I just got some butt welding clamps and i also need some sheet metal for a patch or 2. So i want to get some metal{smaller size from home depot ect}

16 gauge.

For what? outer body panels?? Most autobody metal is 22ga but some is 20ga....either will work.

Dave

the thicker, the easier but it also gets hard to butt weld two different thicknesses as the dispartity gets larger.

I'm not positive on the thickness of a factory Mopar firewall, but 18ga - 20ga would probably work well. I sure wish I would have mic'd various parts of my car when it was down to raw metal.


Dave

If you're going to be doing much welding purchase a dial caliper and measure the metal you want to patch. They are cheap and very handy to have. They also simplify setting up the welder. Butt welds are easier when both metals are the same thickness.

what is the new sheet metal like AMD stuff made of?

Most of the original E-body sheetmetal is 0.035" The rear wheel houses are only 0.030". I miked them before.
Obviously structural parts like frame reails are thicker.

Please let us know how well the magnetic copper plates work at preventing blow through. I've been thinking about buying a set of those.

Tav

The floors, firewall, and inner fenders are 18 gauge. Call your local welding supply houses and ask who in your area would have some scrap metal to sell you. I bought two strips of 18 gauge, 12"x36" each, for $10 from a local metal works house. They were more then happy to sell me the "scraps".

I bought a piece of copper pipe from the local hardware store, beat it flat, and use that to go behind the butt weld seam. Works well.