JB Weld is awesome.
 

Long story short, part of the reason my RX7 has been off the road so long is due to a problem we encountered when porting the engine.

We cut into the water jacket when making an aggresive port. We anticipated this and built up the water jacket with a "super duper space aged epoxy" that was supposed to be good up to 600°.

The problem is that is dry heat. When subjected to water, the epoxy actually boiled with the water.

The engine was assembled and run for 6 hours, my mechanic decided to pressure up the collent system to 18 PSI and see if the epoxy would hold. It failed.

The engine was pulled and taken back apart and the search for a suitable epoxy ensued. 2 different ones were selected both costing over $90 a quart. Both failed.

I was mentioning this ordeal to my dad and he suggested JB Weld, "You cannot be serious" I scoffed at him. That would be akin to using duct tape.

Well, I just ate a big slice of humble pie. We tested the JB Weld, check that, we abused the JB weld and it never flinched. Never showed a sign of failing after hours of boiling it.

Sometimes the best answer is the cheapest solution.

Alot of people look down their nose at JB Weld, but when mixed and used properly, it realy is an amazing product!

Congrats!

I tried to use JB Weld on part of an exhaust system once. Huge mistake, smoked like the dickens.

I used it in lieu of a weld on my Seine shifter, wonderful!

Someone once told me that JB Weld was developed to fix bulletholes in engine blocks during WWII. It's saved my ass quite a few times.

I heard there's a big California proven Porsche engine builder that buys that stuff in bulk.

I wonder if I could sculpt my own 3.0L 968 block out of it.

I used it on my sunroof cables and it's been holding for years
Steve

Jim,

If you want it REALLY strong next time, mix up a batch, then grab the metal filings from under a drill press or lathe, and mix them in with the JB Weld while its soft. Apply as needed and let sit.

Never seen anything like that stuff, especially when "fortified" like this.

Its really good stuff.

I've used it on several occasions and have always had good luck with it.

I once poked a hole in a radiator with a screwdriver (doh!) and patched it with JB Weld. I kept the car for several years after that, and the patch held, no problem.

Motor Meister?

it's a dessert topping. And a floor wax too!

This was the last issue holding it up, I might be able to bring it up for a run May. :D

I hear it works wonders as a hemmoroid cream too:eek: :D

But seriously (ahem...), that stuff is awesome. My dad had a block soft plug give out right before we were leaving on a long camping trip. He JB'd it and that truck didn't leak for the rest of 5 years that he owned it. Think of the number of heat cycles it saw right under the exhaust manifold and it never gave out. Incredible stuff. I'm surprised that whatever is in it hasn't changed with all the environmental limitations on the use of volitlie chemicals....but apparently they haven't!

I know it works for that ;)

My buddy in college had an enduro 550 that had bullet holes in the side cover. He filled them in with JB and rode the bike for years like that!


Good stuff.


-Chris

the JB weld lobby is the strongest lobby ever.

I've got what appear to be the start of some rust holes on the heat exchangers on my '86 911. Would JB Weld be a suitable repair after I get rid of the rust? Would it stand up to the heat? A previous comment on this thread seems to imply that it would not; just thought I'd ask the question directly.

No that was Duck Tape and not in engine blocks (wings and stuff);). JB Weld didnt come until 1968 - I think

1968...maybe it was developed for Vietnam?

It's an epoxy not a true metal. Read the lable, lots of claims, I'm guessing most are true, nothing about approving or proving it on exhaust though.

Read the lable.

Maby try it with Joe's addition, and let us know how it works.