Frame construction

[vanster]

After removing the shell from our 67 Caravel I am stunned to see minor spot welds connecting the cross members?

Is this normal? Should I weld all the joints? Gusset?

Vanster

[DanielB]

need picture

[Wabbiteer]

There are button welds tacked in at the key spots that get the job done correctly...

Remember the design can be thought of as a live frame, it wrestles with the stiff shell but can never 'win' --- also with thinner gauge stampings those outriggers and spars are amazingly breakaway to self-sacrifice their shape instead of tearing & creasing shell aluminum or shattering plywood. I had two pretzeled outriggers, folded up and twisted without damage to the plywood or c-channel...

[vanster]

Thanks for the tip on the frame. Now it makes total sense. Here I was about to make the frame as stiff as an old British sports car.
Now to make a place for a water tank and a place for the spare tire.

Note that we took the windows out before taking the shell off.