Need some welding/machine shop expertise to fix my screw-up

Post by **dinoracer** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 8:30 pm

The continuing saga of the broke Mustang motor...

Got the heads back from the machine shop (again), and decided while I have them off I might as well do some additional porting work. First exhaust port came out nice, second one I went a little too far and hit water jacket.

The machine shop I've been using is too far away, and I don't think they do this kind of repair anyway. I'm looking for soemone in Northern MA, Southern NH that can save me from myself and weld up the hole in this cast iron head. Anyone have any names and numbers?

Thanks Tom

SSNH · Post by **SSNH** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:17 pm

dinoracer wrote:The continuing saga of the broke Mustang motor...

Got the heads back from the machine shop (again), and decided while I have them off I might as well do some additional porting work. First exhaust port came out nice, second one I went a little too far and hit water jacket.

The machine shop I've been using is too far away, and I don't think they do this kind of repair anyway. I'm looking for soemone in Northern MA, Southern NH that can save me from myself and weld up the hole in this cast iron head. Anyone have any names and numbers?

Thanks Tom

Manchester Engine Rebuilders
290 Clay Street
Manchester, NH 03103
Tel â€“ (603) 669-2843
Contact: Gary

MMiskoe · Post by **MMiskoe** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:25 pm

R&R in Londonderry NH.

(603) 434-0579

Not likely to be the cheapest, but I'm sure they can help you if it can be done.

jlwhorf · Post by **jlwhorf** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 8:27 am

Tom, you could try R&L in dover 742-8812. I believe they can do spray welding on cast iron. Going through the water jacket is pretty nasty to fix considering how thin the sbf walls are to begin with.

Jonathan

enjoythemusic · Post by **enjoythemusic** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 3:47 pm

You might want to try KTR European in Ayer, MA.

jlwhorf · Post by **jlwhorf** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 4:50 pm

Tom, You could also try Ted Wingate at Precision Balancing on 111 in Hudson. I don't have the number, but he is located in the industrial park behind 3D autoworks. He machined a shortblock for me years ago and it lasted a long time.

Jonathan

LDP82 · Post by **LDP82** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 5:51 pm

KTR is a great shop, come in with a head to be fixed leave with a Noble

Post by **dinoracer** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:22 pm

Thanks Guys

Called Manchester and R & R today, both were "you're screwed sorry can't help". Stopped in to Kingsley Machine in Nashua, he also was no help. R & R suggested R & L in Dover also.

I'll call him, and stop by Precision in Hudson. They balanced this engine for me 7 years ago, didn't think of them for welding

Thanks Tom

Tsurara · Post by **Tsurara** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 7:40 pm

If you are willing to make the trip, why not give fellow COM members Alex and Bill a call at Dent Sport Garage in Norwood, MA?

+1 (781) 551-3399

SSNH · Post by **SSNH** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 8:39 am

dinoracer wrote:R & R suggested R & L in Dover also.

a few years ago, a bmw shop outsourced some aluminum welding on my engine to r&l.

cuda6666 · Post by **cuda6666** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 9:58 am

I'll call him, and stop by Precision in Hudson. They balanced this engine for me 7 years ago, didn't think of them for welding

If that's the same shop that Ted Wingate owns (or used to own??), they fixed a hole between the water jacket and the oil gallery in my Cuda engine.

enjoythemusic · Post by **enjoythemusic** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 2:34 pm

LDP82 wrote:KTR is a great shop, come in with a head to be fixed leave with a Noble

LOL! Bet you that it provided the 'fix' you were looking for

Yeah, have eyed those Nobles more than a few times and ALMOST bought one. Long story short, my Ferrari engine may need some work after 45+ track days, a few over revs, and now studying the leakdown/compression numbers. Could simply need valve adjust...

...or more

Hmmm, a Noble you say....

LDP82 · Post by **LDP82** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 6:44 pm

well, they have a v12 and a flat 12 up stairs... as well as some other track toys all around and a 996 GT3 cup car for sale for $89k i dont think you could go wrong!

Post by **dinoracer** » Tue Jan 30, 2007 7:50 pm

Just to finish the original focus of this thread

...

Checked with Alex at Dentsport, no dice.

KTR European's website looks really expensive, so I haven't called them.

I spoke to Leo at R & L engines in Dover NH, he says it could be done, but requires a process called "Furnace welding", where the part is heated to about 1400 F, and the area is repaired with a cast iron compatible rod. After which, the valve guide, valve seats need to be replaced, and the deck surface will need to be trued, as the high temp. will cause stuff to move.

The furnace welding costs $ 400 and up, then you basically do a complete valve job.

Where these heads aren't anything special (except I've just spent $ 900 in valve work), it's cheaper to find a single head and re-do half the valve job I just did...

So, I need a new head to start over with. And by the time I'm done I will have spent $ 1500, which I should have spent in the first place on some AFR aluminum heads.....

I love to learn things the hard way

enjoythemusic · Post by **enjoythemusic** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 9:35 am

dinoracer wrote:Just to finish the original focus of this thread ...

I love to learn things the hard way

Many of us have been there, you are not alone. Please believe me when i say, "It could have been a different mistake that cost MUCH more."

(don't ask me, i aint going there cuz it'll make me cry... again).

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Need some welding/machine shop expertise to fix my screw-up

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