Welding to Cast

[KS2K]

I have a 1943 truck that had the old knee action shock absorbers. I want to change to tublar oil filled. I will need to modify the lower shock bracket, which is a casting. This casting is also the bottom plate for the Axle U Bolts. How can I weld some steel brackets to the cast without causing Hydrogen Embrittlement ? Can I Mig weld it or go stick with a High COntent Nickle Rod.

Thanks
Paul

[H80N]

Paul
this may not be an approach that you are interested in.. but in recent years there are quite a few folks out there rebuilding the old knee action shocks... if you give me the make... model.. and tonnage of the truck.. I will see what i can find... in good working order they work pretty well... just a thought
hope this helps
Heiti

[KS2K]

H80N

Thanks for your offer, however this is a 1943 Dodge Carryall that has been totally reconstructed over 2 years. Last year I spent the entire winter hand fabricating new body panels inner and outter. The old 6cyl flat head has been replaced with a Cummins 4BTA Diesel with a NV-4500 Tranny married to a NP-205 T case. Power Steering and power disk brakes and tons more. BUT, no sheetmetal was cut anywhere.
It could be reverted back to original quickly. Thus I want the modern shocks.

Paul

[H80N]

Paul
for what it is worth.. a lot of those high stress suspension parts were actually steel forgings.that were not very well finished and could easily be mistaken for castings... but in the event that they are cast iron.. I would go with a high nickel rod.. but will freely admit that I do not do much iron... Hawk will have a better handle on it...
hope this helps
Heiti

[H80N]

Spark Test

Paul
you might consider doing a grinder spark test to see what they are really made of.. and then go from there.. here is a pretty good link

http://www.prest-o-lite.com/EUWeb/OXY_handbook/589oxy24_4.htm

this is the begining.. following pages have the diagrams
hope this helps
Heiti

[Paul Seaman]

This is not my specialty but when I needed to blend dissimilar metals on our racecar's axles we had hardened studs, cast Iron, and forged axels. I use Ni99 stick and it has held up very well a full season no breakage but this is not a weight bearing although it keeps the brakes attached to the axle, you decide, weld well

[KS2K]

Thanks for the Suggestions

Never knew about the spark/grinder test. The shock mounts turned out to be a forging not cast. Welded it up today with some nickle high content a friend had. The welds look good. Best of all I learned about determining material with the spark test. Its a good day when you learn a new trick.

ThankYou
Paul

[H80N]

Paul
most folks assume that if it has a rough finish that it is cast iron... but on places of high stress like front spindles etc.. rough or not... is usually forged.. and btw many of those parts are heat treated to boot .. and will need to be again after welding.. do think your stuff is pretty safe though... glad that i could share a little bit of knowledge.. so many smart people put up with me and mentored when i was much younger and "knew everything".. this is a great forum .. because people for the most part want to share knowledge rather than spin bs.. welcome aboard...
thanks
Heiti

and BTW: those wartime Dodges were built with the best engineering and manufacturing knowhow in the world.. as is attested by yours and many others still being out there and active (that was a lot for a chevy guy to say)

[Paul Seaman]

H80N you said it the old Dodges are very tough and well made no speed records but I think that they would climb a building if is was necessary. Hope he posts a picture of it, a Ford guy over here.

[KS2K]

Picture of my Dodge Project

I have done a few Dodge Power Wagon restorations in the past that were quite straight forward. I wanted a project to stress my welding and fabrication skills and force me to learn new welding skills. In 2002, I bought a 1943 Dodge Carryall. It was more ready for the Dump than anything else. from the front A Post to the rear Tail Gate, everything was rusted away, everything gone. The tail gate weld on both sides, about 2 inches long was all that was holding the entire body. Floor, cross members acutally gone, not there. The body could be racked side to side with 1 finger. It had a permenant rack of 8.250" to the left. I took me over 2 weeks to come up with a course of action. I welded steel angle in X's inside the body to bring it back into true. Then I took my plasma torch and cut the sides out, right below the rear windows. Its a double skin, so the inside panel also was wacked out. All last winter, I hand fabricated all new one piece body panels with compound bends. New cross members out of 2x2" tube were fab'ed. A new floor was fab'ed from 10 ga. Basically from the window line down its all new. The traditional canvas roof was replaced with steel.

Then I replaced the old 230 cu in 6 cyl with a 1999 Cummins 4BTA, NV-4500 Tranny married to a NP-205 T Case. Saginaw Power Steering, 4 wheel disk brakes, disk E Brake, Timbren Front suspension, ring and pinions changed to 4.89's. A Braden MU-2 Shaft drive winch was added,
which Dodge used on the Power Wagons. Custom Step Bumper in the rear. Its Painted Harley Davidson Orange and Satin Black. It has 900x16 STA Super Lug tires. It will roll out in the early spring and go to the National Power Wagon Rally in Fairfield Ia. The yellow Power Wagon in the background is also totally resotred. I have one more 1956 Power Wagon that will be started in the fall this year and will be built as a Swivel Frame model. I am in the process of getting a Image Event Page started (when I get some time) so I have no place to put some good pictures.

Feel free to email me if your working on a Powrr Wagon and need some help or just want to talk Power Wagons.

Paul (in the Adirondack Mts of NY)

[H80N]

Paul
very cool project... glad you posted pics.. and glad we could be of assistance...
take care
Heiti

[Paul Seaman]

I must say that is very cool and I am a Ford guy. Keep us up on the progress. Keep up the good work.

[Blondie_486]

Paul,

Basically I'm a Ford fan but I do have a soft spot for old Power Wagons. Hmmmm wonder if a Power Stroke could be shoehorned in one? Ah what the heck did I ask that question in here for? Of course we're fabricators we can do it!

Anyway I just wanted to compliment you on your project from what I can see in the picture it's looking pretty good. I hope you let us know when you get the Image Event page up and running and give us the url I'm sure quite a few of us want to see it!

Keep on truckin

Blondie_486

[KS2K]

Blondie

Ah.......anything could be dropped in...well maybe not a Rolls Merlin ha ha. But in all my conversions I set a hard fast rule. Thou shall not cut and body sheet metal !! I could pull the cummins and drive train and drop the ole 6 cyl gasser right back in. From the outside, it looks all original, till you hit the key, then rumrumrumrumrumrum
the 6 cyl didnt sound like that.

Paul

[Paul Seaman]

This guy is right on, look stock pull like a freight train and probably get better fuel economy to boot. My hats off to you fine sir keep up the great work.