Episode 929 – Gladiator Production Halted!

Jeep Gladiator production halted

We spoke about this on our Thursday flagship episode.  Mobis strike in Toledo stops the Gladiator when off-road can’t!

Mobis produces the chassis for the midsize pickup sibling of the flagship Jeep Wrangler. Downtime at the supplier’s plant there immediately shuts down vehicle production. U.S. Gladiator sales are down 31% in the first nine months of 2023, and the automaker is launching a refresh for the 2024 model year.

About 400 workers at Hyundai Mobis walked off the line in the earliest hours of Wednesday, according to the United Auto Workers. Issues include a focus on eliminating pay tiers.

Air Force Major Wins!

TINKER AFB, Okla. (KFOR) – It was an exciting day for one Air Force family at Tinker Air Force Base on Thursday.

Tinker officials say Major Steven Philpot, who is deployed, is the grand prize winner of the Monster Energy Drink Sweepstakes held at exchanges across the country.

The Major’s win consists of a customized Jeep Rubicon and $7,200 loaded onto an American Express gift card.

Fabrication Freezy, with Larry, JeepingMo

How do you measure your rod?

When you need to go out and buy new welding wire, or you need to buy stick electrodes.

You see numbers like ER70S-6  or E7018 how do you decode the wire that you’re about to weld your axle together with?

Let’s start with the ER70s-6

ER = electrode or rod, ER is your wire.

E is for a rod.

70 is the tinsel strength of the wire in KSI.

”kilo pounds per Square In”

If you’re using gas, you are probably using a solid wire.   That’s where the S comes in.

And T  for flux core.    T=Tube for the flux.

And for the gas.  You typically see a -3 or – 6.

And that’s for the gas mixture.

-3 is.  100 co2

-6 is a CO2 argon mix.

And the –  6 is for the gas requirements.

Now let’s dive into that a little. Why wouldn’t you want all the tensile strength you can get?

You should look at the process needs as you go up in strength,  there could be special needs and requirements like your pre and post-heating for that higher strength.

Now you shouldn’t ever weld on a cold axle, but if you look at the wire specification on pre and post-welding,  you can get a better weld.         You might also stop a potential failure

Now what about.  E7018 , E6010 or E6012

Now your granddad might have told you to always use a certain rod.  But what does that mean?

E = Rod

70 is the strength

1 is the position you can weld in flat, horizontal, vertical or overhead.

If it’s a 2 it’s for flat or horizontal only.

And 8 is the coating and current specs for the rod.

Now anyone who has run a 6010 and 7018 knows how different they are.

The flux on the 7018 makes it run very easy.

So why do you need the other rods?  Every rod had a specific best use and has been tested to those specifications.

Now this isn’t a course on wire or welding rods.   But we want you to know how to look at what you buying, or where to get the information.  I cover some of this on our YouTube channel. Jeepingmo.

I will have links for you to go out and read more about your selections,

Please reach out if you have questions.

Must-Have Stuff for your Jeep!

Silicone Tape!

X-Treme Tape TPE-XZLCLR Silicone Rubber Self Fusing Tape, 1″ x 10′, Triangular, Clear $7.95

Will not melt up to 260°C (500°F)

Remains flexible to -50°C (-60°F)

Tensile strength of 700+PSI

Insulates to 400 volts/mil

Resists weathering