So many of you have already seen my manifold that I built. I had the damn thing bolted to a 1 inch think steel plate. I took breaks to let things cool. I tried jumping around so I didn't have too much heat in just one spot. Well after everything was done I had about .100 gap on the outter edge of the head flange. .030-.040 I can see but .100 is a lot. What did I do wrong?

I sent it up to my local machinist to mill it flat, but if I build a spare I don't need these same headaches.

Randy

 

Did you let it cool completely before removing it from the plate?

 

Yes I did.

Randy

 

try a 1" plate of aluminum, it disapates the heat better.

 

After thinking about it some more I think I know what happened. Due to the large welds on 1 and 4 tubes, I think that may have caused some issues.

Randy

 

That kind of ---- happens.

I warped my first one (log style) so much that it wouldn't even fit it on the head, even after boring bolt holes up to 1/2".

Noob mistake. I tacked it lightly instead of bolting it.

Number 2 when well. I used small diameter bolts with washers to fix the plange on a 5/8" plate. Bolted very thight (bolts warped).

Everything seems flat after welding.

Noob fabulation - maybe I say maybe, having smaller than bore bolts helped the flange to expand laterally during work, while at the same time holding it down on the plate. Welding Gods, you may flame me for previous line. All I can say is that it worked for me that time.

 

I'm no welding god but was mentored by one and he always told me "There is two forces of nature you will never be able to defeat 'expansion and contraction'"

There for proving your statement as correct.