Two issues on one thread lol

[unoleisu]

LOL, I dunno if anyone would want a 'girl' in their shop! I actually thought about going into auto mechanics instead of nursing because I was a nurses aide for 11 years, and was totally tired of it. Alas, I did what I knew I could do. I'd love to learn auto mechanics tho. I may end up having to take it to a shop if I cannot find someone local to help me with this job.

I used to be an engineering tech for a major ford transmission remanufacturing facility. It was common knowledge among the admin and engineering groups that women made better employees because;
1. they felt like they had to proove themselves
2. they paid more attention to what they were doing (because of #1)
3. they tended to check their work so they wouldn't make mistakes (which they felt would be used against them)

also: in world war II, WOMEN built all our planes, tanks, and guns, that made it possible to win the war, because our equipment was more dependable than the (badguys)
Don't be afraid to learn what you can because of your gender. I know a bad ass chick that can build a bad ass chopper better than most guys. And, a very nice lady that can rebuild the most complicated automatic transmissions with the very best of them.
Learn and do what you can. Ignore the idiots.

 

[tjs4x4]

Thanks, that makes me feel better about it. It's just nerve-wracking, trying to fit in with the 'guys' lol. Sometime I'd like to do some auto body/mechanics and welding training.

 

[voodoochylde]

I'm not too proud to say that when I was taking a stick welding class a few years back, I was out-welded by a young lady nearly every day AFAIK she went on to get certified in stick, MIG, and (I think) TIG and is making a pretty good living doing it.

I've also known a few women who can easily out-wrench me but that's nothing to brag over lol.

There are also quite a few women in my engineering program at school.

 

[r1hatman]

Thank you!

No problem whatsoever!

 

[tjs4x4]

So if I just cut out all that bad metal and painted it with the rust converter then repainted it black, would that make the entire vehicle unstructurally sound?

 

[tjs4x4]

OOOOK, well, it looks like I will be EITHER replacing the ENTIRE rocker panel, OR just removing it and painting it/primering. Its rusted all the way down from front to back. I think the inner panel is salvagable, IF and only if I get the rust on it in the one spot taken care of ASAP. This is only the left side, can't imagine the right side being any better.
PIX:

Got a guy on explorer forum telling me that if I just remove that panel and not replace it, it will make my explorer structurally unsound, is this true?

 

[r1hatman]

Just cut it out and replace it. You could cut it out and leave it, but it would look like crap and leave the rest open for rust. Just my 2 cents.

 

[tjs4x4]

So has someone on here done this to an explorer? I know this is a ranger site, but was wondering if someone in this particular (bronco and explorer) forum would know what steps are all involved in replacing the entire panels....my husband is going to teach me how to do bondo work and the cutting out, but the welding is an entirely different story.

 

[r1hatman]

Don't bondo it, cut it and do it right. Look in the tech forum for body work.

 

[tjs4x4]

I'm going to take care of it, just not this year. I'm not doing any bondo work. I'm cutting metal, using naval jelly to get rid of the bad rust and then sanding and then painting with rubberized undercoating to protect thru winter. The wheel wells will have to wait....all of this has waited 19 years, its not going to make much difference for one more winter.

 

[tjs4x4]

Now my husbands saying the truck isn't worth fixing the rockers the right way. Even with a rebuilt engine its old and not going to last very long. What r ur guys' opinions on this? I've already spent so much on this rig I don't just want to get rid of it.

 

[4.0B2]

Build it for a trail rig. It ain't gotta be Purdy that way lol. Or donate it to me lol. Jk. I wouldn't sell it. You couldn't get any money for it likely. I'd either build it as a trail rig or just drive it as is or throw money at it n fix it regardless of the husband. Lol

 

[tjs4x4]

I plan on fixing the rockers as good as I can for now. Maybe once summer comes next year, i'll have enough cash to do it the right way. Husband's can be like this sometimes lol. HIS truck is a 92 F150 and i never hear him complain about the shape its in, even though its no better than mine, except he doesn't have rotten rocker panels haha.

I'd like to build it for a trail rig, but right now I need it as a daily driver.

 

[4.0B2]

You can build one that's capable of both. That's why I'm only gonna run 33s on my B2.

 

[tjs4x4]

Really? I figured it might not be very good to try and make a rig to do both.