TIG welder for a cylinder head in DC needed.

[M-technik-3]

Head fell on floor and cracked after work bench collapsed. Need to get it welded.

[Guest Anonymous]

I think you need more than a "welder." There are head repair

facilities that specialized in head repair. Typically for the cast

iron older heads, they open the cracked area and put a powder

weld in the broken metal. Then they ovenize it. TIG is typically

acceptable for building the mating surface where a "blown head"

incident occurred. They build the metal and then machine it down.

Your crack is different. You need a professional head repair shop

or possibly another head.

[dubois]

It looks to me that is a gonner, it is too bad. I would just write it off personally.

If embarking on a repair, I think the proper way would be to tig weld it, and there lies the main issue, you have to dig for access until you find the bottom of the crack, so the repair area and the heat affected zone is greatly increased. Then you probably have to machine it, or at least verify that is not distorted. Second problem is that the welding will create a localized stress point, likely to crack again. (of course, you can reduce that by stress relieving, local heat treat, etc), the third problem is that welding aluminum is not easy, and to find a person that is truly equipped and qualified is going to be very difficult and costly. There are no warranties either. It is certainly possible to do it, if all the planets are aligned. I would like to hear about other people's experience on this too.

[winstontj]

Head fell on floor and cracked after work bench collapsed. Need to get it welded.

Do you have anything into this head? Is it stock? Has it been ported, polished, larger valves??? Is it a 121 head?

If I were you I'd look for another head. You can get someone on the board to sell you one cheap if you play up the sympathy factor... maybe.. Or just buy a rebuilt one if money isn't an issue.

[JT]

hmmm.. looks like it *could* be fixable..maybe.. The location of the crack looks to be in the front timing chain area of the head, so no water jackets etc. Plus, its only a hairline. Just run a couple of beads on the outside... inside too, if possible.

The real prob IMO, is are there other hairline cracks in the vicinity that are too small to be visible just by eye?

[Otis]

I just checked with Uncle Rick -- my neighbor and tig welder extraordinaire (Kensington, Md.). He said, "I'd have to see it, but from the looks of the picture, the head's fubar'ed."

Sorry, man.

[skipsfcr]

Most cylinder head crack repair specialists create lasting repairs by torquing the head to a jig / fixture, heating it in an oven to exceed normal operating temperatures, and welding while the casting is still extremely hot. This allows the weld to completely fill the void opened by the crack and ensures that as the head expands under normal operating conditions the crack is less likely to reopen. This is a common practice and repairs can be quite long lasting if they are made properly. Find a competent automotive machine shop and see if they have expertise in aluminum head repair. At the very least they should be able to refer you to an appropriate specialist. Especially in a large metropolitan area. I have heads repaired quite frequently (typically due to heat related cracks) and my reputation requires that the repairs must hold up. My cylinder head guru is in a neighboring town with a population of less than 7,000.

[TobyB]

since it's not a 2002 head, who knows !

but given that it looks to be in a low- stress area (front timing cover?)

I agree- let a competent welder have a go at it, then see what happens.

Worst case you're out the $100 or less for the welding,

so there's no real harm in trying.

Now, if it's in a stressed area, or goes through to a cylinder chamber, your odds of success do get slimmer... but again, what's a hundred compared to the cost and hassle of gettin' a new one?

Now as to a welder, try calling machine shops- they ususally subcontract to competent welders, and may either have the work done for you, or point you in the right direction.

hth,

t

[edgefinder]

Thats an ideal location for a JB weld repair. Just be sure to fill in and file down dips and bumps. All that part of the head has to do is keep oil in. There is no load on it.

[Bill_Riblett]

Try calling Pete in the machine shop at J&F Motors in Arlington: 703-671-8507. He's been a machinist forever and must know who in the area could do it. Pete is a great resource if you need machine shop work.

[M-technik-3]

Try calling Pete in the machine shop at J&F Motors in Arlington: 703-671-8507. He's been a machinist forever and must know who in the area could do it. Pete is a great resource if you need machine shop work.

Thank you, Bill.

I will try him since Arlington is right up the road. I have 50 into the complete head. It's a M50b25 head Non vanos for those not fluent with later engines.

Yes it's in a non stressed area and JB weld would probably work but I would prefer to have it done properly.

[M-technik-3]

From the inside of the head.