m 37 resto in new brunswick

[super dave]

I will be interested in how the color comes out, Keep up the good work

[pauljboudreau]

nice day today had some more work done and started restoring the frame ouf hard labor but it will be worth it, i found some marking stamped in the frame including a serial number , but the number is to faint to show on the camera, you can also see all kind of tool marks on the frame proving it was bended cold or pressed

any how here are the pics enjoy!

crack ready to be welded

crak welded

where is the crack?

other crack fixing

original dodge black paint showing under the drab

1/3 sanded down

marking stamped in frame

[pauljboudreau]

axles waiting restoration

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Paul..
That is a nice weld..low splatter..looks like 7018 or 7011..
7011 would give you a nice base for a deep large weld but not with a frame..but not strong enough for a stand alone,one pass fix,in my estimation..especially for a restoration.... the 7018 is your best choice for price and strength.....70 series means 70,000 pounds tensile strength..more than enough for your frame..if it was a military application I would use 8018 or even 9018 for a 90,000 pound tensile strength weld..the frame would break somewhere else..not the welded area..
Anyway ..by the look of your weld..you don't need any advice from me but it may help others that are doing some welding with out your experience that may have some questions that we could help with..Keep posting..love the pictures and the description..

[pauljboudreau]

thank for the flower's!!

actually i used the mig welder at a high voltage and slower wire speed to make sure i had good penetration, also since those frame are high in carbon i preheated to a cherry red before welding and kept it hot for a while before leting it cool down on its own slowly to prevent any stress in the steel, it is important not to over heat it as it can become brittle because of the carbon , the mig welder combined with the mix gold gas and some nozzle dip make for very clean welds, i also used the plasma quite a bit to remove some material to cut down on grinding time.

as for progress pics , the more nice wheater the more progress , i do need to build a garage..lol

[pauljboudreau]

oh and for everyone, only the fool dont take or listen to advice!!!!, i love to hear advice from any one as long as it is polite, i try to always remember that some people always have more knowledge than me on some subject and that tthere is always something to learn form one and other

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Originally Posted by pauljboudreau

thank for the flower's!!

actually i used the mig welder at a high voltage and slower wire speed to make sure i had good penetration, also since those frame are high in carbon i preheated to a cherry red before welding and kept it hot for a while before leting it cool down on its own slowly to prevent any stress in the steel, it is important not to over heat it as it can become brittle because of the carbon , the mig welder combined with the mix gold gas and some nozzle dip make for very clean welds, i also used the plasma quite a bit to remove some material to cut down on grinding time.

as for progress pics , the more nice wheater the more progress , i do need to build a garage..lol

Hi Paul.
I figured you for an old school stick welder..I was curious about the few splatter beads..as 7018 doesn't do that /..I thought mig at first and then picked the wrong door..
The fresh drill hole at the end of the crack before welding told me you were an old school guy that knew what you were doing...
Pre heating was definitely the right process..cast iron is done the same way..
Anyway ..maybe you can make a trip in JUNE up to the Ottawa area to BBB...Bob's Beer and BBQ..mentioned here on the forum..
great time and lots of fun..maybe scrounge up some parts and pieces.too..Once again..great job..keep the picture log going..
we all want to follow your project..

[pauljboudreau]

hehe i do take care of keeping 4 plow bucket together in the winter , it does involve a lot a welding with the old stick welder , uspside down over head going up and down and in all kind of hole, lol , the drilled hole is one of the simplest way to stop a crack from going further after you fix it if it fails again , wich happen all the time on the buckets, (the drivers keep hitting curbs and all sorts of stuff), recently bougth the mig and a plasma cutter, so the new cool tool are pretty good too , the mig apear to easy, you have too watch a lot for good penetration as it can be easy to do a good looking weld with no penetration, i find slowing the wire down bring up the heat,

as for ottawa , you never know , my girlfriend migth be off and we migth take a trip , i rarely plan ahead, i like to live day by day, i am retired after all...lol