In need of tig welder to fix hole in aluminum BOV flange

Discussion in 'General Community' started by MrCoffeeATL, Mar 4, 2008.

  1. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    Hey y'all,

    I almost have my front mount installed but found a small leak in the flange of the BOV mount and need to have some one just dot it with a tig welder. I'm having the damnedest time trying to find some one who will do it in atlanta though. If you have one and can use it or know some one who does I would be very grateful.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Kokopelli

    Kokopelli Active Member

    What bov is it for?

    I have an extra hks one laying around you can have.
     
  3. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    it's actually the pipe that leads from the front mount intercooler to the throttle body that has a BOV flange (legacy and 08 wrx specific) welded to it. The hole is where the flange meets the pipe.

    Thank you for the offer though :)
     
  4. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    I have access to an AC TIG Welder. let me know

    I could do it at my house, but to weld Aluminum with DC, you need 100% helium and all I have is argon
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2008
  5. Biggis

    Biggis Member

    aluminum isn't so much fun to weld either.
     
  6. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    can you put a little tac on a tiny little hole on my FMIC pipe (no bigger than the letter o <----)? I would happily drive to your house if you could. I would see the need for helium for a full weld but this should just be a little touch to close the hole so do you think it matters if you use argon? I'm ignorant of welding so if it's an obvious no no let me know :)
     
    Last edited: Mar 4, 2008
  7. integroid

    integroid Supporting Member

    Please dont tell me you got the XO2 FMIC like I did?
     
  8. nsvwrx

    nsvwrx Active Member

    JB weld FTW
     
  9. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    No i got the WBR 500 FMIC from a group buy on LegacyGT.com. From your post it sounds like there are problems in other kits too :) The core looks very nice but the lack of instructions and the missed hole in the BOV weld makes me hesitant.

    I have some JB weld at home...you thing that stuff would hold up to 20 PSI? I may have to try and see. Thanks for the suggestion :wavey:
     
  10. nsvwrx

    nsvwrx Active Member

    As far as i know it should be fine..
     
  11. Biggis

    Biggis Member


    The problem is, without proper shielding gas, the weld in question would quickly become contaminated. This would amount to a bigger O needed to be welded in a short time, and would ultimately not lend itself to a complete fix.

    Furthermore, aluminum is a :grr: to weld because of its thermal conductivity. You gotta weld it fast, and hot to make it work. High amperage and voltage don't allow you much time to work on a certain area before you blow it through (esp. with thin walled areas).



    And you should use Argon, or an argon-helium mix (at most 3/4 helium) when welding aluminum.


    My advice? Duct tape, until you can get it done correctly.
     
  12. My experience with JB weld and boost is that it will not hold boost atleast over 7psi or so. The spot I used it on was much larger than ---> "o" so maybe it will work as a temporary fix.
     
  13. integroid

    integroid Supporting Member

    Wow, I was considering going with the WBR kit. I dont mind the lack of instructions but the incomplete weld is unacceptable for a kit that cost that much. Have you tried to contact WBR to see if they can sedn you a replacement? I would duct tape for now until your replacement piece comes in.
     
  14. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    Argon or argon/He for AC Tig. you can use DCEN for aluminum, but it only works with 100% helium (much hotter arc with helium). with AC, shielding gas isn't much of an issue, because the current flow from the work piece to the tungsten blasts off the oxidized aluminum layer (which has a MUCH higher melting point, like 3000+ F)
     
  15. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    He said he would discount me $25 on my next purchase (like i'm going to do this again?!?!). I'll post up when i have a final solution on him though. The core is really nice though and http://www.legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72051 has a nice enough walk through.

    For the hole in the pipe, i sucked on one end of the pipe and got the hole filled with JB weld. It should hold me keeping off boost till i can find something more long term (like a new pipe). For a hole no larger than the "o" on this page i used a lot (a LOT) of JB so hopefully it'll last a few weeks. I am scared for it when i get the 20g put on so fingers crossed i find a solution before that comes up.
     
  16. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    for something that small you probably wouldn't even need filler rod
     
  17. integroid

    integroid Supporting Member

    Why wouldn't he sed you a new pipe? That is just retarded? THis was one of the reasons why I didnt buy his kit from the start. He was kind of a jerk to me on the phone when I tried to get one for the GB pricing of a STi kit. I guess I will be keeping my cheap kit until I find something I feel is far superior to the kit I have.
     
  18. nsvwrx

    nsvwrx Active Member

    once again just get a small piece of AL put it over the hole and put jb weld on it..

    trust me it should work great..
     
  19. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    Sort of what i did i guess, although if it comes out i'll try it with the piece of AL in the hole. Thanks for all the suggestions btw.
     
  20. nsvwrx

    nsvwrx Active Member

    nooo prob.. i know thats how i sealed my old TMIC +0
     
  21. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    I'm still putting it on the car so if you are curious to see it this week while the bumper is still off let me know. :wavey:
     
  22. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    dave from WBR is sending a new tube, this might work out after all :)
     
  23. wrxin8or

    wrxin8or Mullitt Staff Member

    I see your angry PM worked out for the better!
     
  24. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    whatcha gonna do with the old tube? =D *wink wink*
     
  25. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    send it back if he wants or make thermite out of the the damn thing :naughty:
     
  26. integroid

    integroid Supporting Member

    You are at Cheshire Bridge and Lavista? I owuld like to swing by one day to take a look at it. Do you think it will still be apart this weekend?
     
  27. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    We're doing a clutch for the legacy on sunday so i want the FMIC and body work done by friday or at the latest saturday morning. You can see it all really well even if it's put together so i can keep the bumper off till sat if you want and that should suffice. i'll PM you my cell
     
  28. wrxin8or

    wrxin8or Mullitt Staff Member

    not gonna post up that pic of the FMIC Will?
     
  29. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    I want to get it more put together first. I spent the night playing soccer and getting my new hood for the S so i was occupied enough. I promise i will though at some point
     
  30. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    As i promised brett, here are the pics of the WBR 500 FMIC installed. The core is larger and thicker than my radiator :rofl:

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Here is what the stock engine bay looks like for the impreza guys who have not seen a legacy recently
    [​IMG]

    The JR Weld seems to hold to at least 7psi (all i got to in the tour around the neighborhood). Still waiting on the new piece from WBR so i can replace it (or just wait and see how long the one i have lasts).
     
  31. Alex

    Alex Community Founder Staff Member

    did you use jb weld or jb quick ?
     
  32. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    JB weld. Can, as the package says, be used to fix a cracked engine block. I call shens
     
  33. nicad

    nicad Yes I am a troll

    I swear to god I'll pistol whip the next mother f*cker that says shenanigans.

    JB Weld is awesome stuff. it's all about prep with it and letting it cure. let me know if it works out, since I'll be going over to my friends with the AC Miller machine this week to do some other things
     
  34. Biggis

    Biggis Member


    :ddirty:
     
  35. integroid

    integroid Supporting Member

    Sorry man...I had a rough weekend and couldnt make it by to check the FMIC. So you put in a clutch as well over the weekend? Did you have a lift or did you pay someone to do it? Are you using a VF40 turbo or a WRX style turbo?

    Looks much better than my crappy fmic. But mine works and is good enough for now.
     
  36. MrCoffeeATL

    MrCoffeeATL Member

    No worries man, the bumper is still half on as i shave it down to fit properly. I have a stock (vf40?) turbo for now. Waiting for payday on the 15th to see how close i can get to the 20g and related parts.

    I replaced the clutch this weekend and thank god i did. Mike and I pulled the engine on Sunday to get it in there. The clutch that was in there looked like it was only clamping the inside half of the friction material and did not look so good. I think the copper lubricant that was used is at least partly to blame. The new one is butter smooth and feels great.

    Now all i have to do is find the boost leak in the intercooler piping and i'll be set till the 20g goes in. Poke me if you want to swing by and see it some time. Bumper won't likely go on till wed
     

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