JakeJr

Dallas Cast Iron Block Welder Recommendation

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I'm hoping someone can recommend a welding business in the Dallas, TX area that can weld up a small block coolant leak at the bottom of one cylinder.

The shop that did the clearancing for a stroker crank broke through so it's repair time.

Thanks for any help.

Jake

Irockz

iTrader: (1)

put in some block filler,forget welding cast iron.

JakeJr

Nope, block's already half filled. Welding is my only option now to save the block. Welding isn't as it once was - difficult to do successfully - just finding a shop that specializes in it becomes the biggest problem.

Even the magazines techs, doing an engine build for one of their issues, occasionally ground through and repair their blocks.

Jake

Apeiron

The block is filled and it's still leaking?

ljnowell

If the block is filled, you dont need to weld it.

JakeJr

Yep but hopefully it won't be after it's welded.

Jake

JakeJr

Not so. Replace "dont" with "shouldn't".

Jake

Apeiron

Could you braze it instead? It's going to take a big oven and hours and hours of slow cool-down time to furnace weld a block, and it's pretty much guaranteed to warp and need to be remachined.

ljnowell

How in the world did they manage that?

JakeJr

Thanks for that; I already factored that in and even talked to TONY at R&M about that a told him that's how I want it down. He agreed. Same thinking when swapping from 2 bolt to 4 bolt main caps.

I've researching the cast iron repair techniques. As with most things, there different views/recommendations on what and how to do it.

I prefer to stick to the most often recommended method and actually performed by a business/shop that does these types of repairs as part of the regular business - not some less frequently recommended (trick of the week rod) or some shop that does it as a side business. Shops that offer on-site welding of cast iron Caterpillar engine blocks and other types of heavy duty machinery, diesel truck engine welding, etc. See what I mean?

Yes, I fully expect to use the oven method since it's the most frequently recommended, and the cool down procedure (which is posted as being so important) is not a problem for me either.

Full machine work is going to be done to the block, by Reher and Morrison, once the leakage is repaired. The block will be pressure tested at LEAST four more times.

Back to my original request: Does anyone know of shop they'd recommend?

Jake

Apeiron

The cool down isn't a problem, but it's lengthy and the whole process will probably be pretty expensive. A new block is probably going to be cheaper, what's special about this one?

JakeJr

Well, let's see: all five positions have Oliver main caps, center three are four bolt with angled outers, half-fill; decked then "O" ringed, already clearanced for a stroker crank. That's about it.

Welding runs around $75.00 but money's not a concern. Finding a shop that's proficient in welding a cast iron block coolant leak, however, is.

If by "new block" you mean, literally 'NEW" I'd take a quick pass. I'm much have one out of a schoold bus, taxi cab or police car. Something like that.

I'm beginning to think no one here has a recommendation. No problem, I'll just post it on a few other Forums to see if anyone there has one.

Jake

MC305SS

Got any tower/pipe builders in the area??

They should be more than able to weld the block.

I am not a vast experienced welder, just kinda learned it along the way since I am my shops millwright of sorts. I can weld cast no problem as long as its 1/8th or more thick on our machine equipment by preheating the cast til cherry hot and using a 1/32 special cast wire on a old mig welder. Its strong and holds up well as long as I let it air cool since the stuff I'm working on can't be placed in a oven, just a tad too large.

ASE doc

It seems to some degree you may have answered your own question. Look through the yellow pages for large machine engine rebuilders/machine shops. You should find one that does cast block repair. Does your machinist have any recommendations? Here in my area, Somer's Automotive Machine is among the best and does all my machine work. If he cut through a block, he would know who to have repair it.