wheel pant bracket needed

[flylo]

Would anyove have or know a source for prewar cast alum wheel pant brackets? My left one was cracked so I took it to our local welder who said it was a strange alloy & couldn't weld it,now it's in three pieces.Thanks! Eric

[Guest]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

Would anyove have or know a source for prewar cast alum wheel pant brackets? My left one was cracked so I took it to our local welder who said it was a strange alloy & couldn't weld it,now it's in three pieces.Thanks! Eric

Hi Eric,
Did he make it worse or just unable to repair it?

Maybe a different welder would help?

Dave

[flylo]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

Dave,I took it to another welder yesterday who also tried it.Both say it's alum/magnesiom alloy & they're alum rod won't stick.Pretty high tech stuff for 1938.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

I used to mess with sports cars a lot [still drive them, but the Miata doesn't suffer the maintenance problems of a Triumph]. When we were racing we had a guy making custom suspension parts that had some strange properties he called "Pistaloy". Welding was a real pain [when you could]. We finally asked where the heck he got it and what was in it. Turns out he was sand casting parts in a back yard foundry from old pistons and VW cases.
I can easly imagine Taylorcraft having a back-of-the-building foundry [lots of small manufactureres did before the war] to make small cast parts. Maybe we need someone interested in foundry work to set up and make some.
It would be nice if they made sure not to toss a mag piston or case into the melt.
Hank

[1938BF50]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

Eric,

If it is salvageable....send it to me jigged for proper assembly. No promises but we have some of the BEST aluminum welders in the world! A lot of the cast alloys are not weldable...some are with proper prep.

[flylo]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

Hank,I wonder if there would be enough interest in getting a batch casted.If anyone is interested let me know & I'll check into it.

Mike,Thanks for the offer to weld the bracket.The center part is now new aluminum & both ends are the old alloy,so I don't if it can be saved.I have a bracket coming,thanks to a member of the forum! I epoxied the old one together & reinstalled it until the new one arrives.

[jawinn]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

I'll probably be interested in a set if someone wants to see about casting some. Won't need them for a while but ya takes what ya can get when ya can.

[Norm G]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

I have set of wheel pants for my 41 BC12 and one orignal cast bracket in two pieces. I would be intrested in a set by this time next year.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

I would like a set. I have one from my original purchase but the prior owner tossed the broken one. The pants on my 41 were attached with welded steel brackets. They worked, but were UGLY. I have the original pants but don't usually mount them.
Hank

[flylo]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

I found a gentleman that has these cast & they look great! They even have the part # cast into them. At $50/pair undrilled I think they're a bargain. If your interested send me a PM & I'll give you his contact info. Eric

[Carl E. Carson]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

I have 1-3/4 set. On my BC-65 I have one good one and the other is usable but has the bottom part partially broken off. I have another set (Dad saved a lot of things) that could be used for a mold. I talked with a friend who owns a foundary about casting some new ones and he can/would do it. This was about three years ago and he did say that the process reduces the size of the new ones by ????, I don't remember the figure but it is a small reduction.

I will talk to him again, send me a figure of how many you want, I'm sure it would be a lot less than the $50 previously mentioned, probably $25 or $30, plus shipping. I'll let you know next week when I talk to him.

Carl Carson in Cedar Rapids, Ia.
[email protected]

[whake]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

You can buy steel faricated brackets from Wag Aero about $125.

[Ron Coleman]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

Hi Carl
3% and they are weaker because of it. You also have to drill to match ,because the old holes not in the right place and in some cases file the center to fit which further reduces the strength. I have a set and won't use it.
Ron C
N96995

[Carl E. Carson]

Re: wheel pant bracket needed

Hi Carl
3% and they are weaker because of it. You also have to drill to match ,because the old holes not in the right place and in some cases file the center to fit which further reduces the strength. I have a set and won't use it.
Ron C
N96995

Ron: Thanks for the info, doesn't sound like it would be worth the effort.

Carl