Welding on a Cast rear

well ive seen it in two of last months truck magswhat is the deal with it can you weld to a cast rearone project was an s10 the other was a silveradocan this be done safely??

i would say no..

Its absolutely possible to weld to a cast center section. But the first thing you need to do is figure out if it is cast steel or cast iron. The way to properly weld to each of them is vastly different. The fastest way to tell the difference is a grind test. You use a hard grinding wheel, and grind on the questioned surface. Cast iron will throw a very short redish orange spark, up to about 4 inches away from the grinder. Cast steel will throw an lighter orange to yellow spark and will be thrown over a foot away from the grinder.

If you can determine the material we will be able to give you the proper technique. I will tell you welding to cast steel is much easier than cast iron, but neither of them are "easy" per say.

Yes it can be done safely. You gotta take your time, weld a spot then walk away do something else for a bit, just keep doin that. I did and mine is absolutely fine

i dont think thats the right way

It's not. You want the part hot then weld it and let it cool slowly.

I have a big container full of sand that I cool the parts in. It usually takes about an hour for them to cool to a point where you can handle them with your bare hands. And they are still warm to the touch. I preheat them in an oven to start, on its highest point, if its a small part. And then finish with a torch.

thanks for the reply guys
i know you told me this before seth
just wanting to get more opinions
i was over it until i got the new sport trucks and on the the features has this done
so i had to ask
im not comfortable with it

i always preheat,weld,then post heat,then let cool naturally

Originally posted by layenframe



thanks for the reply guysi know you told me this before sethjust wanting to get more opinions i was over it until i got the new sport trucks and on the the features has this done so i had to askim not comfortable with it

They did it in a tech article in the new Tailgate as well. I think if they are going to do this in a tech they should address it at least a little bit. Even if they just say "Leave it so someone that knows how to weld to it." But instead they don't even mention it, which means someone out there now thinks theres no problem with it, and could make a potentially harmful mistake.