Cast Iron Welding/Brazing ???
 

Anyone know the secret to repairing an old cast iron exhaust manifold with a crack? I have tried MIG, Oxy Acetelyne torch, etc with no luck, the stuff just will not stick. Tried it on a later model manifold with no problems. I think it may have been Nodular Iron instead of Grey Cast Iron. Is there a special prep, Acid Etch, Preheat, Welding Rod, etc, that will work? Any help would be appreciated. Cast date on the manifold is late 1968.

Paul

Re: Cast Iron Welding/Brazing ???
 

Paul,

That stuff is tricky, you have to heat it up, have the exact rod, coll it right and then you still never know. There used to be a guy in South Houston that did it. He was just east of South Houston Racing Heads on the south side of the street on a corner. His place looked like a dump, but what old welding shop doesn't. If that does not pan out, call Joe Akenbruck or Chris over at Owen's Racing Engines in Pearland, he should be able to hook you up. Their tele is: 281.485.5257. I basically grew up over there.

----------------------
Chris
1967 Yenko Stinger YS-199
Southeast of Disorder

Re: Cast Iron Welding/Brazing ???
 

OK, Thanks.

Paul

Re: Cast Iron Welding/Brazing ???
 

Jerry MacNeish has a guy that repairs his, I just had to have one for my Z repaired last year at the cost of $250. Call Jerry at 410-781-0418

Re: Cast Iron Welding/Brazing ???
 

I've welded a few with nickel that worked. If you do that they will need painting or some other coating. How big is the crack?

Re: Cast Iron Welding/Brazing ???
 

Crack is about 3/4" long on the inside bend of small block 527 manifold. With the spark plug shields in place it is not visible. I ground a nice v groove and removed most of the cracked material, then brazed it with a fluxed bronze alloy rod and it turned out quite nice after blending. I plan on blasting the manifold and painting with a high heat coating.

Any idea on where to get the best manifold coating?

Thanks, Paul

Paul