Mi16 Cam Cover Welding

[ifcho 0]

Hi,

 

I want to weld a proper oil filler cap on the cam cover and get rid of the shi*** oil filling system, but I'm not sure what the material of the cover is. Apparently, it is some kind of magnesium alloy, but that does not give me much information. Am I going to burst into flames if I try to weld it

[Baz 421]

Magnesium, as it says on it!

[boombang 2]

...

Edited November 15, 2010 by boombang

[Tom Fenton 1,542]

Yes it can be TIG welded, there isn't all that much magnesium in the alloy. To do a neat job set your filler neck through the cover with a nice fit and then weld from the inside where no one will see

[JRL 14 1 Cars]

Im sure this has been asked many times but why didnt they do this in the 1st place? I remember posting a pic of a guy on an australian forum doing this to his 8v looked really good. my oil hoses are perishing so wouldnt mind doing this instead of replacing them. Is there anyone that could do me one? I have a shot blasted bare metal mi16 rocker cover.

[ifcho 0]

Well, I think that it is not pure Mg. Probably, it is the first one here:

http://magnesium.stihl.de/page.php?select=3

EN-MB MgAl9Zn1(A) (AZ 91)

 

which would mean, that Al is ~9% and Zn 1%, which leaves about 90% for Mg.

 

Apparently, it is easily welded with a TIG welder, but I'll need to find some Mg oil filler cap...

[Pug Monkey 0]

Uumm I don't think i'd go that way.

 

Having a few heads off and seeing the size of the oil jackets being on each side of the head, it would take AGES for the oil to drain from the top of the engine.

 

Having said that, it would look kinda cool though

[Ron_Jaegers 10]

I was wondering about this too, would the oil drain terribly slow?

 

Has anyone ever done this before with an S16 or Mi?

 

Otherwise I think I'm going to try it myself, see how a fill goes.

[James_m 0]

Even if it does take ages, id rather wait and be able to bin that 20yr old standard stuff. I guess you could always fill it through the lower breather hose at oil change time if it was a big issue.