cast aluminum valve covers

[ryanjones2150]

Anyone ever weld fittings on cast aluminum valve covers? Got another racing buddy needs me to help him weld some fittings to vent the crankcase and he bought these fancy schmancy cast aluminum valve covers.

It has been my experience that sometimes these jobs go well, other times they make you stab yourself in the face with hot, sharp pokey bits. I'll throw a couple pictures up as soon as I can.

[ryanjones2150]

Couple quick shots

[H80N]

Anyone ever weld fittings on cast aluminum valve covers? Got another racing buddy needs me to help him weld some fittings to vent the crankcase and he bought these fancy schmancy cast aluminum valve covers.

It has been my experience that sometimes these jobs go well, other times they make you stab yourself in the face with hot, sharp pokey bits. I'll throw a couple pictures up as soon as I can.

if they are new ones... they tend to go easy..... some of the old oil soaked "vintage" ones have given me fits though......

One note of caution though.... some (most) of the AN fittings are anodized.... and need to have the oxide scrubbed off before you try to weld...(or chuck them in the lathe and take a skim cut in the area to be welded)

[ryanjones2150]

Good point on the anodized, fortunately, the ones we got are for welding and are free of the god forsaken coating. <br />
<br />
Also, these are brand spanking new, so hopefully it will go well. Plan to use the invertig so I can turn the frequency up some too.

[H80N]

Good point on the anodized, fortunately, the ones we got are for welding and are free of the god forsaken coating. <br />
<br />
Also, these are brand spanking new, so hopefully it will go well. Plan to use the invertig so I can turn the frequency up some too.

150HZ...??

should give you a good tight narrow bead around that juncture....

[ryanjones2150]

The highest I've ever gone on cast has been 120Hz, but I'll give that 150Hz a try and report back. <br />
<br />
Now on balance, I've always been pretty high too, what do you think there? Being that it's brand new, and it's not holding the 10th Mongolian hoard back, just needs to not leak.

[H80N]

The highest I've ever gone on cast has been 120Hz, but I'll give that 150Hz a try and report back. <br />
<br />
Now on balance, I've always been pretty high too, what do you think there? Being that it's brand new, and it's not holding the 10th Mongolian hoard back, just needs to not leak.

I Dunno.... if everything is clean and shiny.... 70% E-Neg is safe... (might leave the cleaning frost a touch wide though)

[H80N]

Here is a short video that Andy made...

it explains a little of the theory on inverter FREQ & BALANCE settings for different joint designs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sWFkJYV7NU

[H80N]

Any news...???...

[ryanjones2150]

Not yet, we've been tied up on some other things to get to the fun things.