1935 Ford flathead V8 aluminum heads

[rockfla]

Originally Posted by OldGold360

I have welded several of these heads. They weld just fine, just make sure it's perfectly clean and "V" the crack. I will then weld, peen, sculpt/sand the weld and retexture the area and you can't tell where the repair was made if it's done correctly. Sometimes preheating is necessary. Also, make sure to use the correct filler rod.

I have a big abrasive sander specifically for decking automotive heads or whatever else needs to be made flat again. This is perfect for making a head flat again, or to just check if a head is flat. It's always good to check this, especially after any repairs.

I think repairing it right the first time is the best practice. If you are unable to do the work, find someone competent that can. There are lots of qualified folks out there. Good Luck!

How do you "re-texture" them? ALSO what rod do you use??

[OldGold360]

Originally Posted by rockfla

How do you "re-texture" them? ALSO what rod do you use??

4043 works for most vintage cast aluminum. As far as adding the texture back... it depends on the type of texture. Some textures are more rough than others, and casting material does not always respond the same way each time. Almost like some castings are harder than others. Softer castings are easier to get a good texture than harder castings. There are several techniques and it usually requires reading the materials and applying the correct technique, or many techniques, to achieve the desired results. It would be much easier to show someone than to explain it all.