welding exhast!!

[jas98]

what would i need to disconnect to weld the exhast as i want to put a chrome tip on and i dont want to fu#k up the electrics...lol

cheers all

[timmy_tam]

best if u disconenct the battery
both postive and negative terminals

[jas98]

thanks for the reply

yeh was thinking the battery but would it also be a good idea to disconnect (unplug) the ecu (computer)??

thanks

[timmy_tam]

it wouldn't hurt (seeing as the VN, especially the calais models) have so much electrics

but i had my muffler tip welded on with just battery disconnected

as long as you earth the neg of the welder, you should be right

[greenfoam]

I've done a fair bit of welding on mine with everything still connected, no problems so far

[Pub247]

I was going to say i never seen the exhaust shops disconnect the bettery

[greenfoam]

Yeah in theory all the powaaaaa from the welder should go from the earth to the tip and no where else, you shouldn't ever weld through a bearing or any place with a join that you don't want to stuff up so just put the earth close to and on the same part that you are welding and it should be fine

[jas98]

hey thaks for all the replys

well the battery is the first thing i would dissconnet just to be safe

if i get around to doing it anytime soon ill let yaas know how it turns out (and maybe a pic lolz)

[J_D]

It is good practice to disconnect and remove the computer from the car. Leaving it in probably wont cause any problems but for the 5 minutes it takes to remove it why take the risk.

[HoZy]

Never disconnected anything... No exhaust shops do either...

Cheers
MaT

[impulsesv6]

cant believe this,i hope you arent professionals giving this advice!!. why wouldnt you disconnect the battery? - a very big risk if things go wrong
- how would you explain to the customer that their car has to be taken to holden for a new computer? - there goes all your profit for that and the next job.
and all for the sake of undoing the battery!!

following welding principles, the current will follow the path of least resistance, so as greenfoam said "put the earth close to and on the same part that you are welding"
so since you are welding the exhaust put the earth clamp on the exhaust (preferably the same section)
and where you are welding give it a rub over with scotchbrite to remove any rust and soot, this will reduce inclusions and give a stronger weld.
any birdsh*t welds are unacceptable also

- do it once do it right

[Pub247]

I'm a welder by trade i know how to weld and do good qaulity welds. I weld alloy cylinder heads and know whats is acceptable and what is not. My point was i have never-ever seen an exhaust shop disconnect the battery or ecu. You think that would take the risk if they knew it could cost them $1000 to fix a customer's car?
If i was doing it my i would disconnect the battery and make sure both earth and positive were not touching the the body (creating a circuit)

[timmy_tam]

maybe said weld shops are too busy, employ apprentices or just choose to play roulette with your car

[jas98]

hey i forgot to mention that i only have a arc welder.. would it still be alright to just dissconnect the battery only or?

and thanks for all tha help

cheers

[Pub247]

Yes disconnect the battery have fun welding it with an arc i suppose you won't have to weld all the way round a bit on each side will hold it on well enough.

[impulsesv6]

fun welding it with an arc

too true .

[jas98]

yeh thats the only prob as a arh welder may blow holes in it..........lol i may pop rivet it on but i dont want to have the pop rivits obstucting to exhast flow...JK (its only stock system) lmfao!!

[jas98]

hey havent welded it on yet but was wondering how much and exhast place would charge to do it ??as like i said i only have an arc welder and dont want to fuc# up the electrics..................however i may try it but dont want to (also) blow holes in the metal lol

cherers

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

17 years in the exhaust industry and never disconnected a battery yet. Never blown anything up either. Just put the earth as close to where you are welding as possible.

[AirStrike]

maybe said weld shops are too busy, employ apprentices or just choose to play roulette with your car

Interesting, considering all 4 of my cars have been done by the same workshop - which are one of the most well known in the Northern suburbs - and I have never seen them disconnect a battery. Everything from trucks, my SS, skylines, orginal XW Phase II, etc.........
Maybe your places are just scared of their lack of experiance......

[cracker]

ull be fine, its not going to blow anything up **** u can weld things while holding them its not like ur going to get a belt off it let alone damage ur car

[Emackulation]

Just do it already.....as was stated, put ya earth close to what your welding and away she goes.

[jas98]

thanks for all the replys ..........................will try and do it on the weekend


cheers all

[14secvp]

exhaust shops normally pop the bonnet and clamp on the surge guard between the battery terminals instead of taking them off if you dont disconnect the battery you stand a high possibility of stuffing the alternator i allways disconnect the ecu after my mates ecu got toasted when his mate welded a hole in the exhaust

[RockyVX]

blow holes? **** that. turn the amps down and get smaller rods.