Material Spec for Aluminum Body Panel

PeteSr

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May 10, 2020
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Does anyone know what the alloy of the aluminum side body panel is? The assembly manual does not seem to list it, and I wouldn't expect it to. Is there a spec anyone knows of? 6061, 3030, or what? I am looking at changing from the plastic fridge access panel to the smaller aluminum one and will need to weld in a transition piece. I can measure the thickness of the body (it measures at 0.062" average in that area).
 
OK. Thanks after investigating deeper, I have concluded that a weld repair is essentially not feasible. Thanks to Christo & Kerry Pinkerton’s excellent posts.

I’m a pilot and aircraft owner. So I will instead make an aviation flush patch using countersunk rivets. That along with a little JB weld filler (or perhaps some other yet to be determined filler) should give me a professional solution.
 
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I thought I would share with the group that the alloy of my 1978 Eleganza II body skin was tested by one of my company’s Level 3 NDE technicians using a Niton fluorescence X-Ray gun.

The skin’s alloy is AA 6063. It is not a 5000 series as previously thought. Also, the gun cannot tell the temper of the alloy.

An interesting note is that alloy is considered very weldable. But being 1/16” thick (0.063”), probably will warp.
 
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