2G Who welds center differentials anymore? SOLVED

[boost97gst]

I sent TRE a couple emails. I guess he's just backed up. I have a AT and need the center diff welded.
Any other suggestions on whom i might contact?
I am NOT a welder and i don't want to entrust anyone with a TIG/MIG with my center diff.
I hear this must be done right lest things not line up....

Thanks.

*Yes, i have searched. Jacks and TRE.
Edit: jacks will do it. Not cheap for welding, at all, but they know what they're doing.

 

[bastarddsm]

Send it to me. Actually drive it up and I'll do it while you wait.

 

[boost97gst]

Yea, just heard back from Jon at TRE and he said something about a "spool" and how he's out. I just thought you got them welded. I know nothing of "spools".
Bastard, i'll take you up on that. I can't really make the haul up there(4 hr drive one way) but i'd be glad to fedex it up
If you'd like, PM me price and address and i'll get it out to ya
Thanks bud!

 

[Archer Fabrications]

He could be talking about being out of a spool of mig wire.

 

[boost97gst]

^^^
Here's a copy/paste of his message to me. I also googled "center diff spool" and it's something different than welding.




Josh,

Sorry the late reply.

I did make some spools for the center differential so they don’t need to be welded but I sold out of them.

Looking at my to-do list, I imagine that I’ll have time to make more of them in about 4 weeks.

Jon

 

[bastarddsm]

Yeah TRE had a billed piece that replaced all the spider gears, but it was for a manual trans. I remember hearing about some problems with them. Bolts backing out and such. Can't you just weld the VCU on a auto?

 

[TSi-Rocket]

I thought if you weld the VCU it will put extra stress on the spider gears. I want to weld a spare center diff and am capable of welding it. But, some say you can just weld it and it works, and others say if its not welded in a jig or is out of alignment it can cause problems? I haven't really found conclusive proof yet to support either claim. It seems to me you could just weld it an be done since everything is independent. The little bit of play on the upper pinion and lower gear could cause a slight bind if you don't tack in a few places to keep it square. The next thing is people say you want to heat it up, weld it, and then slowly back the heat off. Ideally an oven would prob work but I would think you could slightly heat with a torch, weld, and then slowly back the torch off. I need to do some more digging about the heat cycle. All the parts are heat treated and you don't want to mess that up right?

 

[bastarddsm]

I've been on a welded vcu for a long time. I trashed one set of spiders, at the same time I broke both rear axles, differential and tcase . Shim it tight and it's fine, especially on an auto. I like to weld the vcu so its reverseable.

 

[bastarddsm]

The pre and post heat is for hydrogen embrittlement. The heat treat will be affected in the haz, no doubt about it.

 

[boost97gst]

SEE EDIT AT BOTTOM


I wrote you back, Bastard. Jorden W (onewhite, you probably know him) is pretty compelling with his thoughts on heat treating.
Jacks is $150 to weld and TRE won't do it, most likely cause the profit margin is way higher using a spool vs welding it. It's an extra 200 bucks in the bank basically. I get it.
I have a total of $2500 in the tranny and these puppies are getting more and more rare. I'm gonna have Jacks do it. Hate the extra down time but i just remembered i'm waiting on PR o2 housing then i have to find a place locally, preferably, to do heat coating on my turbine housing, mani, and o2 housing.
So the down time might not be noticeable.

Bastard, i'm sorry for wasting your time bud, that was a very very generous offer and i'd love to meet up with you when my car is on the road. Not many local dsm'ers anymore. gateway is dead last i checked.

I gotta see that HY!


EDIT: Upon more research and coming back to this thread i was certainly fed some poor info. Not that Jacks can't do it, but the fella on here who offered can do it juuuuuuuust as good with his equipment.

 

[boost97gst]

I thought if you weld the VCU it will put extra stress on the spider gears. I want to weld a spare center diff and am capable of welding it. But, some say you can just weld it and it works, and others say if its not welded in a jig or is out of alignment it can cause problems? I haven't really found conclusive proof yet to support either claim. It seems to me you could just weld it an be done since everything is independent. The little bit of play on the upper pinion and lower gear could cause a slight bind if you don't tack in a few places to keep it square. The next thing is people say you want to heat it up, weld it, and then slowly back the heat off. Ideally an oven would prob work but I would think you could slightly heat with a torch, weld, and then slowly back the torch off. I need to do some more digging about the heat cycle. All the parts are heat treated and you don't want to mess that up right?

redacted

 

[TSi-Rocket]

I didn't think a typical oven would work. I think I need to heat it with a torch, have a second person keep a little heat while I weld it, once the welding is done slowly throttle the torch back. Bastard I have 2x early 91 transmissions and 2 90 transmissions all with the same outer center diff gear profile... and you cant buy the center diffs with that profile anymore... Not to mention my evo 1 has the same profile and I have one good housing that will get sent out for a 4spider setup eventually. Only way I can finish the build on 2 of the transmissions is to weld the center diff. One housing is awesome except the spider gears shattered and tore up where the thrust washers ride and the other got beat up where the cross shaft rocked back and forth? Maybe they are reparable but I have access mig/arc so its a free mod. If the center diffs were rebuildable I would try welding the VCU, I have plenty of spider gears laying around, and my car doesn't put down what your does .

Bastard did you ask me about the ring and pinion out of my evo 1 trans last year?

 

[Archer Fabrications]

I'd be interested in a writeup of where you weld the center diff ive seen some pictures but is it only welded on two parts of the center? (Not my welding)

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[bastarddsm]

If you thinks jacks is any expert on welding heat treated gears your sorely mistaken.

Like I said the pre and post heat is to prevent hydrogen embrittlement. It has nothing to do with the heattreat it will be annealed in the haz. The pre and post is because of the metallurgy. Most high strength steels are a pain to weld.

 

[donniekak]

I've had plenty of these welded with a good mig welder. Never had one fail. Most important is making sure the splines are properly aligned.

My buddy welded his auto center diff with a harbor freight flux wire welder. It's held up to at least 50 launches in a 130 mph 3500lb setup.


That's it, two parts welded.

I'd be interested in a writeup of where you weld the center diff ive seen some pictures but is it only welded on two parts of the center? (Not my welding)

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[bastarddsm]

I was atleast gonna do it with super missle rod so it looked pretty

 

[Archer Fabrications]

Is it a good idea to weld it with the shaft in it? So it all lines up ive got a 4 spyder but when it breaks I'll weld it

 

[boost97gst]

PM sent. Apologies. More research and i spouted info i was fed that has turned out incorrect.
I respect ya bud, i'm an engineer myself, not a PhD in mech engineering (damn), but a clinical engineer. If i didn't piss in your wheaties too hard by scheduling and unscheduling then i sure would like to just bring the thing up to ya sunday at noon.
If not, i get it. You made a kind offer. For that, thank you. I can't add anymore and i've done my mea culpa ha. I'm kickin myself, trust me bud. I'm an older guy and jumped to quick.

 

[bastarddsm]

Is it a good idea to weld it with the shaft in it? So it all lines up ive got a 4 spyder but when it breaks I'll weld it

Do it sooner than later, when the shaft breaks and it spits parts out it kills everything. I should post my pictures

 

[bastarddsm]

T

PM sent. Apologies. More research and i spouted info i was fed that has turned out incorrect.
I respect ya bud, i'm an engineer myself, not a PhD in mech engineering (damn), but a clinical engineer. If i didn't piss in your wheaties too hard by scheduling and unscheduling then i sure would like to just bring the thing up to ya sunday at noon.
If not, i get it. You made a kind offer. For that, thank you. I can't add anymore and i've done my mea culpa ha. I'm kickin myself, trust me bud. I'm an older guy and jumped to quick.

thats fine bring
It up.

 

[boost97gst]

Awesome. See ya on sunday.

 

[TSi-Rocket]

Urban I found a write up but it just explained what to weld. It would be nice if we had a write up with everything aligned to make it easier for everyone else, leave less doubt. I have hmm... maybe 7 center diffs laying around and two have chipped outer teeth so they will make a good trial run. I would feel more comfortable arc welding it, especially the lower gear in the housing. Seems you can get a better view of what your doing with just a stick dropped into it.

 

[boost97gst]

Just to let others know: I just spent a few hours visiting with kurt and he did a great job welding the center diff up.

 

[bastarddsm]

Let me know how it goes back together.

 

[miliman13]

Ok then we're are the pics?