So I gutted out my 8.8 today and almost ready to weld my tubes.
Anyone here weld their tubes to the center section on an 8.8? How'd you do it? Wire feed or stick? What wire or rod did you use?
Sorry if this is beating a dead horse, I did do a search but I couldn't find the answer I was after.
Thanks.
Just get a wire brush after it,clean it up really good,and use JB Weld.It'll hold it fine.
It would be best if it was in the car at all the right angles,
where you want them. I mean all hooked up before you weld.
If I was doing it to mine I would use a arc welder with a 1/8" 7018 on it.
What are you welding?
Where the tubes meat the center section. It can work for the right reason.
Before all the critics speak up, I know I spelled meet wrong.
But I'm hungry.
i wouldnt bother unless its going to be i higher HP drag car. otherwise, id have a shop "blueprint" it and weld the tubed secure on a jig. the tubes arent suposed to be perfectly streight. if your really serious about welding the axle tubes for whatever reason, id have some gussets made up and welded in. might as well make it worth the effort.
The car will be set up for racing only. I plan on building a jig (kind of).
Kitz Kat, I too was thinking 7018 (good all around rod) but wasn't sure how the axle tubes them selves would hold up or blow right threw them.
It's not a good all around rod, you may be thinking of a 7014.
7018 is a bit finicky.
I mig weld the tube to the center. You have to do it slow and from 1 side to the other to keep the tubes from pulling.
Here is a pic of the bracing we put on 8.8's
(http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg17/Fastcat67/JustinRear003.jpg)
thats awesome....how much do you charge for that?
Kitz Kat I do believe you are correct. I went to see what I had left in my stash and I'm all out. The only rod I currently have is some new stuff I haven't tried yet. It is "Super 60" by Radnor and it's 5/64" / 2mmn with a suggested operating range 35-60 amps. Seems like it would be to small for this application.
5.8fastcat, looks as if there has been some welding done to the end of the tubes. What did you do? How badly do you think the 8.8 needs the extra bracing? Thanks for the pic too.
they need gussets bad top and bottom.... the zephyr geordon side-stepped the clutch in it wound it up to 3500rpm and the thing bounced a couple times, caught the brake and twisted the tube
then it just flat out blew apart :D good times.
I'd say fab up some gussets and fin the tubes around the the center section kinda like offroaders do to beef up their axels.
or call up currie and get a 31 spline 9" for a stang :D
That there is funny, I don't care who you are!
Do you have an axle alignment jig?
I'm looking at the Moser Fox body axle myself....only because I have a bunch of 9" rears.
No I do not have an axle jig, but I have a few ideas on what to do so it wont warp.
I have two 9"s laying around. Both are big bearings but one is intended for my 65 Mustang and the other for my 64 Falcon.
as they had said above. I've dynoed a 96 Cobra with S/C we took
it for a test drive. The owner does a 5500 RPM launch on the
street with drag radials and it twisted the tube up bad. So bad the
tire rubbed the frt of the wheel opening.
We weld the braces on the housing and then cut the ends and put
a jig in and weld the ends back on.
That is why the end had been welded.
I'm looking at the CHE Extreme axle brace - anybody use one of these?
(http://www.cheperformance.com/cartgenie/images/large/CHE9B3.jpg)
Thats is extreem!!
I have a CHE brace on the 8.8 in my Mustang, but it hasn't seen any track time since it's install in the fall. We'll see if it keeps the tubes straight on some hard launches (1.4's 60').
I had TeamZ in Flat Rock Mi weld the tubes on the new rear end for the T-Bird. They did a great job on the welding (sent the housing out and had it baked to insure it was clean enough for a good weld). They also set up the 31 spline TruTrac w/3.55 gears.
Guy on the Corral who designed the CHE brace claims that you don't even have to weld the tubes on typical 10 second+ cars. We'll see, I'm going to be picking up the Extreme brace as soon as I smell some warmth in the air (and assuming I'm still employed at that time :( )
I must be becoming a tight wad :dunno: . Awesome piece, but seems like it's a little on the spendy side. I think I will be fabing :welder: my own braces.
5.8 Fastcat thanks for the pics. Do you have one of the front side?
Yeah, the Extreme is $230 shipped (discounted), but that's still a bit steep. I'd fab my own if I had access to the materials and a better welder than my 110V MIG using flux core wire. That and the arthritis :punchballs:
so what we are saying is that you can mig weld cast iron?
you gotta use cast iron rods for cast iron. I didnt know A mig would hold perfect to cast.
Isnt the rear housing cast?,,tubes are steel?