welding on exhaust manifolds

I have MIG welded two Chevy manifolds with no problem. We cut the flange off and turned it around on a 350 CSB in a forty ford. we ground the cut area clean, beveled the edges and took our time. I did three spots to locate the piece and then did short passes and let it cool. The car is sold now, but we had no problems.

 

I have good luck heating up first, weld with mig good and hot, and toss back in the oven to let cool slowly.
As soon as my gaskets get here, I'm gonna weld up the crack on my 51 plymouth the same way.

 

I used pickup manifolds on an O/T SBC powered Mustang. Reverse them left and right and where they used to exit down by the firewall is now out the front into the space between the engine and radiator. Lots of room and it looks almost normal.

 

These are not pretty like your rams horns but they work. I installed a sbc in my shoebox and I used 1980's vintage Chevy camero or firebird.

 

Has anybody tried using Sanderson Block Hugger headers on their SBC in a Shoebox with stock steering box.... I would be interested in seeing some photos... Pass side looks easy.... As we all know the drivers side is the bitch...

Rags

 

Years ago I removed a rebuilt engine from a '57 Cadillac I was getting rid of, and was going to install it into a '55 Cadillac I bought that had a bad engine and good body. I found the '57 Cadillac LH exhaust manifold would not clear the steering gear, and when I placed the '55 exhaust manifold against the later engine's exhaust ports, found the ports were bigger than the exhaust inlets on the manifold.

I used an arc welder after heating the manifolds up, and built up the exhaust inlets on that manifold. After it had cooled, I had the machine shop plane the manifold, and it worked just fine. Drove the car for several more years until I sold it to a cowboy up in Nevada.
As others have stated, I would check the iron content fist with the spark test before proceeding with anything, I was probably just lucky when I did this 30 years ago.

---John

 

I have used a mig with stainless wire with some success. V it fill it in one pass.

 

Cast iron is something to work with it has to be clean of grease,carbon, any dirt then heat I like to pre heat just enough to get the sweat out of metal not doing so will crack right along side of your weld to different temps your weld is hot and the iron is cold. Nickel rod is your best bet but brazing is other option. once your welding process is done cover with old welding gloves let it cool slow.1 clean 2 preheat 3 weld 4 slow cool down. Good luck.