Welding on block

Slick4.6

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so I picked up a block out of a Mach 1 today. Got it for dirt cheap so not disappointed if I can’t use it. Anyway the owner had ground down the knock sensor mounts, probably for supercharger clearance. I was thinking I could grab some aluminum round stock, drill and tap it and weld it into place where the mounts used to be. What do you guys think? I’m a welder by trade so I now what I’m doing in that regaurd. Just wasn’t sure if I could run the risk of distortion and make the block completely unusable.

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eighty6gt

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The properties of the block and the connection of the round stock to it will probably be so different that the ecu won't know what it's listening to any more


But what do I know
 

mrt2you

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you don't HAVE to use knock sensors. GT500 motors don't have knock sensors.
just build it conservatively so you don't have to worry about knock and don't use them.
 

Slick4.6

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The properties of the block and the connection of the round stock to it will probably be so different that the ecu won't know what it's listening to any more


But what do I know

That is a good point. My other idea was to get a piece of aluminum rod small enough to thread and tack it in place so the sensor mount at the same angle it’s ground at. But idk if it’s worth it at this point.
 

Slick4.6

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i have a 1st gen TVS supercharged .020 over 4.6 pump 93 octane motor that makes 650 rwhp without any knock sensors

Yeah it’s probably not the end of the world if I run the motor without them, but Lito would prefer I did if I can mount them somehow and I value his opinion. He said if need be we can switch them off. I picked up some aluminum rod today and am thinking of just putting some threads on it and tack it in place at the same angle the block is ground at so the sensors sit flush. A couple small tacks with a tig torch shouldn’t put too much heat in the surrounding area. Or maybe just some jb weld instead.
 

01yellerCobra

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If you really want to run knock sensors why not run the Vampire system? It figures out which cylinder is knocking and backs timing off for that cylinder.
 

Slick4.6

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I’d rather not spend $500 at the moment, especially if I can get the stock ones mounted. Appreciate the idea tho.
 

Totheboards

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Using a single bevel weld joint and drill/tap through the center so there is no discontinuities? I would be surprised if there is a significant difference in displacement of the knock sensors due to a welded on boss vs cast. I'm not a scientist, just an engineer.
 

eighty6gt

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6 piston front brakes!

I was imagining the piss poor contact you'd have between your new cut piece and that gakked block surface. Buzzing, vibrating, bouncing, so you'd just be transmitting thru the welds.

Probably overthinking things. It's worth a shot trying to repair, that's for sure.
 

Slick4.6

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If I put a nice bevel and a single pass on it there wouldn’t be any variation in vibration/harmonics between the block and new piece. I thought you were referring to the piece itself causing a variation in what the sensor is reading due to some type of harmonic difference because it may be more dense than the block casting. Either way if all else fails I’ll just switch them off. Figured I’d give it my best effort at least.
6 piston front brakes!

I was imagining the piss poor contact you'd have between your new cut piece and that gakked block surface. Buzzing, vibrating, bouncing, so you'd just be transmitting thru the welds.

Probably overthinking things. It's worth a shot trying to repair, that's for sure.
 

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