Anyone know where to get an aluminium sump welded?

[les3002]

Turns out my sump has a crack

Anyone know a decent place who can weld this up? It'll probably need the sealing face skimming afterwards too.

[Old Merc]

If you want a trip to Reading? Roger Clarke Welding 01189507735.Just a one man business,real old school,an artist in welding.If it needs machining after there is a machine shop round the corner he uses.I have used both in my rallying days.

[stevieturbo]

Is it definitely a crack, or just a casting mark ?

After welding, you could just file it flat yourself.

[les3002]

Definite crack, it had been bodged over with chemical metal and leaks pretty bad.

Cheers Old Merc, I'll give Roger a ring and see if he can help me out

[Pumaracing]

Your main problem is you are welding into a screw thread by the looks of things. That means the thread will have to be remachined after welding if you fill the crack up fully which might be very tricky. It's easy enough tapping a new thread out of a clean round hole but next to impossible to pick up on an existing thread with old threads on one side and a big blob of weld sticking out on the other.

It might be easier to just grind a V out part way through the crack, weld up the side so as not to damage the thread and put a bloody big washer on the top surface to stop any oil leaking out through the remnant of the crack on the top.

[les3002]

Yeah that was my thoughts too. The guy who I've spoken to is going to scallop the crack as you suggest on the outside and also the top sealing surface and then flat the sealing surface once welded. Hopefully the copper washer will seal any leaks past the threads. I would have preferred to have had the plug welded up completely and re-drilled/tapped but I can't find anyone willing to take it on.

[mywifeshusband]

Would a Dowty washer help after the repair as suggested by Puma?