Welding Aluminum Exhaust Manifolds
#1
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Welding Aluminum Exhaust Manifolds
Has anyone attempted to do any welding on aluminum exhaust manifolds. I have a set of IMCO old style (round water exit hole) manifolds and one manifold has some questionable water jacket holes at the top of the manifold. Riser gasket will cover, but just barely on one side. It's about an 1/8" out toward the large exhaust hole. Both water holes look wallowed out. Needs to be filled and brought back to round. I am not comfortable installing it in that condition. Other manifold is fine.
Just wondering if it's possible and worth trying to repair (and will it hold) or just try to find another one somewhere?
Just wondering if it's possible and worth trying to repair (and will it hold) or just try to find another one somewhere?
#3
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s,
I have had intake manifolds welded many times. It seems like the worst erosion is at the joints so fixing that should set you up for a while. You typically have to grind the metal away to get to a good clean surface before TIG welding it. Then you will have to have it resurfaced. Sometimes that is he trickiest part because it is difficult to get a lot of manifolds into typical resurfacing machine to mill them.
I guess it depends on whether you can find another manifold for a reasonable price also. I would expect welding and resurfacing yours to be several hundred dollars depending on the amount of welding needed. Picture would make it easier to determine.
I have had intake manifolds welded many times. It seems like the worst erosion is at the joints so fixing that should set you up for a while. You typically have to grind the metal away to get to a good clean surface before TIG welding it. Then you will have to have it resurfaced. Sometimes that is he trickiest part because it is difficult to get a lot of manifolds into typical resurfacing machine to mill them.
I guess it depends on whether you can find another manifold for a reasonable price also. I would expect welding and resurfacing yours to be several hundred dollars depending on the amount of welding needed. Picture would make it easier to determine.
#4
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Thread Starter
s,
I have had intake manifolds welded many times. It seems like the worst erosion is at the joints so fixing that should set you up for a while. You typically have to grind the metal away to get to a good clean surface before TIG welding it. Then you will have to have it resurfaced. Sometimes that is he trickiest part because it is difficult to get a lot of manifolds into typical resurfacing machine to mill them.
I guess it depends on whether you can find another manifold for a reasonable price also. I would expect welding and resurfacing yours to be several hundred dollars depending on the amount of welding needed. Picture would make it easier to determine.
I have had intake manifolds welded many times. It seems like the worst erosion is at the joints so fixing that should set you up for a while. You typically have to grind the metal away to get to a good clean surface before TIG welding it. Then you will have to have it resurfaced. Sometimes that is he trickiest part because it is difficult to get a lot of manifolds into typical resurfacing machine to mill them.
I guess it depends on whether you can find another manifold for a reasonable price also. I would expect welding and resurfacing yours to be several hundred dollars depending on the amount of welding needed. Picture would make it easier to determine.
Unfortunately, I can't post pics here. I am going to call IMCO tomorrow and see what they can suggest if anything. Also, I have a friend who can weld on any metal, thought I would show him what I have and see if he can do anything about it.
Last edited by shunter2005; 03-19-2017 at 10:39 PM.
#7
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Thanks for the info. If I can't find anyone here that is confident, I may get the name and number from you.