I Don’t Just Repair Pipes.

Log in

SmokingPipes.com Updates

Watch for Updates Twice a Week

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor

Jun 9, 2015
3,970
24,838
42
Mission, Ks
A coworker brought in this Chrysler 2.7 exhaust manifold with a crack in and asked me if I could weld it up for him.

Drilled each end of the crack to prevent further cracking. IMG_7244.jpegIMG_7245.jpeg
Cut a groove along the crack to allow the weld to lay flat and penetrate the crack. IMG_7246.jpegIMG_7247.jpeg
Set everything up to weld it, then preheated the whole manifold with an acetylene torch.
IMG_7248.jpeg
Welded it up at a very low DC amperage with bronze silicate rod (tig brazing). Covered it up with a welding blanket to let cool slowly to prevent more cracks. IMG_7249.jpegIMG_7250.jpeg
Ground the weld back, and done!
IMG_7251.jpegIMG_7252.jpeg

Just shared this cause I didn’t want you guys to think I just worked on pipes all the time. 😉
 

Jbrewer2002

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 17, 2023
672
4,972
Somerset Ohio
A coworker brought in this Chrysler 2.7 exhaust manifold with a crack in and asked me if I could weld it up for him.

Drilled each end of the crack to prevent further cracking. View attachment 236381View attachment 236382
Cut a groove along the crack to allow the weld to lay flat and penetrate the crack. View attachment 236383View attachment 236385
Set everything up to weld it, then preheated the whole manifold with an acetylene torch.
View attachment 236386
Welded it up at a very low DC amperage with bronze silicate rod (tig brazing). Covered it up with a welding blanket to let cool slowly to prevent more cracks. View attachment 236387View attachment 236389
Ground the weld back, and done!
View attachment 236390View attachment 236391

Just shared this cause I didn’t want you guys to think I just worked on pipes all the time. 😉
Perfect technique and execution. Well done sir.
 

georged

Lifer
Mar 7, 2013
6,012
16,271
Just shared this cause I didn’t want you guys to think I just worked on pipes all the time. 😉

Indeed he doesn't.

Forget pipes. Forget manifolds.

You know that pic of the T-800 with the burning eyes? Well, we are well down that road.

Except they are smarter than to use an anthropomorphic form. Something which humans find instinctively alarming (Cameron couldn't help himself, is all)... Instead, in reality, they have chosen something that appears appealing and beneficial to us.

Click this for a quick visual sampling of the Robot Overlords that Mr. R. Pyles serves.

Keep your jeep at hand for the big escape into the Mexican desert, is what I say.



 
Jun 9, 2015
3,970
24,838
42
Mission, Ks
For a split second I thought you were going to say what I was going to say.

Busted exhaust manifold is the perfect excuse to upgrade to some headers!
You gotta wring out every ounce of pony power you can get from the anemic LH engine...
🤪
I think this a fixer upper for his teenage daughter, not trying to get any extra horses out of it. 😉 But this coworker would certainly try and hot rod anything else.
 
Jun 9, 2015
3,970
24,838
42
Mission, Ks
Whenever I've had to to TIG brazing on cast iron, I've used an old propane grill to pre-heat and do a long, 50°/hour cool down.

I recommend that you keep that grill outside as cast iron bits tend to be quite dirty.
Yeah, had I gas brazed it I would have been a lot more concerned about pre-heat and cool down times but the heat soak is minimal compared to gas since it’s far more focused and I can control it a lot more accurately. The blanket kept it warm for about 30min, which was sufficient for a cool down time. It was such a small lightweight manifold that a med duty victor rosebud was sufficient to warm it up.
 

Auxsender

Lifer
Jul 17, 2022
1,102
5,680
Nashville
A coworker brought in this Chrysler 2.7 exhaust manifold with a crack in and asked me if I could weld it up for him.

Drilled each end of the crack to prevent further cracking. View attachment 236381View attachment 236382
Cut a groove along the crack to allow the weld to lay flat and penetrate the crack. View attachment 236383View attachment 236385
Set everything up to weld it, then preheated the whole manifold with an acetylene torch.
View attachment 236386
Welded it up at a very low DC amperage with bronze silicate rod (tig brazing). Covered it up with a welding blanket to let cool slowly to prevent more cracks. View attachment 236387View attachment 236389
Ground the weld back, and done!
View attachment 236390View attachment 236391

Just shared this cause I didn’t want you guys to think I just worked on pipes all the time. 😉
Quite impressive. 👏
 

Jbrewer2002

Part of the Furniture Now
Apr 17, 2023
672
4,972
Somerset Ohio
No porosity, just some impurities. The cast iron they make these manifolds from is REALLY dirty. Lots of casting inclusions and slag pockets.
Almost impossible to get that stuff clean enough. I usually glass bead and acid wash if available. Then a little preheat to boil or burn out any oils. I once fixed a coworker’s aluminum bell housing that he shattered. He was jumping a creek bed with his Jeep and landed on a rock. It was in about 10 pieces and a few missing. Had to bridge the missing pieces. I too used tig for that one but of course aluminum wire instead. It held together for 5 more years then he sold it. Who know it may be still running strong. That was almost 20 years ago.
 
Jun 9, 2015
3,970
24,838
42
Mission, Ks
Almost impossible to get that stuff clean enough. I usually glass bead and acid wash if available. Then a little preheat to boil or burn out any oils. I once fixed a coworker’s aluminum bell housing that he shattered. He was jumping a creek bed with his Jeep and landed on a rock. It was in about 10 pieces and a few missing. Had to bridge the missing pieces. I too used tig for that one but of course aluminum wire instead. It held together for 5 more years then he sold it. Who know it may be still running strong. That was almost 20 years ago.
The owner glass beaded it before he brought it to me. I didn’t see in impurities coming up or burning off when I preheated it. But they were sure hiding in there.