My D1 was broken into last month, and a section of the door skin was torn when the thief tried to pry it open.

Does anyone have experience welding the D1 aluminum skin? How much amperage / which grade of filler rod?

Thanks!

 

Save yourself the hassle and money. Buy a used door in the same color.

 

Better to re-skin or as above. Door skins are "glued" on, no welding required. Used doors are plentiful, colors will take time to find right color as new paint will stand out.

 

Trust me I've tried. Apparently I have the most rare shade of green LR shipped.

Stupid 50 year anniversary special orders...

 

Woodcote Green?

 

The body is 5051 which can be tig/mig welded with a shielding gas. It's a job for a pro with a high end welding setup.

 

It's the lighter metallic green. Like it has gold flake mixed in with the paint. I've had a few LR wreckers and mechanics look at it and go ->

Thanks! I'll go grab a handful of 5051 filler rod and practice on some chopped up wrecker fenders. Have a Miller Dialarc 250 AC/DC with a water cooled torch. Consider myself excellent at stainless, but aluminum stumps me.

Was thinking if I strip off the paint just immediately surrounding the tear and backstitch the weld to avoid putting too much heat into the surrounding [painted] metal. Might be able to get away with a touch up pen...?

 

Wtf?!! My D1's body is aluminum? Someone please enlightenment me...

 

Got a magnet handy?

 

Roof is steal, the rest of the panels are aluminum.