Oil Pan Baffle

**modifiede30** · 10-31-2020, 06:21 PM

Anyone brazed the baffle in using aluminum rods be tig welding? Assuming it's prepped well, seems it would be fine but curious if anyone has tried it with success.

**Def** · 11-01-2020, 01:12 PM

I never had luck with those aluminum braze rods. I wouldn’t trust them if it’s something that has any load on it like a baffle.

It’ll TIG fine if a bit dirty after LOTS of cleaning.

**modifiede30** · 11-01-2020, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Def

I never had luck with those aluminum braze rods. I wouldn’t trust them if it’s something that has any load on it like a baffle.

It’ll TIG fine if a bit dirty after LOTS of cleaning.

I tried to braze it, but couldn't get the pan hot enough to take it. The baffle on the other hand took it well, and I had to grind the braze off in prep for TIG welding. I wasn't worried about strength - I've brazed a few other items before with the good quality rods, and its just as hard as the material I brazed it to, but I don't want to warp the pan by heating it too much.

**dominator293** · 11-01-2020, 10:17 PM

If you TIG it you wouldn't have to TIG all the way around the baffle. Just some short, well penetrated runs in selected spots to hold it firmly in place. That should vastly limit the amount of heat used in the pan compared to brazing I would think which the aim is to heat the object a great deal before the rod will melt and bond...potentially longer heat cycles into the pan etc causing warping (but not much experience with this, just general knowledge here).

**aeronaut** · 11-02-2020, 06:52 AM

TIG. I soaked the inside of the pan with simple green for a few hours, then rinsed like a mother, then cleaned the spots I was welding with acetone.
Preheat the pan as much as you can, even if it's with a blow torch in the general area your welding (which will help only a little, but it will help). Getting the pan up to ~200 will help.
I think I welded in about 6 places, mostly just a good spot weld.
Use lots of amps, short amount of time.
I see very little risk of warping the pan.