Welding torque boxes.

[91CoupeMike]

Who on here does this?

Do I need to buy the kit and take it to them or do most people have the shop make the part?

Pm me some prices.

Thanks!

[greenbullitt]

jamesb or brooks. you shoulda done them before they tore

[turbostang]

It's probably what I'd consider to be the shittiest job you could ask for on a Mustang. Especially if they are already damaged. You get into the 3 main parts of the car all at one time - Grease, interior and repair.

High mileage cars are greasy as fuck and hard to weld (properly) since the grease is in and around all the seams you have to weld. The back portion of the interior has to come out, and to do it properly - the rear end should be taken out, or at the very least - partially taken out... NOT fun, and in this heat, even worse.

[91CoupeMike]

So it would be polite if I cleaned it as much as possible. And take the interior out?

Or what is the proper way to do it? I have the means of getting to tools to do it, just not sure on what all to do.

[turbostang]

So it would be polite if I cleaned it as much as possible. And take the interior out?

Or what is the proper way to do it? I have the means of getting to tools to do it, just not sure on what all to do.

Usually, you can pop the back seat out and roll the carpet up to the seatbacks. Sometimes there's some tarpaper to remove, maybe tail light wiring and maybe speaker wires if there's aftermarket stuff in there (that's where everyone runs the wiring for whatever reason).

Proper is rarely done- but for the records, I'd wire brush EVERY seam on the upper and lower torque boxes that you can reach with a good air motor and STIFF wire wheel. Once that's done, I'd spray the shit out of it with some sort of good degreaser like Coastal Power clean, purple power etc.. and then power wash the shit out of the same areas.

THOSE steps will get you the best results, but may not always be practical.

Depending on the damage, most cars can be fixed with torque box plates from Wolfe, CE etc..and a BUNCH of welding.

[91CoupeMike]

Welding the plates on is what I was referring too.

[91CoupeMike]

But all that would be a lot of work, and if the plates are easier, aren't they stronger too?

[turbostang]

But all that would be a lot of work, and if the plates are easier, aren't they stronger too?

You don't do one or the other, you do it all.

[91CoupeMike]

You don't do one or the other, you do it all.

Oh I see, that makes sense.

I'll have to do some research and see what all this is going to take, I'd like to do it myself, but at the same time Idk if I'll be up to the task.

[LS1Goat]

travis (ghp), had the guys weld up mine, at my request, for practically nothing while the car was already on the lift getting my torque converter and trans drain plug installed. and it proved it's worth when i started running slicks and poly bushing lca's.

[turbos66coupe]

Brooks is right it is some nasty welding. Clean up as best you can don't use brake clean on anything your going to weld. Weld up any seem on the upper and lower boxes.

[turbostang]

travis (ghp), had the guys weld up mine, at my request, for practically nothing while the car was already on the lift getting my torque converter and trans drain plug installed. and it proved it's worth when i started running slicks and poly bushing lca's.

While I don't doubt you got them welded, nor do I doubt Travis' ability - but there's NO way to do it RIGHT WITH the rearend IN the car. It simply can not be done. Depending on damage or overall condition of the car - you can gaurantee to spend 200-500$. You can call ANY shop around here that does it "right" and see that I speak the truth. It's a FULL 6-8 hour job to do it RIGHT.

Brooks is right it is some nasty welding. Clean up as best you can don't use brake clean on anything your going to weld. Weld up EVERY seem on the upper and lower boxes.

Fixed

Nasty is not the word for it, I try to reserve those jobs for winter time if possible. Just about every welding scar I have on my arms are from torque box repair!

[Blue88Coupe]

While I don't doubt you got them welded, nor do I doubt Travis' ability - but there's NO way to do it RIGHT WITH the rearend IN the car. It simply can not be done. Depending on damage or overall condition of the car - you can gaurantee to spend 200-500$. You can call ANY shop around here that does it "right" and see that I speak the truth. It's a FULL 6-8 hour job to do it RIGHT.



Fixed

Nasty is not the word for it, I try to reserve those jobs for winter time if possible. Just about every welding scar I have on my arms are from torque box repair!

UGH y'all are killing me over here. The rearend is out of my car right now and the torq boxes arent welded.

[turbostang]

UGH y'all are killing me over here. The rearend is out of my car right now and the torq boxes arent welded.

It's probably the most overlooked part of our cars. You don't know they are bad until they are BAD. I fixed one a month or two back that was actually broken at the cruise - ONE pass and it broke the upper right side. I had to use a series of C clamps, jacks, vice grips and hammers to make it go back into place. That one took ~7 hours or so. Now, he called me back and said, "damn, my car rides rough as hell now!".. because the torque boxes aren't flapping around in the breeze!

[Blue88Coupe]

It's probably the most overlooked part of our cars. You don't know they are bad until they are BAD. I fixed one a month or two back that was actually broken at the cruise - ONE pass and it broke the upper right side. I had to use a series of C clamps, jacks, vice grips and hammers to make it go back into place. That one took ~7 hours or so. Now, he called me back and said, "damn, my car rides rough as hell now!".. because the torque boxes aren't flapping around in the breeze!

I'm gonna snap some pictures of what mine look like in a little while so y'all can tell me how bad they are before I start welding on them. Also can I just show up at wolfes shop and buy his torque box kit or do I have to order online? I have to drop the rearend off with paul tomorrow and I believe they're both in ft worth some where.