Help welding cast steel.

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I'm pretty certain this is cast steel, its a dozer axle clutch housing that's been beat to snot, its been run at high speed until the bolts loosened and then cracked the housing in several directions, several of the bolt holes have been stripped and heli coiled and stripped again. Repair of this housing is mostly academic, I have the parts that it bolts to so drilling alignment should be okay. There are some stainless looking welds globbed on the outside of the cracks but there isn't any penetration.   I have to hit it with a grinder to be sure its cast steel but it makes sense for the application. degrease, grind everything out and preheat, take the cracks to the roots plus a bit, maybe a half inch past the visible crack? My thoughts on the cracks extending through the bolt holes is to remove and weld up the area entirely, then drill and tap new holes. Most of the holes seem to be in line with the face of the part and the opposite side has an equal flat face so a simple drill press to do the drilling and hand spinning the chuck to run the taps. Going to try and get some pictures but haven't ever tackled anything like this before, I'd love to end up with a spare housing when this is done versus a welding blob. I have a large propane pot heater that would make a good preheat burner with a big soft high pressure flame. If this is cast steel, would 7018 stick welding be a good choice? Would tig be better? the overall part thickness is about 1/2 inch or so  A bit bigger in diameter and shorter in height than a two gallon pale and just holds the clutch parts and is a spacer to bolt the final drive onto the transmission. One bolt ear is partially snapped off and missing about 90 degrees of the arc. I was also thinking to insert a 5/8 carbon rod in the hole, weld up a new ear then chip out the carbon before running a reamer through it to true it up. Thanks in advance for all the help!Last edited by fast*st; 02-05-2013 at 09:38 AM.
Reply:If it is cat steel 7018 will do the job.
Reply:7014 works beautifully on cast steel where you might need a high deposition rate"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Thanks for the info, imagine 450 preheat, weld and let it soak in the preheat, what's a good cool down rate?  Another question, if I v groove it all the way through and have a gap, is it better to weld into the gap or back it with a carbon block and weld down to it?
Reply:Pics Pics Pics......zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Hee, I'll try and get some