FE-FC Holden Discussion Forum

Hi

Can anyone recommend an engineer or fabricator that has experience in welding two rack and pinion intermediate shafts together.  I have a Ford bottom (rack end) half and Commodore upper (column end).  My engineer is fine with welding and at the moment I am shopping around for a suitable trades person to do the work.  It will of course need to be x-rayed and I have already located a firm in Sydney that specialises in the x-raying and certification of welded steering components.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers - Chuck

Hey Chuck
Surely the xray folks could point you in the right direction.
Regards
Alex

Hi Alex

I thought of that as well but they don't want to recommend anyone in case there is a problem with their work, understandable but slightly frustrating  :-/

Chuck

Gday Chuck,
perhaps if you asked the Xrayer for a list of welders in your area whose work he has seen, and you could take it from there?

Chuck
          Why not just put in a steering knuckle to join the 2 shafts. no welding or xraying.
Glenn

Hi Guys.

Yes, we do that type of work all the time, it would be best TIG welded. It will look like the factory made it.

Ring me at (02) 9644-2888.

Dr Terry

Hi All

An update for those who are interested.  Firstly, a shameless plug for Dr Terry (Bebco Automotive 26 Alexander Street Auburn (02) 9644 2888) who got things moving in the right direction.

Dr Terry organised for Terry Cunningham (I think that’s the right Terry) to conduct the welding (there are three ‘Terrys’ at the house of Bebco – it must be some sort of a prerequisite for working there – I felt like an impostor being a ‘non-Terry’).  Terry Cunningham (who, as I understand it, used to own and operate Terry's Diffs and Chassis and now concentrates on race cars) did a sensational job.  He turned a spigot into one shaft and pressed that into a hole turned into the end of the other.  This was then TIG welded around the base and additionally it was cross drilled with two rosette TIG welds from either side.  Total cost was $150.  This may appear expensive but all other quotes were significantly higher than this, and obviously it’s a job that MUST be handled by an expert.

After further research, I can recommend HVT Inspection Services for x-ray (Unit 3/11 Cullen Place Smithfield (02) 9725 1511).  Almost all of the companies I contacted re x-ray certification were not all that excited about (a) such a small job and (b) that it was a welded steering component, accordingly their prices were quite high.  HVT are $85 including the certification – quite reasonable.

Cheers - Chuck

Chuck
           That looks excellent! the engineer has got to be happy with that.
Glenn

Thanks for sharing that bit of research with us Chuck, nice outcome.

When it comes to conversions and modifications (as u are well aware!), there is often no information out there, even the so called "experts" can be of little help.

Your research is very valuable.

I have penned down those contacts under "TIG welders" and "Xray certifiers" for future reference.

Thanks

Ed

Some erratum

It is Terry Cartwright not Terry Cunningham, although I'm sure that if you looked under all those cars at Bebco there would be a Terry Cunningham there  ;)