This may be a stupid question but how do you weld all the way around the joints on something like an exocage where the body restricts you from welding on the backside of the tube? Do you just weld around as far as possible and call it good, or is there something I am missing? It's not like you can remove the cage after tacking it all in place and then fully weld it.

i normally put a gusset on the joints that i cant get a bead all the around

I would cut the cage and pull it off the truck to weld the joints. You can always weld it back on and sleeve it where you cut it off. I've never done it, so that could be a stupid thing to do. I would think it would be a lot more stupid to leave joints partially welded.

I would cut the cage and pull it off the truck to weld the joints. You can always weld it back on and sleeve it where you cut it off. I've never done it, so that could be a stupid thing to do. I would think it would be a lot more stupid to leave joints partially welded.

x2

tommy, im sure you could figure a way to be able to pull the exo and weld around all the joints.

or depending on how much room you leave between the tubework and the body, you could probably get your MIG gun in the right spots and be able to reach the backside of the joints. might be a little out of position, but from the work ive seen you do, im sure you can handle it!:smokin:

Ive got the trusty stick welder out for the one I just did,

I've got a spare tip shroud that I've cut off at an angle that works fine for getting into tight spaces. The weld does get hot on the tip but for small welds it usually does ok - put plenty of anti splatter on as well and flood with gas.

Dave

can you cut the sheet metal away, make your weld's around the exo and patch the body back together. i had to this but with a hole saw on a XJ floor for the cage i did years back, ya it was a pain in the ass but made every one wonder how i got the tops welded all around:flipoff2:, jason.