Shifter console repair

[Patrick B.]

Re: Shifter console repair

I tried Muggy Weld today, and I think Doug's shop may be underestimating it. The outside bottom edge of my console had an area corroded away about the size of a quarter cut in half. It looked like a bite had been taken out of it. The pot metal was only about a 1/16 of an inch thick and certainly vulnerable to overheating. I have no particular skills in brazing or welding, and my only torch was a basic map gas torch from Home Depot.

Still, I managed to fill in the bite without ruining the console. It was not perfect and had some little voids where material did not adhere. But, it looks stronger than I expected and the imperfections should not be too visible since the location of the repair is very close to the seat. It still has to be replated so I am taking the website's word that plating will not be a problem.

I think I could have done a better job if I had sanded the chrome off the whole area around the repair rather than just grinding the edges of the corrosion void. A smaller torch would have also been better than the plumbing torch I had than did not allow for any adjustment of the flame size. I will post some pictures next week.

Here is a picture of Muggy Weld and flux (the dark brown stuff) around the area that had been corroded away. The next two pictures show filing and sanding the outside of the console to blend in the Muggy weld repair. I may try to fill in the little voids if I can get a smaller torch. It's not perfect but the bite taken out of the thin pot metal by corrosion was filled in well enough to replate. Since I have been quoted $500 for used ones requiring replating and $1600 for NOS, I can live with these imperfections. Clem, Thanks for the tip.

[Joe R.]

Re: Shifter console repair

Here is a picture of Muggy Weld and flux (the dark brown stuff) around the area that had been corroded away. The next two pictures show filing and sanding the outside of the console to blend in the Muggy weld repair. I may try to fill in the little voids if I can get a smaller torch. It's not perfect but the bite taken out of the thin pot metal by corrosion was filled in well enough to replate. Since I have been quoted $500 for used ones requiring replating and $1600 for NOS, I can live with these imperfections. Clem, Thanks for the tip.

Patrick,

Strong work, thanks for posting your before and after photos! I will need this thread to help me with my console, which also has "issues," shall we say.

Joe

[Paul J.]

Re: Shifter console repair

Here is a picture of Muggy Weld and flux (the dark brown stuff) around the area that had been corroded away. The next two pictures show filing and sanding the outside of the console to blend in the Muggy weld repair. I may try to fill in the little voids if I can get a smaller torch. It's not perfect but the bite taken out of the thin pot metal by corrosion was filled in well enough to replate. Since I have been quoted $500 for used ones requiring replating and $1600 for NOS, I can live with these imperfections. Clem, Thanks for the tip.

Pat, the problem I've found with the Mike Muggy products is that they require a lot of heat. From your pictures it looks like you took your time and put a lot of heat into it. I think it would work better with an acetylene torch, but it still works with MAPP gas. As for the voids, I've gotten them too, but I just rework the area until I get them out. This stuff takes a little practice.

Paul