Roxtar
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- NW Indiana-Chicago area
Yea, you should see how pretty mine was BC (Before meeting CRASH)Goatman said:
Trussing a FORD 8.8?
- Thread starter waubm
- Start date
CRASH
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Foresthill, CA
vetteboy said:
The plug welds make a really cool sound, almost like a 22 shot, when they come exploding out of the housing.
The newest housing is trussed very well, and welded very carefully all the way around the tube. So far, a whole year without any trouble.
Roxtar
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- NW Indiana-Chicago area
THAT is nice.scorpion said:A truss doesn't have to weld to the center section of the diff if it's designed correctly.
They're easy to fab but difficult to make look any good if you ask me. I've done a few of the tube-type trusses and they always just turn out ok.
If you're interested there is one that's weld-on which is now available from T&T Customs.
More info including price located here:
http://www.tntcustoms.com/webV3/88truss.asp
MudDawg
NAXJA Member #728
- Location
- Central Florida
Crash....what you doing putting out the specs on my perfect rig....Geeeeee. :laugh3:
scorpion said:A truss doesn't have to weld to the center section of the diff if it's designed correctly.
They're easy to fab but difficult to make look any good if you ask me. I've done a few of the tube-type trusses and they always just turn out ok.
If you're interested there is one that's weld-on which is now available from T&T Customs.
More info including price located here:
http://www.tntcustoms.com/webV3/88truss.asp
That is deffinitly one sweet piece of work... I think I'll be getting one, when I get my 8.8...
Gil BullyKatz
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- 2003UB313 Planet ERIS
Now I know what I want for x-mas!
I know some one else who spun their tubes as well, but one of his tubes came out about 1/2".
As for welding on any cast steel or iron product. IT definately needs to be heated before and after. Using HI-nickle rod is best, but can be welded using stainless rod as well. I know alot of times we use what we have on hand, and it holds up, but there is always a right way and a wrong way to do things.
Patrick
As for welding on any cast steel or iron product. IT definately needs to be heated before and after. Using HI-nickle rod is best, but can be welded using stainless rod as well. I know alot of times we use what we have on hand, and it holds up, but there is always a right way and a wrong way to do things.
Patrick
I love when people spread misinformation... CROK... the center section of an 8.8 is cast nodular iron... NOT cast steel! This is not a guess as I cut a section and examined the metal structure.
Even so it can be welded with relatively easily with pre/post heat as others have described. Nickel rod would be ideal but a MIG works too just not ideal.
Even so it can be welded with relatively easily with pre/post heat as others have described. Nickel rod would be ideal but a MIG works too just not ideal.
bj-666
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Rhode Island
just to add to it. I too have welded my 8.8 tubes and have yet to have any problems with them. but just to throw another wrench in the gears here is some more info on cast stuff.
"Please allow me to explain in simple terms why welding any cast material is bad in terms of strength. When you weld material that is strain hardened, such as virtually any and all formed steel material, the material from the 2 different pieces flow together and meld, with the rod being used as a catalyst, or a helping hand. Now, castings are different. In all castings, be it cast iron or cast steel, there are tiny pockets of air between the individual particles of metal. These air pockets are also present in forged steel during it's formed stage, but they are relieved during the strain hardening process. These air pockets play a big part in the makeup of castings. When you attempt to weld cast material, the air pockets restrict the flow of molecules, thereby not allowing the two materials to flow together and meld. So the flow is basically one way, from the non-cast part to the cast part. Now, forged material hardens as it cools, and this process is not very critical in most applications, due to the structure of the materials, however with cast, the hardness is reduced as it cools, allowing the casting to become brittle. This fact is true with all cast materials, be it aluminum, steel, or iron. Cast material cannot be heat treated once it is cooled after it leaves it's casting form. Welding to cast material is not a matter of whether or not you've weakened the casting, but rather how much have you weakened the casting, because once cast is welded, it is weaker than it was originally. This is why nobody welds new new arms to the flat top knuckles unless they are uninformed idiots, my friend. Another problem once you've welded to cast, is how much you've weakened the casting. There is really no exact way of knowing, so the part may last a week, a year, or a lifetime, but the fact still remains that it is now weaker than it was.
"Please allow me to explain in simple terms why welding any cast material is bad in terms of strength. When you weld material that is strain hardened, such as virtually any and all formed steel material, the material from the 2 different pieces flow together and meld, with the rod being used as a catalyst, or a helping hand. Now, castings are different. In all castings, be it cast iron or cast steel, there are tiny pockets of air between the individual particles of metal. These air pockets are also present in forged steel during it's formed stage, but they are relieved during the strain hardening process. These air pockets play a big part in the makeup of castings. When you attempt to weld cast material, the air pockets restrict the flow of molecules, thereby not allowing the two materials to flow together and meld. So the flow is basically one way, from the non-cast part to the cast part. Now, forged material hardens as it cools, and this process is not very critical in most applications, due to the structure of the materials, however with cast, the hardness is reduced as it cools, allowing the casting to become brittle. This fact is true with all cast materials, be it aluminum, steel, or iron. Cast material cannot be heat treated once it is cooled after it leaves it's casting form. Welding to cast material is not a matter of whether or not you've weakened the casting, but rather how much have you weakened the casting, because once cast is welded, it is weaker than it was originally. This is why nobody welds new new arms to the flat top knuckles unless they are uninformed idiots, my friend. Another problem once you've welded to cast, is how much you've weakened the casting. There is really no exact way of knowing, so the part may last a week, a year, or a lifetime, but the fact still remains that it is now weaker than it was.
Gil BullyKatz
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- 2003UB313 Planet ERIS
more proof that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing...
did I weaken my housing by welding my tubes to it?
maybe...
Do i have a better chance of keeping my tubes from spinning?
Definately...
Will a truss improve the overall strength of my axle?
I'm no engineer...
But...
I'll let you know if I break it
Ocham's Razor Racing
did I weaken my housing by welding my tubes to it?
maybe...
Do i have a better chance of keeping my tubes from spinning?
Definately...
Will a truss improve the overall strength of my axle?
I'm no engineer...
But...
I'll let you know if I break it
Ocham's Razor Racing
- Location
- Camden, SC
8.8 is junk. I have seen spun tubes and borken shafts from them. Not to mention the c-clips. Once you start breaking the 8.8 there is no where to go. With a D44 or a 9" you can get bigger shafts and other upgrades.
Roxtar
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- NW Indiana-Chicago area
?Ghost said:
Yea, it's impossible to weld the tubes, truss it, and I heard the housing will reject alloy shafts. :doh:
- Location
- Port Orchard, WA
bj-666 said:
i wonder if the author of that bold text knows that steering knucles are forged...
Roxtar
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- NW Indiana-Chicago area
Sounds to me like he knows all.XJ_ranger said:
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