welding a block
 

Anyone have success welding a hole in the side of a flathead? The hole is the size of a pencil eraser? Thanks Bruce

Re: welding a block
 

Drill and tap for 1/8" pipe plug if there is room.Why weld if you don't have to. Cast iron can be a real crap shoot unless done by a creditable welding shop get some quotes.Welding would be my last choice just my .02. What caused the hole?

Ronnie

Re: welding a block
 

J.B. Weld ?? Nothing to lose.
Paul in CT

Re: welding a block
 

Ronnie hit the nail on the head. When I installed 59AB heads on an 8BA block I used a pipe thread tap and then screwed in a pipe plug with non hardening Permatex so it was just below the deck surface . Then covered it with JB weld. That was 10 years ago and it's still holding. I think you could do the same.

Re: welding a block
 

How about posting of photo of the problem area. How large exactly and what caused the hole. Never seen a small (bullet hole?) Don't weld if possible. Let's get more infomation first. JMHO Frank pkny

Re: welding a block
 

My 2 cents...
Wonder why you have that hole- look for cracks around the hole, AND pressure test AND magnaflux the block befor going to other expence... I have a fair amount of respect for brazing on the outside of a block- if you do, try to get the whole block at least warm first... Karl

Re: welding a block
 

i agree with karl brazing is best but get the block area where you are going to braze warm first this will help :)

Re: welding a block
 

Theres a special welding alloy rod for it but you only get one shot. Put a holler on the HAMB and see if any of those guys know a local that can show you a bit of his work.

Re: welding a block
 

As I recall my late ol-school father brazed even pressure vessels of cast iron. He could do pretty oxy-acteylene and stick welds, but he definately was not going for
looks when he brazed cast iron. I think also, that warm was an understatement...more like rosebud hot on the part to be welded.

Re: welding a block
 

I recently drug out a 59L block I bought from a gent a few years ago. Upon closer inspection I've found a hairline crack on the back of the bellhousing just below the 59. I suspect it may have mounted it an engine stand at one time. Do I need to expect this to get worse? Any suggestions for repair? Thanks Guys

Re: welding a block
 

Big Shark Bruce: I'd suggest rounding out the hole if need be. Then use either an appropriately-sized metal, plastic or rubber expansion plug.

Burly: Are you sure the hairline crack isn't just a surface casting imperfection? Can you see if it extends to the inside surface?

Jack E/NJ

Re: welding a block
 

I had a similar problem and just drilled it out for a 1/4" npt plug.

Re: welding a block
 

Always wondered how Ford welded the entire sides onto the 1937 V8 60 block. They were welded with one continuous bead around the entire perimeter and the weld was beautiful.

Re: welding a block
 

I tried a couple of things in the shop Saturday. I took a steam trap (its cast iron), and drilled a couple of holes in it to practice my welding. I tried spray-metal, certanium rod, and a castiron rod. The spray metal would just ball up. The certanium rod cracked when it cooled, The cast rod looked great. Until I pressure checked it. It leaked were the weld met the cast. I think I will try the brazing method. Ill let you guys know how it turs out. Bruce

Re: welding a block
 

The crap shoot syndrome now begins. You won't get same results with a block if the cast iron properties are different from your test piece.

Ronnie

Re: welding a block
 

I braze a lot of cast iron printing press parts. Braze works well but you must heat up a large area. The entire block would be best, I know that is not practical. You can ruin the block very easly. I brazed a tractor block years ago. Getting things very hot is important. Yesterday I brazed a cast iron model T muffler end. It came out great. Engine blocks can be tuff , cracking when cool downing. That's why the entire block should be heated. I don't remember exactly what tempeture you need possibly someone else can jump in.

Re: welding a block
 

Here is some reading on cast iron welding---
http://www.locknstitch.com/castironwelding.htm

it describes the problem you have and how to do it properly

Re: welding a block
 

I use nickle rod for most cast iron if i am using a stick welder. Marv

Re: welding a block
 

An old mechanic/welder near me used to weld up blocks with massive damage. He once showed me a block where he'd nickel-welded about six pieces of cast together that had been knocked out the side of the block in his pickup. It looked like a puzzle, but the engine didn't leak afterward. after seeing that, I asked him to weld the end of my Model T engine block where a 1 X 2 inch piece of water jacket had broken out due to freezing. That weld is pretty. He'd heat the block with a torch before using the nickel rod, and he'd skip around when doing the arc-welding.

Re: welding a block
 

I had a block about 10 yrs ago that had a hole about 1/2" diameter on the drivers side just above the oil pan rail . The hole didnt show up until the block went through the cleaner . I layed the block on its side and braced it up so the hole was pointing straight down. I then mixed up a whole tube of J.B. weld and kept poking it into the hole then cut a piece of sheet copper and clamped it up overnight. That engine is in a friends 40 and has never leaked a drop after all these years and several thousand miles.