For my fuel tank mounts, I just welded nuts into the frame...


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George, couldn't this be placed into the hole and welded around the flange in the same way you described? How is this different?Jack...Those just swell up in the frame hole and lock themselves in place. That still doesn't eliminate the drilled hole in the frame from being a stress riser.
George, couldn't this be placed into the hole and welded around the flange in the same way you described? How is this different?
Jack
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Press this into your drilled hole in the frame and TIG fuse the larger flange diameter to the frame.
George, this is why I thought the weld nuts from McMaster would serve exactly the same purpose. It sounded like you were describing a part that would leave a flange above the surface. Maybe I don't understand the meaning of "TIG fuse." All my welding experience is with gas (and many years ago).
Jack
Now if I needed a true flat surface I would chamfer the drilled bolt hole and the edge of the threaded bung. Press it in till it's flush and TIG well the "V" groove with a low amperage setting.
I think I've got it now. You're referring to a chamfer that extends all the way out to the OD of the flange. By chamfering the flange as well, the two fit together flush. That says a lot for not using a large OD flange. So, for less critical work, maybe the McMaster parts could be turned down. For suspension mounts and the like, as you say, it would probably be better to machine your own.
Thanks for explaining everything, I'll need this type of frame work myself in the near future.
Jack
Yep, on that moly tubing, I've seen the tire shake during a run or the bounce after the chutes open stress the frame enough to start cracks....Jack,
If you mean by turning down the insert flange OD to match the threaded shank then that would probably be OK for a true flush fit. If you mean to cut the radius from the underside of the flange so the flange will sit flat then I don't think I would like that as it would tend to be weak in that corner. I have used these type inserts in 10-32 and 1/2-28 thread on round tube. I still TIG welded the flanged edge with silicon bronze as they flanges wouldn't really seat up on the tube radius very well. I was using them to anchor small aluminum levers in Top Fuel cars for fuel shut offs and chute release cables. If I didn't weld them they would sometimes begin to spin when tightening or removing the fasteners. Sometimes they just didn't want to buck up tight in 4130 tubing. And I wanted to eliminate a possible point for a crack to start. Those cars are so violent and flex and move around so much that I just didn't want to take that chance.
George.