Exhaust collector material

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

Hey fellas..

What material is an exhaust collector made from. We have a few with some cracks, and I'd like to have them repaired. Trouble is I don't know what material they are made of. Someone suggested inconel, but I don't think so.. BTW: THis is for the C-54.

Anyone?

hercrat · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2011 1:53 pm

At the hangar looking at the blueprints for the Lockheed Ventura. The material used for the exhaust collector rings on the R-2800-31 appears to be Stainless Steel. The exact specs on the blueprint state thus: 347-18 ST. STL. 57-136-9 GR155
I believe that means the steel contains 18% Chromium but I am not a specialist on this topic. The thickness varies from .062 to .043 .

planenutti · **Posted:** Sat Jul 30, 2011 2:49 pm

Kevin,
Where are the cracks? Buck was wondering. He can't remember for sure but he is thinking stainless. A good welder should be able to repair most cracks as long as you aren't missing chunks.
Bob

Rajay · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2011 3:39 pm

If you don't have a copy of the original specs for the C-54 exhaust systems, there are other ways of determining what specific material it is made from. I know you won't want to spend the money to buy your own, but we looked at a couple of portable test units that can be used to check hardness/temper/heat treat and that are also capable of verifying alloy composition, etc. The ones we looked at (to be used for QC in a production environment) ran from $10K to $15K depending on options. Without actually buying such a unit, you might be able to find a commercial metal working or production operation or a professional QC/testing/calibration lab in your area that has or has access to such a portable tester. Given your organization and its mission, they might even volunteer to help you out - i.e. not charge you for their service, especially if you go to them and just take a sample or two of the old exhaust pieces with you.

If you don't know or can't think of such an operation in your area, a local professional QC/testing/calibration lab like I mentioned earlier might be able to put you in touch with someone appropriate. Stork (http://www.storksmt.com/) and J. A. King (http://www.jaking.com/) are two such QC/calibration labs in my area. They may have affiliates in yours as well.

Best of luck!

51fixer · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2011 4:39 pm

Assuming the Structural Repair doesn't cover any repairs to the exhaust?
There might be another Army or Air Force Tech Order that might cover either exhaust component repairs or even welding from that time frame.
Is there any operators, current or past, up in Canada or Alaska that could help you out with the info?
Suggest the microfilm blueprint series from the NASM or even copies of the exhaust P/N prints.
I would suggest TIG and keep an Argon environment on the interior of the weld area.

b29flteng · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2011 5:11 pm

We've had a problem with the #3 inbd. exhaust turbine hood cracking on FIFI. We've had it welded numerous times and it tends to re-crack along side the new welds. Any ideas out there on how to prevent the re-cracking? How about heating it cherry red with a torch after welding and let it cool off slowly? (We are having a new hood made)

51fixer · **Posted:** Sun Jul 31, 2011 6:10 pm

b29flteng wrote:

We've had a problem with the #3 inbd. exhaust turbine hood cracking on FIFI. We've had it welded numerous times and it tends to re-crack along side the new welds. Any ideas out there on how to prevent the re-cracking? How about heating it cherry red with a torch after welding and let it cool off slowly? (We are having a new hood made)

Welding alone sometimes isn't a complete repair. Whatever stresses are causing the cracks can get altered or moved to adjacent material or even increased.
Sometimes you need to remove part of the material and weld in a replacement. Other times you might make the weld and add something to reinforce the welded area.
I have had similar issues welding crack on a Turbo housing for a P-38, made by Allis Chalmers. I ended up heating the housing. making the weld while heated and then slowly cooling.
Good luck.

Airlift48 · **Joined:** Sat Oct 29, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 744

Bob,

We have several ring sections with cracks and holes.. One on a seam, one inside the mounting flange (directly across from a cylinder ex port), various areas. We've replaced each piece with our stock of new parts we acquired a few years ago, but I'd like to have the removed pieces repaired for future use.

The dataplate on one of the sections says Wilpac Mfg. Co. DWG:# 88277-5174529-56
Contract MFG 10234.

Since I've found out that Wilpac has been acquired and is now the Triumph Fabrications branch of the Triumph group, I've send an email there, too.

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Exhaust collector material

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