Welding thread!!!!
Seasoned Member

Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 499
Likes: 58
From: DFW
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
wow forgot about this thread! I got to do some welding on my e30 yay. First time welding upside down and was only able to weld one handed...welds looked like crap lol
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
7018 is a low hydrogen rod, meaning it doesn't like moisture. They should be stored in a rod oven. 7018 is a structural rod, used widely throughout the industry. More of a drag rod, that has higher tensile strength (70,000 lbs)...produces strong yet ductile welds.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 707
Likes: 20
From: AV Kalifornia
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
in my experience welding on the unibody you have to be careful not to blow through the metal. since the stiffeners are a thicker metal (requiring a bit more heat) what i did is set my welder on a lower setting, built up a thick weld on the unibody, then increased the heat and welded the weld to the stiffener. i also made sure to get enough surface area weld on the unibody to spread the load. i don't claim to be an expert, so somone else might have a better suggestion but that is what worked for me.
Lol, idk about building up any weld on unibody. It's 2-3 seconds and you'll put a hole in it easy. Use think you want enough heat to burn into the stiffener and then move it to kiss the unibody. I know ideally you don't want to add more heat than you have to either.
I sure wish a good welder had a video of this process to mimic what they are doing.
I sure wish a good welder had a video of this process to mimic what they are doing.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 707
Likes: 20
From: AV Kalifornia
Year: 1996
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Lol, idk about building up any weld on unibody. It's 2-3 seconds and you'll put a hole in it easy. Use think you want enough heat to burn into the stiffener and then move it to kiss the unibody. I know ideally you don't want to add more heat than you have to either.
I sure wish a good welder had a video of this process to mimic what they are doing.
I sure wish a good welder had a video of this process to mimic what they are doing.
Also I'm think about hooligan mids, any advice on filling the slits that allow it to bend or is it kinda tack it on and fill it up, seemingly and odd groove to connect thinner material underneath to, but also filling out the weld of the thicker part. Seems a ways to get wire In lol.
Any recommendations on keeping the weld on the material vs growing outward or becoming slag blasted everywhere.
I'm using a Hobart 210mvp.
Last edited by 4x4jeepmanthing; May 24, 2019 at 03:33 AM.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 14,479
Likes: 805
From: Blunt, South Dakota
Year: 97
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.6 stroker
So I can just pool in onto the thick and flick it onto the thin or just let it melt out until it reached the thin then move?
Also I'm think about hooligan mids, any advice on filling the slits that allow it to bend or is it kinda tack it on and fill it up, seemingly and odd groove to connect thinner material underneath to, but also filling out the weld of the thicker part. Seems a ways to get wire In lol.
Any recommendations on keeping the weld on the material vs growing outward or becoming slag blasted everywhere.
I'm using a Hobart 210mvp.
Also I'm think about hooligan mids, any advice on filling the slits that allow it to bend or is it kinda tack it on and fill it up, seemingly and odd groove to connect thinner material underneath to, but also filling out the weld of the thicker part. Seems a ways to get wire In lol.
Any recommendations on keeping the weld on the material vs growing outward or becoming slag blasted everywhere.
I'm using a Hobart 210mvp.
You can fill those gaps, you might need multiple passes to completely fill.
I'll gather from your last statement, you're using fluxcore wire? I wouldn't recommend fluxcore for this job, fluxcore burns hotter. Get a bottle and solid wire, it will make it easier.
Either way is fine, just watch what the puddle is doing. If you're too far into the thin material, you'll know quickly, Haha
You can fill those gaps, you might need multiple passes to completely fill.
I'll gather from your last statement, you're using fluxcore wire? I wouldn't recommend fluxcore for this job, fluxcore burns hotter. Get a bottle and solid wire, it will make it easier.
You can fill those gaps, you might need multiple passes to completely fill.
I'll gather from your last statement, you're using fluxcore wire? I wouldn't recommend fluxcore for this job, fluxcore burns hotter. Get a bottle and solid wire, it will make it easier.
Last edited by 4x4jeepmanthing; May 24, 2019 at 08:31 AM.


