WOW, that is WAY cool, it's crazy the amount of time that goes into just making the tooling to make the final crap is amazing..... Well done...

 

i know this thread is a couple months old, but i figure i'd bump it. but, where did you get the brake mounting flange made?

 

and those welds are fake! haha nice job man that should hold ya!!

 

1fastbrick made them...

 

cool, thanks

 

Good stuff... keepin it real with GM parts. Diggin the 14bolt... had one in my 98 Z71. I have my request in for further information

 

did you guys have the pumpkin/tubes in a jig when you welded up the axle tubes? wondering if it had any warping problems and it can be done in truck without worrying about warping the tubes . i was thinking of just migging them while it was in the air just dont want to warp anything.

 

Chase...yes it was welded on a jig and also with a line up bar.

 

I had them made from 3/4 plate.

 

Chase It was done with a line up bar. I had to take a set of Line up bar rings (Bearing dummys for the line up bar) for a DANA 60 and turn them down to fit the 14 bolt. The alluminum block I made holds the tube and the Flange so that I can weld the tube, the leaf pads, and the flange. I have to do 1 side at a time.

There is some deflection in the housing from use. Once its welded up with the bar centering it, most of the deflection is gone.

Im not a big fan of trying to do it while its assembled. As EvilGMC saw from the one that was in a fire it distorted so bad the one axle was extremly difficult to get out even with a sledge hammer.

The rapid heating and cooling from the Mig welding process will likely add to the distortion. Not to mention the heat could distort the pinion seal just enough to leak and cook the Oil in side makeing a smelly mess. The other problem you face with mig welding cast iron is crystalization at the weld area from rapid heating and cooling. I have been told that using a gas torch to preheat and post heat will help.

Chase let me know if you need some help.