Paul,

re pick up tube to go with the wedge tank.   Originally I was
going to silver solder hard copper plumbing fittings to make this.
My logic was that silver solder is very strong and has a melting temp
of over 1000 º.  However, I learned yesterday that silver solder has
a service life that is quite short when temperatures are sustained
above 300º.  The words service life and pick up tube should not
appear together.  It has to last forever.   So I am back to steel or
stainless steel.  Can someone put  a magnet on the stock tube and let
me know if it is SS?  Is there any reason to defend against oxidation
at all  given the location inside the pan.  I am not looking forward
to building the bolt flange out of SS but what ever Mazda did will be
the standard.

Jerry


Jerry,

    Some stainless steels are magnetic - some are not.

    The "magnet test" is inconclusive...

Jack Beale

I am aware of that but I have yet to run into the magnetic variety.
If it does not react to the magnet, then it is SS.   If it does react
then it is possibly SS. or more likely just steel.   I can take from
there.  Jerry

I am pretty sure it is steel Jerry although I am not at the hanger to check.

Paul

Jerry,
  I have one out of an 86 that has been stored in a slightly damp,
unheated shed for the last few years. Tube, plate and screen are all
magnetic. The tube has two small pea size spots of surface rust while the
plate the screen and the rest of the tube are rust free.

John Gibbons



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