I know this was just posted but i was wondering if it would be alright to take my manifold off an get some cast iron weldin rods an run a bead on my manifold an be done with it. Cause i dont wana pay 450 bucks for a new manifold when i can just fix it myself. The crack is about 4 inches long.Thanx in advance

By the way this is my first post on this website an glad to be apart of it

 

I'll tell you in a few days, I just tig welded mine last night, looks really nice but now i have to machine it flat, It move to much even with it being clamped.

 

Ya lemme know how it goes. Im guna use a cracker box with some cast iron rods 72 an 77. Just got to get my manifold off an buy the rods an weld er up. Im in the process right njow of takin my manifold off but some of those screw are really on there an everythang's a real tight fit in there, its hard to get my wrenches through there

 

I run mine all weekend, about 500 miles and it didn't crack, I tig welded with 308 stainless rod and machined it flat when done.

dan

 

Cast iron is difficult to weld and make it last. It is my understanding that when welding cast iron you must use niclkel rod and peen it often to relieve the stress, as in weld a half inch of bead then peen then weld, and so on. I have also read where if you want it to last you should have the manifold heated to about 1300 degrees before welding, and maintain that temp until after all peening is done.

I have not tried any of these methods, I am just relaying what I have been told (by the welding store counterman) and what I have read on the Internet.

Chris

 

You can weld cast iron, but it's difficult. Torch welding seems to work better.

Try some Peterson's No. 2 Hi-Heat flux. Use a Kastweld 111 (by Harris-Welco) pure Cast Iron welding rod.

Pre-heating the manifold is CRITICAL! Heat it up as much a you can, over as broad an area as you can. This is where the torch helps, because it doesn't localize heating as well as MIG or TIG. (normally the torch is worse because it contributes to warpage).

Heat the rod and dip it in the flux. Touch the rod to the puddle and let it melt in-- sinking like butter melting.

Once you've welded it, POST HEATING is also critical. YOu want the manifold to cool as slowly as possible, so some kind of asbestos blanket or something would be nice.

Or stick it in the oven and gradually turn down the heat.

jlh

 

as a retired welder, my advice is, get it ready to weld, grind out the crack so you can get a 100% weld. then take it in your house & put it in your oven @ as hot as it will go for about 2 hrs . then weld crack --- when finished wrap it in hi temp insulation (Kaowool) & let cool
good luck.....

 

Let me know if it works, mine is cracked too. If it doesn't, this is the cheapest I found.

http://www.heathdiesel.com/

HDP Part Number: #HDP1120

$250 - Includes gaskets