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Can a cracked exhaust manifold be welded?

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John Balletto

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Dec 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/18/99
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Is it possible to weld a cracked exhaust manifold. I have a Ford 352 FE and
can't seem to find a replacement in the junk yards in the NJ area for the
cracked passinger side manifold.
Any ideas or experiences?

John Balletto

rick

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Dec 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/18/99
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There was a company by the name of High Speed Salvage on Long Island NY who
claimed to be able to repair any cast iron. I'll try to find their address
again. They repaired a cracked cylinder head on a 1930 Seagrave fire truck
for me about 10 years ago. The truck still runs great.

Al Stu

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Dec 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/18/99
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Lets see what's that stuff Paul Harvey peddles, something or other weld? Oh
yes JB Weld. :~)

Al


"John Balletto" <ball...@injersey.com> wrote in message
news:83h7kh$ru7$1...@nw003t.infi.net...

Dave

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Dec 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/18/99
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Yes, but it is very difficult and in my case expensive. Had a Colt
turbo manifold welded for $80.

Jerry Campbell

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Dec 18, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/18/99
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Any competent welding shop can weld cast iron.

Jerry


John Schmidt

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Dec 19, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/19/99
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In article <83h7kh$ru7$1...@nw003t.infi.net>,

"John Balletto" <ball...@injersey.com> wrote:
> Is it possible to weld a cracked exhaust manifold. I have a Ford 352
FE and
> can't seem to find a replacement in the junk yards in the NJ area for
the
> cracked passinger side manifold.
> Any ideas or experiences?
>
> John Balletto
>
>
They can usually be repaired by welding or brazing. You should mount it
to the head (or a substitute head) and torque it down to spec's. Leave
off the gasket. This will keep it from warping. Of course, keep it
tight on the head until it cools. You can also clamp it to a thick
piece of steel if you don't have a spare head. Tack-weld it down if
need be, just be sure you can break the tacks easily. Trying to weld or
braze them while still on the vehicle is a big hassle, but if you have
too...

Use a rod with a high nickel content if you are going to arc weld it, or
a eutectic-type rod made for welding cast iron. These rods weld with
way less heat than a regular rod does. The welding current can be cut
way back. "Eutectic" is also a brand name. After the manifold is
repaired, check the gasket side for flatness. You may need to have a
machine shop take off a little to get a good flat gasket surface.


Sent via Deja.com http://www.deja.com/
Before you buy.

Mike Hall

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Dec 19, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/19/99
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Yes. Find a welder that has been around a long time. He will most likely
use a forge to heat the whole thing up and then weld the crack. My
Father-in-Law welded his tractor block when everyone said it was
impossible. Well when he retired and sold the farm, that impossible weld
job was still holding on a great running old Farmall tractor. Course he
was a true master at welding.

Mike H.

Abernathey Family

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Dec 19, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/19/99
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John Schmidt wrote:
>
> In article <83h7kh$ru7$1...@nw003t.infi.net>,
> "John Balletto" <ball...@injersey.com> wrote:
> > Is it possible to weld a cracked exhaust manifold. I have a Ford 352
> FE and
> > can't seem to find a replacement in the junk yards in the NJ area for
> the
> > cracked passinger side manifold.
> > Any ideas or experiences?
> >
> > John Balletto
> >
> >
> They can usually be repaired by welding or brazing. You should mount it
> to the head (or a substitute head) and torque it down to spec's. Leave
> off the gasket. This will keep it from warping. Of course, keep it
> tight on the head until it cools. You can also clamp it to a thick
> piece of steel if you don't have a spare head. Tack-weld it down if
> need be, just be sure you can break the tacks easily. Trying to weld or
> braze them while still on the vehicle is a big hassle, but if you have
> too...
>
> Use a rod with a high nickel content if you are going to arc weld it, or
> a eutectic-type rod made for welding cast iron. These rods weld with
> way less heat than a regular rod does. The welding current can be cut
> way back. "Eutectic" is also a brand name. After the manifold is
> repaired, check the gasket side for flatness. You may need to have a
> machine shop take off a little to get a good flat gasket surface.
>
Very good advice. One more little pointer. You need to heat it up
somehow. I've welded them right after running the engine to get them
hot. Its really not that hard.

Thank you
Don Abernathey

Pat Balletto

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Dec 19, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/19/99
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Rick
Thanks for the info. If I can have it done for $ 80.00 I'll be happy
John

Dave <da...@nothere.com> wrote in message
news:385f545d...@news2.newscene.com...


> Yes, but it is very difficult and in my case expensive. Had a Colt
> turbo manifold welded for $80.
>
>

> On Sat, 18 Dec 1999 19:07:09 -0500, "John Balletto"

Pat Balletto

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Dec 19, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/19/99
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rick:
thank for the help
john

rick <eah...@maine.rr.com> wrote in message
news:dyW64.654$Wu6....@newsr1.maine.rr.com...

Don

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Dec 19, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/19/99
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In article <s5oe1t...@corp.supernews.com>,
Al...@NoEmailRepliesPlease.easystreet.com says...

> Lets see what's that stuff Paul Harvey peddles, something or other weld? Oh
> yes JB Weld. :~)
>
> Al

JBweld is a good product, but I doubt it will hold up under the heat
unless the crack is pretty tiny. I tried to use it on a manifold a few
years back and it didnt work for me. I've also had nothing but
problems welding cast iron. I guess if the preheat and cooldown is
done right (right equipment) and one is a good welder, it could be a
good way, if there just isnt an available replacement.

>
>
> "John Balletto" <ball...@injersey.com> wrote in message
> news:83h7kh$ru7$1...@nw003t.infi.net...

Caroneservice

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Dec 20, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/20/99
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Good luck finding a 352 manifold. An exhaust manifold can be welded or brazed
as it is more commonly called. Most big garages won't be able to do this, it
is usually the small weld shops that can perform this procedure. Let me know
what happens.

ALPH541354

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Dec 21, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/21/99
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yes it can be welded with nickel rod or you can braze it make sure you cut a v
groove down the middle of the crack then weld it

AJDalton7

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Dec 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/22/99
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>yes it can be welded with nickel rod or you can braze it make sure you cut a
>v
>groove down the middle of the crack then weld it
>
>

The trick is to evenly heat it first.

Dennis Brown

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Dec 22, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/22/99
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In article <s5oe1t...@corp.supernews.com>,

Al Stu <Al...@NoEmailRepliesPlease.easystreet.com> wrote:
>Lets see what's that stuff Paul Harvey peddles, something or other weld? Oh
>yes JB Weld. :~)

BTDT, doesn't work. Tried it out of curiosity (new manifold
was already ordered).

Also, welding a stainless exhaust with a stick welder just makes the hole
bigger. :)

P.S. Is it just me, or does Paul Harvey seem like more of a shill than before?
His whole show seems like one long commercial.


WARRENWINKER

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Dec 27, 1999, 3:00:00 AM12/27/99
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anybody with a stick welder can do it to weld cast iron you need some nickel
welding rod simple

Charles M. Owen

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Jan 11, 2000, 3:00:00 AM1/11/00
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To weld cast iron properly it should be pre-heated with a torch, then
welded,and lastly heated again gradually reducing flame so that it
doesn't cool too fast. There is a danger of it cracking.

In article <19991227181526...@ng-cs1.aol.com>,
warren...@aol.com (WARRENWINKER) wrote:

> anybody with a stick welder can do it to weld cast iron you need some nickel
> welding rod simple

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