bryanluu

You can MIG weld the tubes but if you decide to weld the actual center section, you will want to do it right. Welding the center section requires proper preheating and cooling in order to prevent any cracking. You do NOT want to MIG weld the center section although many people still do. The proper welding process for the the pumpkin is to stick weld it using only Ni-99 electrodes.

Chuck-The-Ripper

I'm pretty sure the center section is cast steel not iron. I'm not 100% on this, but I know the knuckles are and putting a magnet to each they feel about the same. I mig welded mine and they held up nicely I don't think that would be the case if it is iron.

MikeRM

X2. This is the correct method.

TreyJK

What about welding the tubes to the center section? I've read it also strengthens the housing. Use stick with Ni-99 electrodes as well?

TreyJK

That's good to hear because that's the same machine I have!

larry0071

Ideally, yes. You would pre-heat and burn rod in on it rather than mig it with generic wire. In a perfect world, that is correct.

Then there is the real world where you have guys out there with a mig and nothing else. Some pop welds, some have success doing it wrong. If you have a stick welder and the ability, I would totally say to use that. If you just have a mig and don't have a buddy that burns stick, your going to have make a decision. Pay a welder, or roll the dice. I rolled the dice.

blamb0830

I've been thinking about getting the jcr truss. For now I would do the front for the added security until I can afford to upgrade my d30. If I am a very inexperienced welder should I have someone else weld it for me? I have read about people getting the tubes too hot and warping them. Definitely don't want to do that.

karls10jk

You would have to put some stupid heat to it to get it to bend. The bigger issue is that people burn in too quickly and then expect it to cool right away. Well.....that much cooling, that quickly, is what will pull it from the axle.


No matter who welds it- take your time. Take your time. Take. Your. Time.

Ajkaz

This looks much simpler to complete. Are you guys welding these on under the jeep or on jackstands or preloaded in a vice? Are you removing the diff cover or fluid or carrier? I am only asking as I will likely burn in the JCR in a couple weeks while my steering box is at WTO. Did anyone weld the tubes to the housing while they were at it? I will do this with a Hobart 210 with .035 wire and I have an old fiberglass welding blanket in the garage somewhere...

karls10jk

I did a 44 truss for a friend on stands in my garage. We left the fluid in there and just went slow. We didn't use the fiberglass blanket because we kept the heat low and slow. I'm using the harbor freight special with .035 and mixed gas. It came out really nice and I told him to thrash away.

We did not weld his tubes to the diff but I did weld my rear tubes to the diff. His truss was the Artec, but I'd like to try out a Barnes 4wd truss.

Also- we left the bj's in place and did the C gussets without cooking them. Again- go slow and control yourself. Small stitches and move elsewhere.