Welding Muncie broken ears... any suggestions???

**hubleyman** · #1 03-31-2010, 06:40 AM

Well..... I recently discovered the original numbers trans to my 69 Z is a real M22 (it's been stashed away for years because of one broken mounting tab or "ear" and I never even bothered to check it out).

As such, I would now like to weld the tab back on to the main case and put it back in the car. Have any of y'all had good luck with doing such a thing and do you have some pointers for me (other than get a professional to do the actual welding)?

I'm not trying to make it a flawless undetectable repair, but would like it to look fairly clean and original when done. FYI, it's the top left tab so it's a little hard to see once installed in the car....

Ideas? Do's and don'ts? Thanks! Charlie

**John Brown** · #2 03-31-2010, 06:46 AM

The hot tip is to bolt the trans to an iron bellhousing while welding. The aluminum weld won't stick to the cast iron.

**hubleyman** · #3 03-31-2010, 06:52 AM

Ooooh, Cool tip!

That way the spacing stays correct for bolting up to the bellhousing. Good advice!

My "broken tab" lines up or meshes very nicely to the main case but I was worried about the mounting alignment not being very accurate.

Thanks!

SSRSBOB · #4 04-04-2010, 05:52 PM

CHP specializes in that stuff. We have our engine there now and have been to their shop. Excellent weld repair work. Many Muncies there when we were there being rebuilt and fixed.

Bob

ORIGLS6 · #5 04-07-2010, 12:41 AM

[ QUOTE ]
The hot tip is to bolt the trans to an iron bellhousing while welding. The aluminum weld won't stick to the cast iron.

[/ QUOTE ]

A local guy did this for me on a T-10 I bought in Minnesota. The case was perfect when it left Minn. , ...... but UPS decided to save some weight on the shipping and broke the upper left tab & web off.

One of our local racers is a professional aluminum fabricator. He created another tab, welded it on, did some die grinder work and finally hit it with a sandblaster and you can't tell it was ever damaged.

Anyone in our area need any aluminum repair done, see Rick Arnett!

**markjohnson** · #6 04-07-2010, 01:06 AM

Broken Muncie ears used to be such a common malady. Although I'm sure many would wish to remain anonymous, I'm sure many old-timer's on here are responsible for snapping off an ear or two! It's funny to think back how common Muncies were back then and how it was actually much easier to just find another Muncie for cheap than it was to find a good aluminum welder friend many years ago. If you were poor or maybe even a bit on the shady side, you just kept an eye out for a hot rodded '55-'57 Chevy as I knew guys that could snatch a Muncie out of one of these cars in just a manner of minutes because of their lack of a transmission crossmember!

**Canuck** · #7 04-07-2010, 01:22 AM

I brought mine to a local aluminum wheel repair shop. It only had a hairline crack, but the repair they did was invisible. Most large cities will have a few of these wheel repair places.

Paul

**Tommy** · #8 04-07-2010, 07:59 AM

I got one that needs an ear (upper right side) and I have no ear to lend.... It's too bad too, the trans is a really nice one. I guess someone could build an entire ear couldn't they ?

Tommy

ORIGLS6 · #9 04-08-2010, 05:31 PM

Yep. When UPS 'modified' my case the piece that was broken came out of the packaging never to be seen again. Rick used some scrap material he had in the shop and recreated the missing piece.

bigchevydaddy · #10 04-08-2010, 06:29 PM

I second the recommendation to send it to Jerry MacNeish @ Camaro High Performance. Their aluminum welding skills are amazing; just look at some of the disaster intakes he's brought back to near-nos. And being a racer, he knows that a muncie ear repair needs to be strong as well as looking good. Good luck, BCD.