosol can. It works pretty well. I don't know how it compares in price since they buy all that stuff for us at work and I don't have to pay for it. You may want to check into adding a can to your shop and see how you like it. It's definitely easier than painting on stuff.

 

yeah but a spray is also less controllable. at least with this you put it where yopu want it to be and no worry that overspray got on where you actually wanna weld. i havewnt used mine since i went to mig, the welds are sooooooooooooo much cleaner than arc, but it does still produce some spatter.

either way, nice work matt!

 

TIG is even better You shouldn't get any spatter or sparks with tig. The only drawback is that you usually have to spend more money to get a tig setup.

Here's some pics: http://mywebpages.comcast.net/engloi.../workpics.html

 

tig is way too expensive for your do it yourself-er. if you are making money off itthen cool. but otherwise(unless you weld aluminum) it isnt worth it

 

It all depends on the person and what you call too much money...and what kind of quality you want. You can actually buy parts and use most stick welders as tig machines. Your post above indicates that you may have a stick welding machine already so you may want to do that sometime. You can also buy tig machines for as low as $800-900.

You're right about aluminum...mig on aluminum really isn't very good. Tig is the best way to do it by far.

 

I always love the "Matts Mod of the Day" posts, you never know what is going to be next.

 

me too
...

 

...just waiting for the day I click it and see a snail in the engine bay, instead of a frog on the wheel.

 

well, there's only about three other things left on the car. one of them is done (and I'm not telling what it is), another is on the shelf in the garage, and I'm doing research on the last one now. Engloid, I may be asking you for some time due to your expertise in pipe fitting.

 

dude, you cant just say all that and leave us hanging, it is against the law somehow...

email me and let me know what you have going on

 

I'm not sayin squat. you're on a need-to-know-basis, and you don't need to know. You'll find out when everyone else does. until then, I get help from those I need to, and I keep it quiet until I'm done. I'm tired of fending off 500 emails and PMs a week asking me how I did this or modified that or the lengths and sizes of my ground wires. when I'm ready, you'll know. Until then, keep daydreaming.

 

What kinda clutch were you using when the X-member cracked?

 

You act like I am one of those 500 emails.

I thought you liked me more than the other noobs you would release it to first.

 

From what I recall, it is an ACT and almost brand new stock motor mounts, but I'm not sure because I'm not Matt

 

Don, I've told a few people a few things, and next thing I knoe EVERYONE knows about it. I don't know where the leak is, so I'm just keeping my mouth shut. nothing personal man.


Jim, the first time was with a LuK clutch and stock flywheel. this time it was an ACT/fidanza.

 

But, you have told other people too right?

I am not a ratone.

I understand where you are coming from though.

no worries.

 

Engloid, you do VERY nice welding. Kind of inspires me to become a welder by trade.

 

I broke my X-member when I had an ACT clutch. Looks like the X-member can't handle the abuse of performace clutch.

 

I KNOW EVERYTHING !!!

damn matt i didn't think you'd still have the maxima... Been forever since i've talked to you... Damn computer messed up so i don't have ICQ anymore.

got AIM or Yahoo??

 

I still have it.. doesn't mean its street legal.
no AIM or yahoo.. I stay away from it.. too many little idiots find me and bug me on those things.

 

haha... Nice.
Yeah i'm going to be selling the old 350z soon and keeping the pad for now.. Just ordered a new tranny for it since it's been sitting awhile. then i think i'm about doing what we've talked about quite afew times.

but you should get AIM and use a name no1 would ever know and just have me on your buddy list!!!