WELDING THE BEAMS
When welding the upper portion of the beams, use short passes to fill the total weld area in order to keep from twisting the frame. Alternate welds side to side. Use proper welding and clamping procedures...this is a structural weld. Whenever we designate a weld as a structural weld...it is important to picture the fat man in your mind.
FC12
Use the same procedures on the lower portion of the beams. I suggest about four 1 & 1/2" welds opposite each other, (8 total) These are structural welds.
Be sure to weld all the inner edges of the 'Air Triangle' Do NOT weld the front of the beams at this time. These are structural welds.
FC14
Install the tranny as it would be installed when your art project is completed. Level it side to side, and place a level against the top and bottom lip where the engine slides in. Level this section by placing blocks under one of the tranny mount arms. When it is level, make sure it will not rock. Be careful not to smash your #%*^%!*@ fingers like I just did.
Now level the Twin-beam using vertical and horizontal levels, and slide it back to the transaxal, centering it with the narrow portion of the torsion bar.
FC15
Make sure the top member of the Twin-beam is level with the top of the narrow portion of the torsion bar. I use the square to guestimate how much of the beam has to be cut away to make a flush fit. Draw a vertical line with the magic marker on your beam. About 1/2" in this case.
Now guestimate or mike the diameter of the torsion bar center, where the beams will be welded. I found it to be about the size of this fish food container. Trace the container to the beam, and roughly cut away the center area. Do NOT trim it all the way to your line.
FC17
Fit as I have done. I remove the primer with solvent, and reprime after this point. Keep using your torsion bar as a straight edge to draw your trim line. Always check level, and side to side centering with both the narrow portion of the torsion bar and also from the bottom front of the beam to the shock mount weld lines...(the first and only weld going the complete circumference of the torsion bar towards the outer edge of the bar.)
FC18
Making sure everything is centered and level, tack weld first at the top of the beam. Then tack the lower joining edges on the left and right sides. (Note the space between the welds forms a knife fit if you followed procedures.) Next finish first, the top weld, and then the side welds, using proper welding procedures. Remember the fat man. This is a structural weld. I use about three total passes over this complete area. I don't like to roll down the road.
FC19
If you have followed directions, your beam should be as true as mine. On this one, you can spin a bubble level on any horizontal surface...and the bubble doesn't move. All vertical levels should have also remained centered. This is not so important for a vehicle, but remember, boys and girls,...we're doing an art project, we're not making a scoot!
