Need welding - Cast Iron

2000F150SAS

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 13, 2007
Location
Fuquay-Varina, NC
I may be making extended Ford radius arms and will need welding to the cast. I'm looking for someone in the Raleigh area that is a certified welder or shop.

Thanks, John
 
It would be a lot stronger and much safer to make your own arms out of tubing and put heims or johnny joints at the ends of them.

Something like this:
RC-CAC2_03.jpg
 
SolarYellow05 said:
It would be a lot stronger and much safer to make your own arms out of tubing and put heims or johnny joints at the ends of them.
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I see a lot of people build them with the cast C of the arm and they hold up (seen some brake also). But my truck never leaves the road and only will see the beach a couple times a year. What do you think now?:confused:

Thanks, John
 
2000F150SAS said:
I see a lot of people build them with the cast C of the arm and they hold up (seen some brake also). But my truck never leaves the road and only will see the beach a couple times a year. What do you think now?:confused:
Thanks, John
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I saw that you're looking to buy the arms also. It would give me peace of mind, if it were mine, to spend a few more dollars and make the whole arm. I don't think the cost would be a whole lot more and it would be worth it to me to know my front axle wasn't held in place by cast welded to steel.

Not trying to be an a$$, but why do you want long arms if you're not going to leave the road with it?
 
SolarYellow05 said:
I saw that you're looking to buy the arms also. It would give me peace of mind, if it were mine, to spend a few more dollars and make the whole arm. I don't think the cost would be a whole lot more and it would be worth it to me to know my front axle wasn't held in place by cast welded to steel.
Not trying to be an a$$, but why do you want long arms if you're not going to leave the road with it?
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I wasn't thinking your an a$$, but good question. This what I have now (see picture) and really don't like them haging down, it rides great just wanted a cleaner look.

I'm open to all opinions tha's why i asked.
awww.supermotors.net_getfile_844325_fullsize_f150_3.jpg

Thanks, John
 
2000F150SAS said:
I wasn't thinking your an a$$, but good question. This what I have now (see picture) and really don't like them haging down, it rides great just wanted a cleaner look.
I'm open to all opinions tha's why i asked.
awww.supermotors.net_getfile_844325_fullsize_f150_3.jpg

Thanks, John
Click to expand...

I see. So you're running coils, a track bar, and radius arms?
 
SolarYellow05 said:
I see. So you're running coils, a track bar, and radius arms?
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May just hold of and save the money also. I got my adjustable coil buckets from Carolina Truggies so i can replace the stock two wheel drive buckets and clean that up, so I was thinking about cleaning up the arms a little. It's one of those things, after you do the SAS you find a better way.:lol:

Thanks, John
 
SolarYellow05 said:
If it were mine, I would go with the radius arms like I posted the pic of. That'll allow you to mount them straight to the frame and get rid of the drop brackets you're running right now and also give you adjustability to your pinion angle if ever needed.
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These are the ones I want to swap to someday and are also fully adjustable.

1978-79 Full Size Bronco Long Travel Radius Arms
http://www.jamesduff.com/newproducts/newproducts.asp


John
 
SolarYellow05 said:
I think you could have some built for a lot less than that. Depending on what kind of joints you went with.
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Maybe but including your time it may not be worth the few dollars I'll save. These are very similar to the Cage Arms before they closed shop.
 
Here's a set I made last year for a guy. 2" .250 wall upper tube 1.75 .120 lower. I used about 16" of the factory cast arm and cut a slot in one side of the .250 wall for the T shape of the stock arm to slide into. This way its keyed together for more strength. Then I plated all the way around it all to tie the tubes together. The turned out pretty nice just very heavy.
035.jpg

038.jpg

040.jpg
 
Those arms are cast steel not cast iron. Pre heat them weld, ping, weld, ping, weld, ping then re-heat to a steady temp to normalize them. Cool them slow in insulation or bury in sand after you weld. 7018 or stainless rod~ anything with a high nickle content. just be sure to pre-heat, ping & normalize. They will hold fine.
 
Very simple to make extended arms using all kinds of different methods, search some of the bronco/early bronco boards for ideas. I would build some caster into them too. Marsfab's are real nice but there are certainly simpler ways. It's very easy to weld to.
 
Extended Arms

Thanks for everyone opinion, like hearing pros and the cons. MARSFAB I sent you a PM.

Thanks, JOhn
 
Jeff B said:
Those arms are cast steel not cast iron. Pre heat them weld, ping, weld, ping, weld, ping then re-heat to a steady temp to normalize them. Cool them slow in insulation or bury in sand after you weld. 7018 or stainless rod~ anything with a high nickle content. just be sure to pre-heat, ping & normalize. They will hold fine.
Click to expand...

OOPS!! Sorry, should have said cast STEEL.:lol:
 
2000F150SAS said:
OOPS!! Sorry, should have said cast iron.:lol:
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You did say cast iron, totally different animal than ccast steel.

Thanks for making your type so big, I would not been able to read it before:shaking:
 
Jeff B said:
You did say cast iron, totally different animal than ccast steel.
Thanks for making your type so big, I would not been able to read it before:shaking:
Click to expand...

I did that so members would know I f$$ked up. No other reason.:D
 
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