this may be a stupid question but if you got an aluminum plate could you just weld the plate to the intake? i dont know if the intake is some thing that would be something you could weld to? then just pressure test it. you wouldnt ever have to worry about a plenum gasket ever again.

 

Its aluminum, so, you would need to use the right equipment..... not sure how well that would work, seems like it would be ok.... if ya used something like the hughes aluminum plate, and tig (mig? Whatever) that on.

 

Aluminum can be a real pain to weld, especially cast aluminum. Might work fine, might turn into a nasty porous mess and ruin the intake.

 

Why weren't the original ones welded on in the first place? Or just built in one piece?

 

You'll need someone skilled at TIG welding. It can be done though. The primary danger is warping or burning thru. I'd call Hughes or APS and ask them for a plate that they haven't drilled out the pan bolt holes in. You wouldn't have to worry about sealing or filling those holes.

Aluminum is tough for the novice welder as it doesn't glow like steel, it just runs like solder.

 

You might try someone who repairs pontoon boats, or other aluminum fabricators.

 

It's a lot cheaper to cast them that way, and bolting is a lot cheaper than welding.

 

I'm not endorsing this, but I think there was a member that JB welded it. He used the bolts too in case the JB let go. I can't recall who that was...

 

Durafix is probably the best bet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jijW310xvp4

I would not do it though. Not that I don't trust durafix. I don't trust my ability.

 

that durafix stuff looks pretty badass though.... That would be handy to have around... I can do TIG, MIG and stick welding, but I've never welded aluminum yet