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| The torch also cooks out some of the seam sealer that cannot be reached. If heated and slightly burned out there is less sputtering and spitting when welding. |
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| The front and rear sections of the unibody are cut back to the limit of the Formula D rules, to the leading and trailing points of the suspension pickups. These areas are going to be replaced with tubular members which are easily replaceable to aid in field repairability. The bodywork and heat exchangers will be hung from these structures. |
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| At this point Costa starts seam welding the chassis. Seam welding is done to improve stiffness. Costa skip welds so the chassis will not be too hard to repair in an accident. Costa uses a mix of Tig and Mig welding depending on the area of the car. |
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| Costa welds where the shock tower comes together. When the inner fender is cut away, nothing is holding the two layers in this area together and it is critical to join them. |
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| The weld goes all the way down to the frame rail. |
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| Matt’s old car still runs well but it is bent and battered from many many battles, from Matt learning how to drift to huge impacts at Road Atlanta, The Wall and Irwindale over the years. The car has come back every time but it has been patched and straightened so many times that it will be retired to demo car status. |
