cast iron or steel?

[skifast1080]

i've got a hp d44 off a '79 bronco. to my understanding the outer knuckles are cast iron and should be welded with nickle rod. are the radius arms the same, or are they cast steel?

[XJ_ranger]

i've got a hp d44 off a '79 bronco. to my understanding the outer knuckles are cast iron and should be welded with nickle rod. are the radius arms the same, or are they cast steel?

the radius arms *should* be cast on and have no tube internal to the cast mounts...

more HP 44 info here:
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html

[5-90]

Cast iron and steel do demand one little important thing when you weld them - have a helper with a torch. I've assisted on some casting welds, and you need to keep the bulk of the metal up around 500-600 degrees. The helper heats everything up between stitches.

Castings are more sensitive to heat deformation and internal stresses they cause, and failing to heat the welds can cause internal stress risers (not a good thing.) Heat the metal prior to the weld, keep the temperature of the surrounding metal up (it provides for a more gradual transition in temperature,) and heat one last time and allow to cool in free air (no quench.)

If you have anyone handy who has experience doing critical welds on castings, get his help. It's worth whatever you end up paying...

(Oh - and TIG works REALLY well on welding castings - still need to torch-heat, tho... A regular plumber's torch with propane is just right for this - a flame spreader on the nozzle does and even better job, but isn't mandatory as long as you keep the torch moving...)

5-90

[Bent]

more HP 44 info here: :lecture:
http://77cj.littlekeylime.com/web_rs44.html

My brain is going to 'splode!!

But THANKS!

Tim

Now back to your previously scheduled thread.