I've had good success on old cast iron with brazing as well as using NiRod 99 rather than the 66. Steam clean first, not just pressure wash and steam clean it well. Heat the area up, grind the crack and take a torch and heat to around 400 degrees, then wire brush and reheat and wire brush until it's CLEAN. Oil does seep into the pores and it's a bear to get out but it will come out eventually, it just takes time and perseverance.

As good as I am with a stick welder not so good with other, would rather not drop the pan anymore than I need to. Good suggestion as the pan is costing some money. Sad how un-informed the Cat dealer is here on getting the pan gasket, parts guy asked if it was a diesel or not. Would like to know the torque setting for the pan bolts and any issues I might have doing the replacement this weekend. By the way thanks for all the imput you guys know your stuff.
Jeffit

www.sizes.com/tools/bolts_SAEtork.htm

should be able to come up with an answer
firecat

Interesting torque values. I learned that an unplated bolt will take 20% more torque than cadium plated of the same grade, I learned that socket head cap screws will take more than 20% more torque than a grade eight bolt. For today, learning has been a success. Now, I will see if my pony motor's carb is ready to come out of the carburetor cleaner. Hopefully, it will eventually run without full choke being used all of the time.

When you work on things everyday you know when and how tight to turn bolts & nuts. The only place a mechanic uses torque specs is on heads and main & rod bolts (nuts) and other special places where it,s called for.It would be time consuming if at a dealer or wherever if you used a torgue wrench on every bolt you turned.

SSsssteamer,
They do not use cadmium on bolts, nuts, or screws any more. Cadmium has been declared a metal non grata as it is toxic. I think some zinc alloy is the current anti rust coating.

Zinc Dichromate I believe is what Mother Cat calls it.

It is some type of zinc based coating. Just slips through the gaping holes in my mind right at the moment. Zinc Chromate sounds as good as any though.