welding a steel billet crank

[tommy dunlop]

Hi all does any one have any experience in welding a race crank, its done a big end journal ive been doing a bit of the usual youtube and was wondering if anyone on here knows a bit more, I was thinking of buzzing it with the tig then get it ground and straighten, thanks tom

 

[dannyp]

the guy who welds it, is the guy who straightens it and grinds it.......

engine with a billet cranck is worth to much for anything to be someone elses fault. may be worth looking at haveing it flame sprayed that how i fixed mine when it spat a shell

 

[tommy dunlop]

 

[500e]

Have it Magnafluxes \ X rayed before spending, have seen more than a few with cracks,

 

[tommy dunlop]

Hi yes sounds like a good idear ive give it a tap with a hammer still has a nice ring to it, I would like to hand it over to someone who specialises in this but not sure who and how much it would cost

 

[Jim Davey]

+1 for flame spraying.

 

[Piero]

Out interest. What's the cost of a new crank

 

[500e]

Taping wont Hack it !! if the crank is that badly damaged get it checked, it could all end in tears with the rest of the motor in handy sized bits.

 

[tommy dunlop]

What was it formula ford

 

[500e]

Came out of this at Gurston Down Hill climb, missing 3rd not a good idea, 1996cc bored & stroked. over 220bhp at rear wheels on Aldons rolling road A real trick engine with Cossy F1 pistons Datsun rods, Ford block, Ford head By Brian Slark, Ivy valves, VW diesel big end bolts.
Note no rod broke although some are twisted over 108Deg, no big end let go either.
We managed to salvage the dynamo bracket

 

[Pete.]

Not a crack in sight

My mate Ian had the same:

 

[tommy dunlop]

Nice car ive seen formula fords bottom out at paddock and snap flywheel off with no 5 main journal

 

[tommy dunlop]

That looks a few quids worh of engine

 

[tommy dunlop]

The piston broke club

 

[tommy dunlop]

Ive done a lot with race engines over the years but ive never welded a steel crank

 

[500e]

Bigger pic deleted th little one, did not bother to photo the sump it looked like a sardine tin that someone had tried to open with an axe.

The whole car was real trick.
Thinner chassis than standard, all casings Mag Diff Gearbox & bell housing, body was Kevlar & Carbon, spoiler was glass fibre we averaged one a meeting could lay one up in 1.5 hours no problem, running 10 inch rears 7 front 3 piece on M&H racing rubber Dif & gear box ran Auto TX oil (never had a problem) the Castrol rep ex F1 recommended it, Engine was 5 port dry sump

 

[hotrodder]

Tommy, IIRC you're near Dartford? If that's the case then Dartford Rebore is the logical first call.

 

[tommy dunlop]

Thanks hotrodder I will give them a call

 

[tommy dunlop]

I might sand blast it and have a better look

 

[hotrodder]

I might sand blast it and have a better look

Don't sand blast it, that's more likely to hide surface flaws than help you see them. As said earlier whoever ends up welding and regrinding it needs to be responsible for checking it for straightness, cracks etc.