1995 Rebuild

I've got alot of booger welds on my truck lol. That's what happens when your learning! It will still hold if it's a good weld just not very clean. Having a rusty frame and not taking the time to really grind down to bare metal doesn't help either. Not does having a hole in the gas hose.

 

You do realize that some not so good welds on a plate on top of the frame steel isn't going to kill you. Someone drive it before with all those holes in it. Not saying it's not important to have clean welds, but your just reinforcing the frame, not building a whole new one.

My point is, if a weld would happen to fail, which would take alot. Your just breaking a weld on a reinforcement (which wouldn't kill you) not on the actual structure of the frame. Unless complete whole sections of the frame was replaced.

 

Yes - I get that. Was referring frame repairs rather than just some reinforcements. Its also not just a matter of a weld failure as the result of driving. If you were to get in an accident with a compromised frame there is more of a probability that you will get injured. I also don't consider it a reinforcement if you weld a plate over steel that is rusted to the point that you can punch a hole through it with a hammer. To me that is a repair.

Also - booger welds are not only a cosmetic issue - they are weak. Ask these guys - https://www.reddit.com/r/BadWelding/

 

Well any weld based forum is going to say that lol. And your not wrong.

I just think you were being a little over critical about the welding thing. That only a prfessional should weld on the frame or your going to die lol.

 

How is she running?

 

Can you speak more to the front mount rear leaf spring mount? Did you reuse the mount or buy a new one?

I am in the same process and the mount for the leaf spring appears to be in good shape, like it's made of a different metal compound compared to the frame. Any tips on how you re-welded the mounts back to the frame regarding measurements and technique?

Thanks a lot for all the info and pics you have shared!

 

Great work here, good to see a 95 Tacoma saved from truck heaven. Good looking welds too, looks like you really had your game plan together and executed it well. I'm sure many Tacoma owners with rust issues will find this thread very useful.

 

Sorry to reply so late. Took the summer off. I cut the old mount off and re-used it. The metal there was fine. I think it is the same. Mike the welder (guy near me who welds) did the welding for me. I didn't want to play games.

The junkyard that I sourced the other components from in Colorado could have sent me used ones, but I opted to clean mine up. It would have been easier if I had a plasma cutter.