metal for body panels and frame?

[mattymatmat]

What kind and thickness of metal should I buy to patch up body panels like the fender? Can I just go down to ACE hardware and pick up a sheet of whatever is handy? I posted a thread about welding and found out I'll be able to get my hands on a MIG welder but I guess it'd be good to find out what kind of metal I should be using to weld on to the car Thanks!

[2ManyZs]

You can use most any sheet steel but don't get a sheet with a coating or alumized (like tail pipe tubing), you should be able to get this a most af the big hardware chains like Lowe's or Home Depot for a 24x 24 inch sheet.

As far as the gauge of the panels you will need. I believe there were three thicknesses of metal used on a Z, they were 22,20 and 18 gauge. Shamefully a lot of areas that should have been 18 gauge were the thinner gauge and caused a lot of cars to go the great "parts place" in the sky before they should have.

If I'm mistaken on the gauges of the panels someone correct me.

And to add to your welding post, I believe a Mig welder is the better choice for novice welders over a TIG, especially when it comes to welding thin body panels. If possible use a MIG with the shielding gas as you will do a lot less grinding and have nicer welds than the flux core wire. TIG is too expensive for the amateur, and if you will only need it once in a while MIG is the way to go. I've had a good bit of welding with my little cheap MIG and have tried to TIG weld, it is not an easy technique to learn.

[kmack]

2Many is correct on the gauge thicknesses used, but to be safe and to make welding easier, you should probably stick with the 18 ga. It's not going to hurt, but it sure will make it easier if you don't have much welding experience. And the 18 ga will still be pretty easy to shape, also.

If you are borrowing the MIG, great. It's less you have to spend. But do go out and get ahold of the thinnest wire you get your hands on. Too thick of a wire and you'll end up with either a "cold weld" or burning a hole through the metal. Burning a hole is the worst of the two.

Take your time and if you haven't done much welding, practice first. Much better to mess up a scrap piece of metal than to turn your car into scrap.

[mattymatmat]

Okay 18 gauge it is, thanks guys. Yah I'll definetly practice on some scrap first... I can afford scrap metal I can't afford to get a another Z!