welding your exhaust manifold

[steve-0]

the original exhaust manifolds have cracking problems as most of you know.
i have started up engines with good looking exhaust manifolds only to have them crack as soon as they start warming up.
i think i may try heating up the slip joints in the manifold before i try starting them next time.

i just bought a new welding setup for welding cast iron.

the spray torch seems to be the easiest to use and produces good results.

victor make the following torches, all the same under different names.   

Victor VPT-100 Powder Build Up Torch Kit   
Fire Power FPSK-260 Powder Spray Torch Kit
Stoody Model: JS-100
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=71amiAPXBn0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__PEGT-kR40

these are around $400 for the kits.

http://www.weldfabulous.com/p-63648-victor-0384-1265-vpt-100-victor-powder-spray-ki.aspx

[HenryVIII]

I have noticed That on some older gas international truck engines, that the holes in the exhaust manifolds are larger at the ends. This allows the smaller holes to hold the manifold in correct alignment. But the larger holes at the ends allow the manifold to grow slightly as it gets hot. This might be worth a try if the slip joints are stuck and hopefully keep the tabs from breaking off. The only thing to make note of is that IH uses a thin steel gasket so the manifold can slip easier, and the HT uses a fiber covered type. The larger holes are only about 1/16 larger than the normal holes. If someone has alreadt tried this I would be interested to know how it worked.

Henry

[Richy]

Hi Henry
I don't know if you receive this message as I see it's an old posting, but I read with interest your comments regarding international truck exhaust manifolds cracking, I own an international half track that has had its front section welded at some stage in its life, it seems to be holding up but I have been looking for a spare just in case it breaks again, you seem to have some knowledge of these engines and I wondered if you could tell me if the civilian engine manifolds are the same as the military manifolds fitted to the RD 450B, I see manifold come up on ebay but the casting numbers are always different and I don't have any data to check these numbers out.
I think the cracking is caused more by water dripping down from the hood joint which is directly above the manifold, I have placed a thin strip of rubber along the joint to stop this happen (I live in Europe so we get plenty of rain).
Cheers Ian

[bud44750]

My good friend is a pattern maker. He has made patterns for antique cars before using a broken one. I watched him make one for an old straight six Buick including all the shrink factors and it came out well. His e mail is martinmodel@comcast.net    503 987 1889. He has a web site   Martinmodel.com if you need a casting for anything.

[spec4don]

Hi Henry
I don't know if you receive this message as I see it's an old posting, but I read with interest your comments regarding international truck exhaust manifolds cracking, I own an international half track that has had its front section welded at some stage in its life, it seems to be holding up but I have been looking for a spare just in case it breaks again, you seem to have some knowledge of these engines and I wondered if you could tell me if the civilian engine manifolds are the same as the military manifolds fitted to the RD 450B, I see manifold come up on ebay but the casting numbers are always different and I don't have any data to check these numbers out.
I think the cracking is caused more by water dripping down from the hood joint which is directly above the manifold, I have placed a thin strip of rubber along the joint to stop this happen (I live in Europe so we get plenty of rain).
Cheers Ian

Hi Ian, check out this topic, this was an upgrade done to halftrack: http://halftrackinfo.com/index.php?topic=1230.msg7241#msg7241

Don G.

[steve1973]

I had a crack on the end of my exhaust manifold. I took it to a place in Portland, Oregon and they took the intake/exhaust assembly apart, inspected it for other cracks and repaired it. I can't even tell where the crack was. I also had the intake/exhaust assembly ceramic coated. I'm told this will help prevent future cracks and will reduce heat loss up to 50%. The end results are fantastic. The hole thing cost me about $800.





Steve A.