What have you done to your Land Cruiser this week? (20 Viewers)

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Lifted the top beam in the back into place.

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For $1000 I could get an low end Miller or Lincoln, is this really that good?

I have never welded with the low end Miller/Lincoln, only the $4k+ commercial units and this HF performs just as well but just doesnt have the same duty for constant, all-day use. I saw it recently advertised for $899 with coupon. It also has flexibility for stick and Tig, although I have never used it for other than Mig. I assume for stick you would probably want to switch it to 220V (lets put it this way, I’ve never tried stick welding anything with 110V)
 
You don't want to weld it....you want to tack it....here, there, somewhere else but not here again for a bit.
The “somewhere else but not here again for a bit” is the hardest part for me. If I can’t put my hand on the weld and leave it without burning me, then it’s not ready for more welding. I literally will set a timer otherwise I’ll start rushing tacks before they’re cooled.

Patience here saves time later. This is precisely why you need 2-3 cruisers minimum. By the time you get done tacking patch panels on the third one, the first is cooled and ready for more!
 
The “somewhere else but not here again for a bit” is the hardest part for me. If I can’t put my hand on the weld and leave it without burning me, then it’s not ready for more welding. I literally will set a timer otherwise I’ll start rushing tacks before they’re cooled.

Patience here saves time later. This is precisely why you need 2-3 cruisers minimum. By the time you get done tacking patch panels on the third one, the first is cooled and ready for more!
Good advice, I really do need a J60 and J80.
 
there are a lot of expensive commercial-grade models out there…. but this one works great for me at a much lower price point (and even cheaper when its on one of their coupon sales)

I just didn’t feel like arguing with him.
I’ve had a miller set up for years, I like it just fine.

Most welding rigs will be fine for us, find a deal on really most anything and you’re in a good spot.
 
My Miller-Matic 211 has successfully taken 5/8 plate using .035 wire taking pieces to make fireboxes in several smokers I use to build. The auto-set feature has proven to be 98% accurate for anything I have done with it. Nice thing about 5/8…no cooling necessary…bad thing, you can’t lift it after the first 3 pieces get stuck together
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My Miller-Matic 211 has successfully taken 5/8 plate using .035 wire taking pieces to make fireboxes in several smokers I use to build. The auto-set feature has proven to be 98% accurate for anything I have done with it. Nice thing about 5/8…no cooling necessary…bad thing, you can’t lift it after the first 3 pieces get stuck together
The older 211s were awesome machines....I mean the whole series was good, but the first round or two were overbuilt/underrated.
 
As the op found out, stick welding is to hot for body sheetmetal. He should be able to find a cheap 110v mig with gas. I considered one, because my miller 250 didnt like pushing 023 thru the whip. I found with the proper settings, I could get 030 to work fine.
 
More stuff and things. Soaked it in Evaporust overnight then brushed it out before inserting the new bracket and captive nut that I coated in weld through primer. Should last another 44 years. Finally having serious conversations with the painters. Getting close to color and a professional fixing my welding failures.

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They’re real and they’re spectacular…16 GA. sheet metal and solidly constructed.


That’s me!


They are from a company called Sykopaths (I think out of Canada). The little lip at the rear, which I believe is for attaching a soft top window frame, is pretty far back and I never hit my elbow on it. As far as the plates, I got some connects out here on my Island.


You are correct, they came from them. They look great now, but had quite a few fitment problems and needed a lot of fab work to make them work. Plus, we welded door limiter tabs to work with OEM limiters, added interior OEM door handles, and some other body work improvements to make them better. I’m not complaining, as they were sent to me for free to test for quality and fitment. Not sure if they ever corrected our suggestions for improvement though. They cleaned up nice and we painted to match body color. Here are some pics:
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Props for the Seinfeld quote! :)
 
I have almost completed the Craigslist rebuild. I am sure I added 20hp with all this black paint. I am not sure what to do with the valve cover though. I don't really want to paint it or buff it shiny so I may just leave it somewhat as is.
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Also got my tank up, a very not fun job. But after looking at that tank in my office for 7 years it is finally where it is supposed to be.
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This was topped off by installation of a Daystar kit and exhaust rail plugs both vintage 2016 purchases.
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After using so many parts from last decade I keep humming. All I do is Win Win Win Win.
 
I have almost completed the Craigslist rebuild. I am sure I added 20hp with all this black paint. I am not sure what to do with the valve cover though. I don't really want to paint it or buff it shiny so I may just leave it somewhat as is.
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Also got my tank up, a very not fun job. But after looking at that tank in my office for 7 years it is finally where it is supposed to be.
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This was topped off by installation of a Daystar kit and exhaust rail plugs both vintage 2016 purchases.
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After using so many parts from last decade I keep humming. All I do is Win Win Win Win.
I had my alloy bits and valve cover vapor polished, which is a very fine bead blasting using a liquid medium. It results in a bright, clean surface.
 
Fire extinguishers. Sure, I keep a couple in my door pocket but more is better. These are small and might be better than nothing. Magnets lets me mount them almost anywhere

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