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
   ----------------------------------------

   Jerry,

   Austenitic grades (300 Series) are used when corrosion or oxidation
   is a problem.  They can only be cold worked to increase hardness.
   This series is Non Magnetic.

   Martensitic grades (400 Series) contain no nickel,  are  generally
   less  corrosion resistant, but can be hardened by heat treating.
   This series is Magnetic.

   For a more detailed summery of the stainless steel types and
   properties, see:

   http://www.sppusa.com/reference/white_paper/wp_ss.html

   Joel
   Over the Hill Materials Engineer





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