Brazing in aluminum radiator sensor bung
#1
Brazing in aluminum radiator sensor bung
I have a water temp gauge lying around, and I’d like to put it to good use. I used to have the sensor tee’d into a heater core line, but since the turbo install, things had to be moved.
I’m looking to add a bung into my generic aluminum rad. How feasible would it be to drill and braze a sensor bung into the rad?
I’ve brazed steel before, and it was a PITA because of the heat required.
I’m looking to add a bung into my generic aluminum rad. How feasible would it be to drill and braze a sensor bung into the rad?
I’ve brazed steel before, and it was a PITA because of the heat required.
#7
Tig weld it. Aluminum gets contaminated very easily especially if youre using oxyacetylene to braze with. It also soaks up a ton of heat, so you run a small risk of deforming or warping if youre not careful.
In the end its your desicion. But I personally would hunt down a tig welder to be safe.
In the end its your desicion. But I personally would hunt down a tig welder to be safe.
#8
Having used alumiweld brazing rods before - the problem is enough heat. Aluminum will sink the heat pretty well and you won't be able to get a massive part like a radiator up to temp. Hell, I was struggling with putting a hose barb on a water pump outlet - I had to bury the non-brazing part in sand to insulate and try to keep the heat in. Propane wasn't enough, MAPP wasn't enough, Oxy was - but you're teetering on the edge of brazing and melting. Now I have a TIG machine and won't bother with alumiweld ever again. Not saying it's impossible, but you've either got to be very good or very lucky.
#9
Alumiweld (and like rods) are garbage. The Harris Alcor brazes at 800f (propane/butane torch). It's flux cored. This is the stuff HVAC techs use. I am by no means arguing this as superior to TIG, but IF you braze aluminum or unlike metals, Alcor is the stuff to use. I have brazed alu/alu, brass/alu, brass/steel, brass/brass and steel/alu with it. All this stuff has over 2k miles on it w/o issue. Ran the AC the entire drive back from FL last weekend (400+ miles) and also used the heater.
Alu AC fitting
brass/steel
steel/steel
Alu AC fitting
brass/steel
steel/steel
#10
Alumiweld (and like rods) are garbage. The Harris Alcor brazes at 800f (propane/butane torch). It's flux cored. This is the stuff HVAC techs use. I am by no means arguing this as superior to TIG, but IF you braze aluminum or unlike metals, Alcor is the stuff to use. I have brazed alu/alu, brass/alu, brass/steel, brass/brass and steel/alu with it. All this stuff has over 2k miles on it w/o issue. Ran the AC the entire drive back from FL last weekend (400+ miles) and also used the heater.
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