me and a buddy stitched his block back up using some special bolts he ordered. it was a kit he ordered and what we did was drain all the water out then put like 20psi of air into the radiator without the thermostat in it. then drilled and tapped holes one by one down the crack placing these break away bolts into it. then went between each one doing the same thing. then one more round of going between the bolts. so basically the final layer was into the bolts and not the actual block to lock the first two rounds into place. it actually worked and never had any issues again
Growing up in Alaska with 55 below zero winters, I have seen some cracked blocks! Usually you have lots of hairline cracks you can't see, but many of these "heal" and fix themselves with rust! I saw many cracked up blocks and heads still running fine. The worst is internal cracks with water in the oil or combustion pressurizing the radiator.
I was told I could never fix cast aluminum, but an old man from a machine shop showed this video how to use a tig torch and braising rod and it was so effin smooth when he was done
Dex your so refreshing to watch i stumbled across your vlog about how you got all your jeeps well neing a mopar nut i had to watch an ive watched so many of your vlogs in the last couple weeks im highly entertained i like your style self made an you an justin are just so good to watch, dont listen to the haters there just shit talkers who couldnt get out the way of tnere own shadow!! Im no epwelder but from watching this vlog you seem to get the cracks fixed to were thsy are just weeping!! Have you thought about liquid steel i think in the states you call it jb weld? Leave it ruff put it on top of your welds to stop the weeping!! Keep up the good work i enjoy every vlog even the thradhing of ya jeeps on the days out!! So from here in australia keep up the good work an mopar or no car!!!
There are two common types of Cast iron Welding Rod, Ferro-Nickel and Pure Nickel. Ferro-Nickel are typically 53% Steel and 47% Nickel. Ferro-Nickel Rods are cheaper than pure Nickel and are ideal for welding Cast Iron to Steel. Pure Nickel will produce a softer, more malleable weld deposit.
I’ve had really good luck welding cast iron with a stainless rod. It always lays down good and never had anything break with the stainless rod. People would tell me I’m crazy and it wouldn’t work but I’d do it and they would be speechless with the outcome.
An old timer told me once if you have a crack that runs, drill a small hole at the end of the crack to stop it. In my mind, it makes sense to weld it in the opposite direction. (away from the drill hole)
You are and inspiration to you tubers Everywhere , I just love to watch ur videos, I want comment because I weld cast once and awhile and not sure if ya know but there are a techniques. it not that you have to pre heat the thing, the thing u have to do is slow the cooling prosess waaay down. Like for manifolds, once u weld it u need bury it in sand. The sand draws out the cool down. It can't go from red hot and have cool down by air around it. You also can get Nickel wire for the mig. Also drill a 1/8 hole right at -each end of the Crack. It'll stop it from runnning. I've also seen people take a torch and keep lowering the heat little by little. There are also softer type of nickle rods. Figuring out ur type cast helps too.
I worked for an old welder years ago and this is what he said about welding cast iron/steel: You first have to drill out the ends of the crack so it doesn't spread. Pre-heat to at least 400⁰F if you want. The crucial part is when you weld, do it in 1/2" to 1" stages. While the weld is hot, peen it hard with a slag hammer or air hammer. This stress relieves the weld and keeps it from shrinking. Depending on the thickness of the casting, you will also have to groove out the crack with a grinder so you get proper penetration.
When you were pullingit into the shop it looked like the special top xj you showed a few shorts back for just a second. I was like "woah, completely changed tone of video" then it went back the way i thought. Hellova ride. 😂
you can 100% cold weld on a block. flux core helps. turn the Hz way up. keep the gas flowing over the weld for few seconds too. keep the o2 away. ditch the water keep argon on it longer
The 292 block cracked in my ‘63 c10 after 59 years! I didn’t want to pull it out/disassemble and fix it properly, so I drilled both ends of the crack and filled it with jb weld.. it’s been holding fine for 2 years now. 🤷🏼♂️
I had the same problem this year. I had a heater core bad so I kept adding water when was needed. Now that it's getting warmer I'm goin to pull the motor and hope it's freeze plug
Hey dex hopefully you see this a great video for a xj would be a way to install a security switch hidden some where what wire to cut fuel or spark or power to computer etc
That rear head freeze plug can be installed with 1.25" nut and bolt thats 2.25" long thread the nut on the bolt put 3 drop of super glue on the nut face to hold the freeze plug put in place head of bolt against the fire wall loosen the nut with the wrench pushing the plug in have done this twice its slick its press the plug in
Back in WI my water pump slowly shat the bed and didn't realize it until about March. Everything was fine in the end. Amazing engine, just wish it was potty trained.
I've never done this, but the videos I've seen emphasize preheat, slow cooling(like in hot sand) and "peening the shit out of it". Just food for thought, really enjoying the experiment in any case
Ran into that same issue on a small block 350. My dad was a very talented stick welder and everytimr he would weld I would pull the rosebud back and when he was done I would hit it with the torch again and it cracked everytime. 8 rods later it got 2 packages of j.b weld and has almost 100k on it now
An XJ I recently picked up had a crack from the water pump down to the freeze plug. Didn't notice it until after I did a new head and gasket. Ended up scrapping the block.
That's too bad that happened, but like you said you got a lot of things going on so lesson learned. My welds look like yours. I bet you know someone that has a block?? Love the videos, learn something every time.
An expansion plug wont work on back of head because there's casting just inside and it pushes the plug out when you tighten the nut! I tried shaving down the plug and no matter what i did couldn't get it to work. But this led me to a method I discovered to push the freeze plug in using a bolt with a nut washer and socket. Push off the firewall with the head of the bolt turn the nut and it pushes the washer and socket wich is inside the cup of the freeze plug and it will press the freeze plug in. I did this on the side of the highway
Have you tried using a needle scaler to "peen" the weld? Same process as you were using the water or air. Just use the scaler instead as the weld is cooling.
Ya know ive done a lot of automotive welding. ICAR certified and certified welder. So looking at cracked blocks. I think bronze silica welding would work amazing on that. Look up how bronze silica welding works. It makes sense that it would work. Maybe something to try
Been there done that still run mine with the crack on cylinder 1 water jacket due to the same problem you did. Did a head gasket after over heating one day after forgetting to swap water for coolant it froze over cracked the block and blew the radiator cap off
I tried to clip it but , the most relatable quote of tonight “you get a motor you act up again ,…. And antifreeze … 🎶” 😂😂😂😂 me to my car If I had the money 🤦🏼♂️
Run a very short bead and "ping" the weld gently with a chipping hammer. This will relieve the stresses of the dissimilar metals and keep the metals from cracking.
That rear head freeze plug can be installed with 1.25" nut and bolt thats 2.25" long thread the nut on the bolt put 3 drop of super glue on the nut face to hold the freeze plug put in place head of bolt against the fire wall loosen the nut with the wrench pushing the plug in have done this twice its slick its press the plug in
@@dexjs it works head of bolt against the firewall nut on freeze plug when u loosen the bolt it gets longer and pushes the plug in if a 2.25" bolt is to long check your motor and trans mounts cause a 2.25 long bolt should fit between the head and firewall all most prefect
Well, I must ask. Why not use some jb weld? I like that you've fixed it good enough for govt. work. Just wondering if you might have been able to save your back a few hours leaning and welding?
I believe that it would work if you could get it to hold and seal but in my experience it’s hard to stick it on a flat surface. Along with all the rust and dirt, I very well could be wrong just my thoughts.
I bought a jeep with a huge crack in the block years ago. Die grinded the crack, thick bead of jb weld, and it lasted all the way up until the 5th or 6th time I overheated it and cracked a head lol
I had a ford 250 with the 302 an ran water in it an forgot when winter come around . It sumhow did not freeze crack the block the radiator was solid ice also it sat for few weeks at like 20 degree an colder I fired it up let it run an after 30 min I had heat again lol an water un frozen .
My 01 Grand Cherokee came from a neighbor that said " We Don't need No Antifreeze in South Mississippi !! It Don't Get that Cold Here ! " 🤣 Calls me to take it to the junk yard because it got really cold here 2 years ago.. said water was blowin out the block ! He bent the thermostat housin an I paid him the Junk yard price ! 😁 If your weldin Steel with Flux core you SHOULD use CO2 If you using bare wire like 70S3 you use 94/6 or 75/25 . I have ONLY been to ALMOST every weld school the Military has to weld Almost Everything ..BUT I could be Wrong.. OH an i went the weld school at the shipyard too. So I MIGHT be right !
It takes 2 days of 28 degrees to freeze an crack a block learned that when working on boats winterizing them yah I learned a lot from this boat machanic an I never forgot that an it’s true .
Pure water promotes corrosion, lacks lubrication for pump seals, in the north, we learn real young the dangers of no antifreeze. Also, the plugs you refer to as _freeze plugs_ are actually *CORE PLUGS* , they were not, are not, and never were intended to provide a place for expanding water to "escape" . My uncle worked at CWC Textron for decades, cast thousands of iron blocks, for many manufacturers, and heard that dozens of times.
Cwc textron.... yep... I'm 73... worked there 25 years.... pretty good management Fer awhile then "cost cutting" came about.... made thousands of cam blanks that were not heat treated correctly.... That cwc casting mark was slightly changed when we were forced to heat treat em incorrectly. Slightly rounded letters on crap cams and very sharp letters on good cams.
Been faster to just change the motor that head will be stuffed as well she is scrap waste of time pure waste of time the bore be-out of round anyway . 🤔😵💫🙃.
When people told me the 4.0 was resilient I never thought it was THIS resilient. You're a legend.
The best how to in a pinch UA-cam channel ive seen. Ive had XJs for over 20 years and have learned more since ive been watching this channel.
The most valuable and longest lasting lessons, are the most painful ones
me and a buddy stitched his block back up using some special bolts he ordered. it was a kit he ordered and what we did was drain all the water out then put like 20psi of air into the radiator without the thermostat in it. then drilled and tapped holes one by one down the crack placing these break away bolts into it. then went between each one doing the same thing. then one more round of going between the bolts. so basically the final layer was into the bolts and not the actual block to lock the first two rounds into place. it actually worked and never had any issues again
Sounds cool I never heard of that
Growing up in Alaska with 55 below zero winters, I have seen some cracked blocks! Usually you have lots of hairline cracks you can't see, but many of these "heal" and fix themselves with rust!
I saw many cracked up blocks and heads still running fine. The worst is internal cracks with water in the oil or combustion pressurizing the radiator.
I was told I could never fix cast aluminum, but an old man from a machine shop showed this video how to use a tig torch and braising rod and it was so effin smooth when he was done
I would love to spend one week with this guy in his shop just fixing problems he is so smart an creative
Dex your so refreshing to watch i stumbled across your vlog about how you got all your jeeps well neing a mopar nut i had to watch an ive watched so many of your vlogs in the last couple weeks im highly entertained i like your style self made an you an justin are just so good to watch, dont listen to the haters there just shit talkers who couldnt get out the way of tnere own shadow!! Im no epwelder but from watching this vlog you seem to get the cracks fixed to were thsy are just weeping!! Have you thought about liquid steel i think in the states you call it jb weld? Leave it ruff put it on top of your welds to stop the weeping!! Keep up the good work i enjoy every vlog even the thradhing of ya jeeps on the days out!! So from here in australia keep up the good work an mopar or no car!!!
Heck yeah!! I’m gonna go mig weld my block!! 🤣😂🤣😂Those are some tough engines.
There are two common types of Cast iron Welding Rod, Ferro-Nickel and Pure Nickel. Ferro-Nickel are typically 53% Steel and 47% Nickel. Ferro-Nickel Rods are cheaper than pure Nickel and are ideal for welding Cast Iron to Steel. Pure Nickel will produce a softer, more malleable weld deposit.
I’ve had really good luck welding cast iron with a stainless rod. It always lays down good and never had anything break with the stainless rod. People would tell me I’m crazy and it wouldn’t work but I’d do it and they would be speechless with the outcome.
I can really appreciate this guy. And I enjoy the content
An old timer told me once if you have a crack that runs, drill a small hole at the end of the crack to stop it. In my mind, it makes sense to weld it in the opposite direction. (away from the drill hole)
We love being intertained. Surly you got another block.
You are and inspiration to you tubers Everywhere , I just love to watch ur videos, I want comment because I weld cast once and awhile and not sure if ya know but there are a techniques. it not that you have to pre heat the thing, the thing u have to do is slow the cooling prosess waaay down. Like for manifolds, once u weld it u need bury it in sand. The sand draws out the cool down. It can't go from red hot and have cool down by air around it. You also can get Nickel wire for the mig. Also drill a 1/8 hole right at -each end of the Crack. It'll stop it from runnning. I've also seen people take a torch and keep lowering the heat little by little. There are also softer type of nickle rods. Figuring out ur type cast helps too.
I worked for an old welder years ago and this is what he said about welding cast iron/steel:
You first have to drill out the ends of the crack so it doesn't spread. Pre-heat to at least 400⁰F if you want. The crucial part is when you weld, do it in 1/2" to 1" stages. While the weld is hot, peen it hard with a slag hammer or air hammer. This stress relieves the weld and keeps it from shrinking. Depending on the thickness of the casting, you will also have to groove out the crack with a grinder so you get proper penetration.
When you were pullingit into the shop it looked like the special top xj you showed a few shorts back for just a second. I was like "woah, completely changed tone of video" then it went back the way i thought. Hellova ride. 😂
you can 100% cold weld on a block. flux core helps. turn the Hz way up. keep the gas flowing over the weld for few seconds too. keep the o2 away. ditch the water keep argon on it longer
The 292 block cracked in my ‘63 c10 after 59 years! I didn’t want to pull it out/disassemble and fix it properly, so I drilled both ends of the crack and filled it with jb weld.. it’s been holding fine for 2 years now. 🤷🏼♂️
I had the same problem this year. I had a heater core bad so I kept adding water when was needed. Now that it's getting warmer I'm goin to pull the motor and hope it's freeze plug
Hey dex hopefully you see this a great video for a xj would be a way to install a security switch hidden some where what wire to cut fuel or spark or power to computer etc
That rear head freeze plug can be installed with 1.25" nut and bolt thats 2.25" long thread the nut on the bolt put 3 drop of super glue on the nut face to hold the freeze plug put in place head of bolt against the fire wall loosen the nut with the wrench pushing the plug in have done this twice its slick its press the plug in
Back in WI my water pump slowly shat the bed and didn't realize it until about March. Everything was fine in the end. Amazing engine, just wish it was potty trained.
I've never done this, but the videos I've seen emphasize preheat, slow cooling(like in hot sand) and "peening the shit out of it". Just food for thought, really enjoying the experiment in any case
You got some really nice Cherokee's man. I am envious as hell.
I love my 97 Wrangler. But man that is a nice lookin Cherokee.
Best information on jeeps out there. Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Ran into that same issue on a small block 350. My dad was a very talented stick welder and everytimr he would weld I would pull the rosebud back and when he was done I would hit it with the torch again and it cracked everytime. 8 rods later it got 2 packages of j.b weld and has almost 100k on it now
An XJ I recently picked up had a crack from the water pump down to the freeze plug. Didn't notice it until after I did a new head and gasket. Ended up scrapping the block.
That's too bad that happened, but like you said you got a lot of things going on so lesson learned. My welds look like yours. I bet you know someone that has a block?? Love the videos, learn something every time.
Right on!! Worst case I just grab another one. Just last chance on it. Thank you!!
An expansion plug wont work on back of head because there's casting just inside and it pushes the plug out when you tighten the nut! I tried shaving down the plug and no matter what i did couldn't get it to work. But this led me to a method I discovered to push the freeze plug in using a bolt with a nut washer and socket. Push off the firewall with the head of the bolt turn the nut and it pushes the washer and socket wich is inside the cup of the freeze plug and it will press the freeze plug in. I did this on the side of the highway
Have you tried using a needle scaler to "peen" the weld? Same process as you were using the water or air. Just use the scaler instead as the weld is cooling.
Haven’t tried that one 🤔
Dex try silicone bronze wire in your mig welder with argon works really well on case iron or cast aluminum
Ya know ive done a lot of automotive welding. ICAR certified and certified welder. So looking at cracked blocks. I think bronze silica welding would work amazing on that. Look up how bronze silica welding works. It makes sense that it would work. Maybe something to try
Been there done that still run mine with the crack on cylinder 1 water jacket due to the same problem you did. Did a head gasket after over heating one day after forgetting to swap water for coolant it froze over cracked the block and blew the radiator cap off
I tried to clip it but , the most relatable quote of tonight “you get a motor you act up again ,…. And antifreeze … 🎶” 😂😂😂😂 me to my car If I had the money 🤦🏼♂️
I was wondering if that was possible, now I know. Good job
I’ve always had great luck with a Tig welder and 316l stainless fill rod. The nickel in the stainless Tig rod works great IMHO.
Run a very short bead and "ping" the weld gently with a chipping hammer. This will relieve the stresses of the dissimilar metals and keep the metals from cracking.
Блок перед сваркой нужно хорошо нагреть горелкой,тогда место сварки не будет давать трещину!👍
That rear head freeze plug can be installed with 1.25" nut and bolt thats 2.25" long thread the nut on the bolt put 3 drop of super glue on the nut face to hold the freeze plug put in place head of bolt against the fire wall loosen the nut with the wrench pushing the plug in have done this twice its slick its press the plug in
I can’t tell if that’s real or not but it sounds awesome 😎 😆
@@dexjs it works head of bolt against the firewall nut on freeze plug when u loosen the bolt it gets longer and pushes the plug in if a 2.25" bolt is to long check your motor and trans mounts cause a 2.25 long bolt should fit between the head and firewall all most prefect
Unbelievable that you fixed a cracked block 😲🤞
Use sand bags damp to cool slowly were your welded . Yep drill at the end of the cracks 👍🏻🇦🇺.
I love that color of that Cherokee I would love to find a good body to put a motor in I have a couple 1987 to 1990 motors.
Well, I must ask. Why not use some jb weld? I like that you've fixed it good enough for govt. work. Just wondering if you might have been able to save your back a few hours leaning and welding?
I believe that it would work if you could get it to hold and seal but in my experience it’s hard to stick it on a flat surface. Along with all the rust and dirt, I very well could be wrong just my thoughts.
@@caseyb65 ever tried the high temp stick? It's like a puddy in use.
@@HawkeyeMobileAutoRepair no sir I haven’t, I may have to get some if it’s the good stuff LOL
Gotta try to save it! Good effort
I couldnt tell how you got the freeze plugs out. Did you push them in the block then pull back out?
What about try a heat resistant JB Weld on the block? Not sure if that is even a thing or possible.
Do u mess with any 2.5s? If you do I got some questions about it cause I'm rebuilding one in a 2nd gen dakota
4.0's are legendary. Massive crack in the block? No worries just use some soapy water and youre back on the road!
Love love love this video!
I bought a jeep with a huge crack in the block years ago. Die grinded the crack, thick bead of jb weld, and it lasted all the way up until the 5th or 6th time I overheated it and cracked a head lol
I had a ford 250 with the 302 an ran water in it an forgot when winter come around . It sumhow did not freeze crack the block the radiator was solid ice also it sat for few weeks at like 20 degree an colder I fired it up let it run an after 30 min I had heat again lol an water un frozen .
I think it's called rust-in. I know with a hot water boiler, they leak for a week or so, and they say it has to rust-in.
Has to be what that term means. Make sense.
My husband is wondering if those are Ruby Tuesday rugs on your shop floor? 😊
Yes they are! I borrowed three of them!!
yes you can weld cast iron at my work we weld cast iron all the time you have to use nickel rod and tig it it we work
My 01 Grand Cherokee came from a neighbor that said " We Don't need No Antifreeze in South Mississippi !! It Don't Get that Cold Here ! " 🤣 Calls me to take it to the junk yard because it got really cold here 2 years ago.. said water was blowin out the block ! He bent the thermostat housin an I paid him the Junk yard price ! 😁 If your weldin Steel with Flux core you SHOULD use CO2 If you using bare wire like 70S3 you use 94/6 or 75/25 . I have ONLY been to ALMOST every weld school the Military has to weld Almost Everything ..BUT I could be Wrong.. OH an i went the weld school at the shipyard too. So I MIGHT be right !
It takes 2 days of 28 degrees to freeze an crack a block learned that when working on boats winterizing them yah I learned a lot from this boat machanic an I never forgot that an it’s true .
I only weld stick on cast iron and i cool.ot rite away works every time.
I've welded on a gas tank before and I couldn't get it to stop leaking I put water in it And I had my old boss tig a sbc once it still leaked too.
Pure water promotes corrosion, lacks lubrication for pump seals, in the north, we learn real young the dangers of no antifreeze. Also, the plugs you refer to as _freeze plugs_ are actually *CORE PLUGS* , they were not, are not, and never were intended to provide a place for expanding water to "escape" . My uncle worked at CWC Textron for decades, cast thousands of iron blocks, for many manufacturers, and heard that dozens of times.
Kinda odd that when u look up a engine core plug it comes up with all these things called freeze plugs
Cwc textron.... yep... I'm 73... worked there 25 years.... pretty good management Fer awhile then "cost cutting" came about.... made thousands of cam blanks that were not heat treated correctly....
That cwc casting mark was slightly changed when we were forced to heat treat em incorrectly. Slightly rounded letters on crap cams and very sharp letters on good cams.
Dike is the best we put it in a freightliner wrecker and it held for years
I put raw eggs in the radiator in emergency. It temporarily stops leaks and smells good in the process
I saw a guy fix a exhaust manifold that cracked by grinding it out and brazing the crack. the manifold didnt crack and it worked.
In ohio we never think of using plain water. We get warned at an early age i guess. Nice xj tho
Legend 👍🏻🇦🇺
Thanks Prof😂
Put some high heat jb weld over it and call it good
I like using stainless rod for cast iron. It’s never failed yet so who really know.
That ending hahahahahaha
Boiling point of water 112°. Boiling point of antifreeze 118°......just food for thought 🤔
water 212 F, antifreeze 380 F
The welds make a 🤨 face!!
Torch and bronze rod.
👍👍
Atta boy 👍👍
you are pulling gas away too quick. the o2 causes the cracks in welds
If it works, you can't say it's a bad idea...
That is not supposed to work.
J.B.Wield?
Thanks Dex.
My Jeep is the same color , , not as nice tho
Patriot blue might be the most common color
I’m telling you 🙃 second one I’ve owed
If it works is it really a dumb idea!!!!
Get it back on the track before you go a lap down
Throw is in the trash u have 500 more lol
its an engine lol
Been faster to just change the motor that head will be stuffed as well she is scrap waste of time pure waste of time the bore be-out of round anyway . 🤔😵💫🙃.
Like I said. I had nothing to loose at that point.
Oops