DAMNIT!!!! added a malibu,really??!! :shock: man i give up with trying to "keep up with the WARRENS"!!! LOL,you on it homie.wanted to share a technique with you on them braces,for future or other simular pieces you may need done on your "FLEET" :wink: start off with a good ground surface,on contact and piece you are welding,then drill some holes in the braces(metal),around six would work for the braces(3 on each side tab,and space them about an inch and a half apart)then dial in your settings,best way is to as you know PRACTICE on a scrap piece,then when youve got the welder dialed in proceed to fill the holes you drilled in by placing stick over hole at a slight 45 degree angle and hold trigger(weld)for 3 seconds(mississippippi method :wink: ) and continue on to the remaining holes in a "cross pattern"(like tightening them irocs)this way the heat distribution is somewhat controled.this which was taught to me by my cousin(master welder,who does all my welding on my projects,and who teaches welding shop at the local community college)has given me GREAT RESULTS,and is much easier and will provide a stronger weld at this point in your "learning of the weld"opposed to the "popcorn/splatter"your currently getting.although like you mentioned,this is a place in the cruck that will not be exposed and covered,so its all hood 8) also your weld may seem pretty "contacted",but if you were to say "smooth-out" clean up the weld with a grinder i dont think they would hold? welding is SO much FUN once you get a basic know-how,do's&dont's and BELIEVE me you wont want to put down the stick!!!! 
once i get my t-top double s to our friend gerald,(and after i finnish up the el,paint and fine tunning :wink: ) im gonna be welding a t-roof to a hardtopped double S i just purchased!!! cant wait.nehoo Continue to keep it 100 and ill be posted for the next "this is how to build a el"installment from you :!:
once i get my t-top double s to our friend gerald,(and after i finnish up the el,paint and fine tunning :wink: ) im gonna be welding a t-roof to a hardtopped double S i just purchased!!! cant wait.nehoo Continue to keep it 100 and ill be posted for the next "this is how to build a el"installment from you :!:
I was just gonna "clean up" all the splatter around the welds, and go over a few areas. It's a wire feed flux welder and yes it's pretty fun! I gotta pick one up just to play around with and then graduate to something better later. I figured since the welds are gonna be covered, I wouldn't worry so much about em being super "clean" , but to have a nice "bite" and hold for the long run. I will use the drill on the Bu's brackets. Thanks for that tip!! Now I remember that Tha Prez Elco Mel said to do em that way... I still gotta do the shifter brackets and console bracket, and will use that method to ensure a nice bite. I may drill a hole in the center of each tab and use a nut/bolt for extra hold(maybe?). All this is new for me so I'm open to suggestions. 
