Bad Factory Welds

**Hotrodpaul** · #1 08-13-2005, 08:04 AM

After waterblasting my 69 Camaro front subframe, I noticed how bad the welds were with lots of spatter. I think the welder must have been new or mad that day. Does anyone else have welds that look this bad? Is this typical? Check it out.

Paul
69 Camaro SS L78, M21, 4.10's

camarojoe · #2 08-13-2005, 09:46 AM

Factory welds are always pretty bad on subframes... I have yet to see one that didn't look like it was welded left handed with a coat hanger while the guy was blindfolded... The held together for 35 years though, so looks aren't everything! When you get some fresh pain on there it will look alot better!

Rat_Pack · #3 08-14-2005, 12:53 AM

Like camarojoe says, all subframes have poor looking welds as far as asthetics go. Take a little time with an angle grinder and a box of Roloc discs and clean up all of the welds and remove all of the slag, expecially around the crossmembers and along the outsides of the frame. This will make for a much nicer looking subframe once painted or powdercoated.......RatPack...........

**Salvatore** · #4 08-14-2005, 01:20 AM

Hey Hot Rod, What do you want for $3.00 an hour?

Do what Rat Pack tells ya. Will look good!

**Hotrodpaul** · #5 08-15-2005, 04:23 AM

Looks much better now:

Just cleaned up the factory components plus a few NOS items. More to come.

Paul
69 Camaro SS L78 M21 4.10's 20K miles

**Hotrodpaul** · #6 08-15-2005, 04:32 AM

A few more:

Paul
69 Camaro SS L78 M21 4.10's 20K miles

71SSNova · #7 11-15-2005, 04:56 AM

[ QUOTE ]
After waterblasting my 69 Camaro front subframe, I noticed how bad the welds were with lots of spatter. I think the welder must have been new or mad that day. Does anyone else have welds that look this bad? Is this typical? Check it out.

Paul
69 Camaro SS L78, M21, 4.10's

[/ QUOTE ]

I worked at the old Jeep plant till it was shut down in '01. Those folks in the frame weld booth was making more smoke than just weld smoke.

The welds were not any better in '01 than what they were in 1969.

Now it's all done by robots.

**Hotrodpaul** · #8 11-15-2005, 06:37 AM

The NOS L-78 Cam I purchased about a year ago from a member of this site. The cam is currently unavailable from GM but is still stocked by Crane and Comp Cams. Forged 11:1 Pistons and dimple rods came with the motor, the crank is a factory forged steel 6223 Nitrided GM crankshaft that was purchased through Ebay.

Coming next will be the like new 842 L-89 Aluminum Heads, oil pump, pan, and manifold, etc.

Stay Tuned.

Paul

**Hotrodpaul** · #9 11-15-2005, 06:41 AM

All the slugs are in.

Paul

**Hotrodpaul** · #10 11-22-2005, 06:29 AM

L89 842 Aluminum Heads:

Paul

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