I know you're almost done and CONGRATULATIONS on the progress! I can't wait to hear what you have to say after you drive it!
Please don't take this as a flame by any means!! I'm no pro at welding by any means, but I've done it some and mine started off looking like yours.
I'm assuming (from the looks of it) that you're using an inexpensive wire-feed welder.
Just some tips I think will make things go more easily:
Make sure you've got flux-core wire.. if not, buy some, it's cheap! Solid core wire won't cut it without gas!
By the looks of it, your wire speed is TOO SLOW! The pop-corning is because you're breaking the arc over and over again. You may need to crank up the power a little bit too to support the faster wire. But I think this will make a huge improvement and allow you to lay down a continuous weld more easily. If you've already tried that, your wire may be slipping in the pinch-rollers and causing it to feed slowly or intermittently.
If you can add MIG gas (may require an optional valve), get some!! It's cheap too, I rent a cylinder from National Welders (local supply company) and it's like $65 a year, and only about $40 to have the tank filled. Well worth the money. When you get the MIG gas going, you'll wonder why you waited so long, it is sooooo much easier, and makes real pretty welds!
I've been down the same road with learning to weld (and not too long ago) I was blown away when I finally got a MIG tank and solid-core wire. NIght and day difference!
Best of luck!
