TIG welding a broken Ford 9N

[dfkrug]

I got my first TIG welding lesson a couple of weeks ago. A friend
was nice enough to give me some hands-on exposure and guidance
with his welder.

Anyway, here is a project he just finished. It is the instrument panel
and brake/clutch pedal shaft support. I am surprised to find that is
is made of cast aluminum and has broken in several places. There
are numerous fatigue cracks spreading outward from the guage holes.
68 years of vibration, no doubt.

According to the weldor, the casting was fairly pourous and rich in zinc.
After several hours, this is the result.

 

[Soundguy]

while waiting for sheet metal to be tooled up, early 9n had some cast aluminum parts including hoods and grills... while it don't rust... the stuff sure work hardens and cracks pretty good.

soundguy

 

[dfkrug]

while waiting for sheet metal to be tooled up, early 9n had some cast aluminum parts including hoods and grills... while it don't rust... the stuff sure work hardens and cracks pretty good.

Hoods, too? That can't be good.

So the use of Al was temporary, then. Interesting.

This unit is allegedly a 1941 model, but the owner also thought it was an
8N. A little research told me that the part was not from an 8N, and they
weren't even made until the late 40s.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. 8n started production in 47 for the '48' year model.. thus the '8' in 8n.

9n's were for the 39 year model, and 2n were for the 42 year model..

Only the early 9n had those cast aluminum parts.. though as parts swapping goes.. you might see aluminum parts turn up on any 9n or 2n.. Also.. since the engine sn is the predominant way to date a machine many times you see a later engine swapped into an older model.. then poof.. a 39 9n chassie has a 50 8n engine.. and those that don't know fords think they have a 50 ford 8n... even though it has a 3 spd tranny, no position control ont he hyds, no under diffy hanger bracket, wrong stering box, dash and throttle, wrong radius rods, front axle.. etc.. etc..

soundguy

 

[dfkrug]

Thanks for the Old Ford tutorial, Soundguy!

Have you owned/operated one of these (9N, 2N, or 8N)?

 

[Soundguy]

I have operated all 3 and own 9 old fords plus a NH, and some other assorted color machines. a 46 2n and 52 8n is among those old fords.

soundguy

 

[psj12]

I have foubd it benificial to heat cast aluminum parts to about 300F prior to welding in order to keep thermal cracks from forming. They usually form right down the edge of your weld bead.

 

[3Bladz]

Hoods, too? That can't be good.

So the use of Al was temporary, then. Interesting.

This unit is allegedly a 1941 model, but the owner also thought it was an
8N. A little research told me that the part was not from an 8N, and they
weren't even made until the late 40s.

Aluminum hoods may not be a good thing unless your lucky enough to have one of them. The alum hood/grill fords are worth a lot of money. They were made during the war because the govt had the use of steel severely limited. Later on you could trade your aluminum hood for a metal one, so a lot of them disappeared.

 

[Soundguy]

actually.. the aluminum parts were used in early production before the sheet metal and CI castings were finished tooling up. ie.. 39 was when the 9n was started into production.

war time models were the 41/42 era.. and those were the ones you saw with magnetos and hand crank start etc.. steel wheels.. etc.

soundguy

 

[firefighter jim]

Aluminum hoods may not be a good thing unless your lucky enough to have one of them. The alum hood/grill fords are worth a lot of money. They were made during the war because the govt had the use of steel severely limited. Later on you could trade your aluminum hood for a metal one, so a lot of them disappeared.

Interesting avatar..............