Welding up a rear. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

OLDCHEV4X4 · 10-14-2005, 09:19 AM

Has any body ever welded their rear to make a "Lincon Locker" ?
Where do you weld?
Where did you set your welder?
pics would be good.

shilo · 10-14-2005, 12:09 PM

I dont have any pics, but ive welded quite a few. Just weld the spider gears to each other where they make contact. You can also weld the spider gears to the carrier for added strength. But remember once you weld it, you cant un-weld.

OLDCHEV4X4 · 10-14-2005, 12:20 PM

So....once its a "Lincon locker" , theirs no turning back.

shilo · 10-14-2005, 01:35 PM

Yes, theres no turning back once its welded. But you could always get a new carrier and put your ring gear on it if you dont like it.

OLDCHEV4X4 · 10-14-2005, 02:57 PM

Did you tack it first in the truck, and then take it apart and weld it good?
Thanks for the help.

shilo · 10-14-2005, 07:59 PM

i welded them while the carrier was still bolted in the housing. Never even took it out/apart.

LONGHAIR · 10-16-2005, 11:44 AM

The best advice here is.................DON'T DO IT!!!! especially if you intend to drive it on the street. It is purely a saftey thing, not so much in how it drives/handles, but because of breakage.
The spider gears are hardened and welding on them greatly reduces their strength..........and welding them to the carrier is even worse. Trying to do all of this while installed in the axle housing is even worse yet! It is just asking for trouble. The heat and weld spatter will both kill the bearings and in this case they are really the least of your potential concerns.
While I'm sure that someone will comment about how they have done it....and how long it lasted, it is a huge risk. It is generally done for "cost reasons", just think about the cost of repairing the damage to the truck....not to mention that the life you save may be your own?

Seriously, it WILL break...it's just a matter of what actually breaks and when.

87_Blazer · 10-16-2005, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LONGHAIR

The best advice here is.................DON'T DO IT!!!!

Seriously, it WILL break...it's just a matter of what actually breaks and when.

And that's no joke

OLDCHEV4X4 · 10-17-2005, 06:59 AM

Whell... if it makes you guys feel any better, this blazer never see's the road. It is a obstacle course truck and has a roll cage and all the saftey equipment. It is trailered everywhere it goes. Thankyou for the concern though.
I would never run a locker on the street unless it was a selectable one. I would like to try welding one up. This rear is almost trash. The ring gear came loose once and chewed up the carrier. The ring gear has 2 chipped teeth. The pin hole is sloppy. And the axle bearing surface is rough. The only good thing is the housing.
And i have a extra rear.
Soooo......I'm gonna try it. Sorry.

**tnblazerk5** · 10-17-2005, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLDCHEV4X4

Whell... if it makes you guys feel any better, this blazer never see's the road. It is a obstacle course truck and has a roll cage and all the saftey equipment. It is trailered everywhere it goes. Thankyou for the concern though.
I would never run a locker on the street unless it was a selectable one. I would like to try welding one up. This rear is almost trash. The ring gear came loose once and chewed up the carrier. The ring gear has 2 chipped teeth. The pin hole is sloppy. And the axle bearing surface is rough. The only good thing is the housing.
And i have a extra rear.
Soooo......I'm gonna try it. Sorry.

well if its just a off road truck hey go for it !!

i had a 74 blazer that was a trail rig only and welded up the rear in it made it a lot better on the trails and it never broke and it was really abused hard well the whole blazer was really abused lol when i junked it you couldnt even tell it was a blazer

there wasnt anything worth saving on it but boy was it fun trashing it

72k5 · 10-18-2005, 01:43 AM

Be sure to put the ground clamp on the ring gear, not the axle tube. It's bad when the bearing rollers become part of the circuit and decide to do a little welding of their own.

LONGHAIR · 10-18-2005, 06:12 AM

Whatever.......but I still wouldn't do it. The thing is over 30 years old and
abused. Have you ever seen what happens when an axle breaks? or a rear-end locks-up?

Learn from the mistakes of others.......you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself.

OLDCHEV4X4 · 10-19-2005, 06:36 AM

Anybody ever tryed a mini spool?
They are only $87.

79C10 · 10-19-2005, 01:12 PM

ya what is the deal with the mini spools? they're dirt cheap and it seems that they would be perfect for what OLDCHEV4X4 wants to do but never heard of anyone using one.

shilo · 10-23-2005, 02:38 PM

my freind has a mini spool in his el camino that he drives everday. It runs 12s with a stock axled 10 bolt. no problems.

Go ahead and weld it. While the older folks may say no, i welded a lot of them in high school for my buddies rangers and bronco II and what not. If using a mig welder there will not be any splatter to worry about, and it wont get hot enough to hurt the bearings as long as you dont just sit there and play with the puddle. Oh yeah, i welded up a lawn mower diff too. But it was just a toy with no blades on it.

10-14-2005, 09:19 AM	#1
OLDCHEV4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Chester County PA, USA Posts: 1,228	Welding up a rear. Has any body ever welded their rear to make a "Lincon Locker" ? Where do you weld? Where did you set your welder? pics would be good. __________________ 72 k/10 short wideside 72 k/5 Blazer 72 K/5 Blazer - obstacle course racer 72 custom/10 8' bed 70 K/5 Blazer 67 C-30 GMC Flat bed 86 GMC K2500 Plow Truck 85 GMC K3500 84 M1008 85 M1008 77 G30 Motor Home 72 Sears 12hp Tractor Glenmoore, Pennsylvania

10-14-2005, 12:09 PM	#2
shilo Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grand Junction , CO Posts: 602	I dont have any pics, but ive welded quite a few. Just weld the spider gears to each other where they make contact. You can also weld the spider gears to the carrier for added strength. But remember once you weld it, you cant un-weld. __________________ 71 swb 4x4, 37" Iroks, t400/205 496 77 CJ-7, Narrowed Dana 60 Lockrite, 14 Bolt Spool, 4.56 gears, 39.5" boggers. 360 t-18/d20

10-14-2005, 12:20 PM	#3
OLDCHEV4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Chester County PA, USA Posts: 1,228	So....once its a "Lincon locker" , theirs no turning back. __________________ 72 k/10 short wideside 72 k/5 Blazer 72 K/5 Blazer - obstacle course racer 72 custom/10 8' bed 70 K/5 Blazer 67 C-30 GMC Flat bed 86 GMC K2500 Plow Truck 85 GMC K3500 84 M1008 85 M1008 77 G30 Motor Home 72 Sears 12hp Tractor Glenmoore, Pennsylvania

10-14-2005, 01:35 PM	#4
shilo Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grand Junction , CO Posts: 602	Yes, theres no turning back once its welded. But you could always get a new carrier and put your ring gear on it if you dont like it. __________________ 71 swb 4x4, 37" Iroks, t400/205 496 77 CJ-7, Narrowed Dana 60 Lockrite, 14 Bolt Spool, 4.56 gears, 39.5" boggers. 360 t-18/d20

10-14-2005, 02:57 PM	#5
OLDCHEV4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Chester County PA, USA Posts: 1,228	Did you tack it first in the truck, and then take it apart and weld it good? Thanks for the help. __________________ 72 k/10 short wideside 72 k/5 Blazer 72 K/5 Blazer - obstacle course racer 72 custom/10 8' bed 70 K/5 Blazer 67 C-30 GMC Flat bed 86 GMC K2500 Plow Truck 85 GMC K3500 84 M1008 85 M1008 77 G30 Motor Home 72 Sears 12hp Tractor Glenmoore, Pennsylvania

10-14-2005, 07:59 PM	#6
shilo Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grand Junction , CO Posts: 602	i welded them while the carrier was still bolted in the housing. Never even took it out/apart. __________________ 71 swb 4x4, 37" Iroks, t400/205 496 77 CJ-7, Narrowed Dana 60 Lockrite, 14 Bolt Spool, 4.56 gears, 39.5" boggers. 360 t-18/d20

10-16-2005, 11:44 AM	#7
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Re: Welding up a rear. The best advice here is.................DON'T DO IT!!!! especially if you intend to drive it on the street. It is purely a saftey thing, not so much in how it drives/handles, but because of breakage. The spider gears are hardened and welding on them greatly reduces their strength..........and welding them to the carrier is even worse. Trying to do all of this while installed in the axle housing is even worse yet! It is just asking for trouble. The heat and weld spatter will both kill the bearings and in this case they are really the least of your potential concerns. While I'm sure that someone will comment about how they have done it....and how long it lasted, it is a huge risk. It is generally done for "cost reasons", just think about the cost of repairing the damage to the truck....not to mention that the life you save may be your own? Seriously, it WILL break...it's just a matter of what actually breaks and when.

10-17-2005, 06:59 AM	#9
OLDCHEV4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Chester County PA, USA Posts: 1,228	Re: Welding up a rear. Whell... if it makes you guys feel any better, this blazer never see's the road. It is a obstacle course truck and has a roll cage and all the saftey equipment. It is trailered everywhere it goes. Thankyou for the concern though. I would never run a locker on the street unless it was a selectable one. I would like to try welding one up. This rear is almost trash. The ring gear came loose once and chewed up the carrier. The ring gear has 2 chipped teeth. The pin hole is sloppy. And the axle bearing surface is rough. The only good thing is the housing. And i have a extra rear. Soooo......I'm gonna try it. Sorry. __________________ 72 k/10 short wideside 72 k/5 Blazer 72 K/5 Blazer - obstacle course racer 72 custom/10 8' bed 70 K/5 Blazer 67 C-30 GMC Flat bed 86 GMC K2500 Plow Truck 85 GMC K3500 84 M1008 85 M1008 77 G30 Motor Home 72 Sears 12hp Tractor Glenmoore, Pennsylvania

10-18-2005, 01:43 AM	#11
72k5 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Livermore, CA Posts: 566	Re: Welding up a rear. Be sure to put the ground clamp on the ring gear, not the axle tube. It's bad when the bearing rollers become part of the circuit and decide to do a little welding of their own. __________________ 350 ETec 170 heads, Performer, HEI, Holly TBI, 700r4, 14 bolt rear, F&R lockers, lots of off road improvements.

10-18-2005, 06:12 AM	#12
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Re: Welding up a rear. Whatever.......but I still wouldn't do it. The thing is over 30 years old and abused. Have you ever seen what happens when an axle breaks? or a rear-end locks-up? Learn from the mistakes of others.......you'll never live long enough to make them all yourself.

10-19-2005, 06:36 AM	#13
OLDCHEV4X4 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Chester County PA, USA Posts: 1,228	Re: Welding up a rear. Anybody ever tryed a mini spool? They are only $87. __________________ 72 k/10 short wideside 72 k/5 Blazer 72 K/5 Blazer - obstacle course racer 72 custom/10 8' bed 70 K/5 Blazer 67 C-30 GMC Flat bed 86 GMC K2500 Plow Truck 85 GMC K3500 84 M1008 85 M1008 77 G30 Motor Home 72 Sears 12hp Tractor Glenmoore, Pennsylvania

10-19-2005, 01:12 PM	#14
79C10 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern Vermont Posts: 159	Re: Welding up a rear. ya what is the deal with the mini spools? they're dirt cheap and it seems that they would be perfect for what OLDCHEV4X4 wants to do but never heard of anyone using one.

10-23-2005, 02:38 PM	#15
shilo Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grand Junction , CO Posts: 602	Re: Welding up a rear. my freind has a mini spool in his el camino that he drives everday. It runs 12s with a stock axled 10 bolt. no problems. Go ahead and weld it. While the older folks may say no, i welded a lot of them in high school for my buddies rangers and bronco II and what not. If using a mig welder there will not be any splatter to worry about, and it wont get hot enough to hurt the bearings as long as you dont just sit there and play with the puddle. Oh yeah, i welded up a lawn mower diff too. But it was just a toy with no blades on it. __________________ 71 swb 4x4, 37" Iroks, t400/205 496 77 CJ-7, Narrowed Dana 60 Lockrite, 14 Bolt Spool, 4.56 gears, 39.5" boggers. 360 t-18/d20



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