Harley dash project with a question

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My 2011 Blackline didn't come with a "true dash". It has a beauty dash and the gauge is mounted on the triple trees.Stock dash. I'm using a dash from a 2011 Streetbob. They are 2 different families (Dyna vs Softtail) so it is not a straight swap. Here is the dash as it came from Harley.Now to get my gauge mounted, I needed to cut it up a little. The Streetbob tank is concave to house most of the gauge. Mine is flat.Now I hate sheet metal. I can fuse thick stuff together no problem. I can do arc and mig but hate the thin stiff. I either blow through it or have it heaping way above the surface. I'm using a Lincoln 140C with gas. I try to use the suggested settings and it just isn't right. Any suggestions would help.My other option it to take it somewhere and have it welded. How should I handle that?A. Tack in the patch panels.B. Tack in 2 small strips of flat stock inside to hold it in place.This is my first real pretty project and don't want to mess it up. My other baby if you want to browse.
Reply:If I was doing this I would make the "dash" myself, but I suggest shaping some pieces of sheet metal to fill the ares that are missing, A section of exhuast pipe or rolling a piece of sheet metal over your knee will help you with the missing front area..... As far as welding... sheet metal is welded by doing small 20 second tack welds scattered to keep it from warping,set up some scrap metal and dial in the welder (with mig), then ounce you have it tacked, just keep tacking off of previous "tacks" (scattered).....  tig and O/A require a completly different technique's....Last edited by DemonSpeeder; 02-09-2012 at 05:56 PM.Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st