View Full Version : Welding mild steel to cast iron
maddog
10-18-2006, 06:20 PM
I've made up some control arm brackets to go on my diffs, and I'm wondering the best way to weld them to the cast iron section of the diff centre?
I have a mig welder, but just regular steel filler wire in it. I understand you need some sort of high nickel filler reel to do this, but the price of a reel is massive AU$600-700 for the reel.
The option of using a stick welder and nickel sticks has been suggested to me, and I'm seriously considering it, as they are substantially cheaper. How good a weld can I expect to get this way?
Is there anything else I need to be doing, in the way of pre/post heating?
Thanks in advance
Madspeed
10-18-2006, 10:27 PM
Youve allready answered al your own questions.
I am about to do the same thing with a dana 60 and an upper link mount.
If you rely on just the tabs welded to the diff top then your in for a real surprise when you pound it.
It will break off. You will HAVE to REALLY brace to the tubes and find a way to mount to at least the 3 upper cover bolts,
I would also find a way to mount it around the pinnion snout.
I am going to use a 3/8" thick plate drilled and bolted to the 3 bolt holes for the original snubber mount, then I will bring a gusset up to the upper link mount from there.
Hope some of this makes sense.
GL Ken F @ Madspeed
maddog
10-18-2006, 11:34 PM
Thanks for the suggestions with the brackets. I'll have to have a look at how to mount them back to the steel and reinforce them.
Here's what it's going into
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
Madspeed
10-19-2006, 11:33 PM
BTW I have been told that stick welds are the strongest.
You want to ask Matt @ Lateral Dynamics hes the welding G O D
Matt Chime in here allready Id like your thoughts as well
=)
boodlefoof
10-20-2006, 10:51 AM
Ooh! Rock crawler!
Madspeed
10-20-2006, 05:43 PM
Pic is dead box for me =(
WTF:hand:
parsonsj
10-20-2006, 09:16 PM
Sorry guys. Matt is no longer a member here. He had his own reasons for leaving ... you can try and contact him at Lateral Dynamics.
Camaro Zach
10-21-2006, 07:55 AM
If you weld it to the cast center section you will need to use a high nickel content rod (stick or tig) as others have pointed out. you will only want to weld about an inch at a time and ping (stress relieve) the weld as it cools. It will be difficult, time consuming, and far inferior to welding mild steel to mild steel.
I highly recommend you change your mounting design to utalize the diff. cover mounting bolts and or tubular *bridge* that welds to each axle tube and goes up over the center section. Something like this for the diff. bracket:
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif
and this for an oversized diff. bridge i built on a sandrail:
http://www.blazinlow.com/forum/attachment.php?s=&postid=613804
maddog
10-22-2006, 04:03 PM
That's a nice looking bracket. :smoke:
Madspeed
10-22-2006, 09:28 PM
OH Offroad stuff.... look at this Link...
http://offroadfabrication.com/assets/mikey1/fulcrumfab3.html
Powered by vBulletin®