In a message dated 8/4/05 7:06:47 PM, rrecardo@WEBTV.NET writes:

<< Forgive George , he has sinned.

And just to make you feel a bit better dissimilar metal's can be welded
together with no problem at all, and be as strong as welding the same
together.

If you have the right wire, or rod.
anything is possible.

High nickel content rod welds anything to anything. >>

Father Robert is right and I have done my penance by looking into the subject
after sticking red hot pokers in my eyes.  Still, I would not say that
joining the two materials is without some possible pitfalls.  To quote an expert
from an engineering forum I just viewed (by the way, a pipefitter not an
engineer):

"A welding procedure should first be qualified by testing to an approved code
of fabrication. This would be the normal practice for any critical welding.
There are other variables besides filler metal that if not controlled could
lead to a poor weld.

Filler metals that have been used in other circumstances to weld low carbon
steel to 300 series stainless include 309, 310, ENiCrFe and other nickel based
alloys."

So, why throw another variable into the mix whenever you're fabricating a
weldment which is critical yet never to be tested?

To me, it doesn't matter which materials are used and how they are joined.
Carrying a bike of that mass, held to a Vanagon by means of a tow hitch
receiver, shows a callous disregard, whether rooted in contempt or ignorance, for the
innocent bystanders who have to share the highway with whoever is driving
that abomination.  Don't just look at the mass of the bike and the rating (What
rating? Rated not to kink in the middle with a 400 lb. load?) of the carrier;
look at the resultant forces from that thing hanging out there in the wind.
The van is just not made for that task.

Moreover, years ago I once climbed off my sweet Triumph Bonneville and right
onto my buddy's Honda 350 and I can tell you for a fact that the Honda was no
lightweight.  Now, if Honda snuck in a superlegerra 350 among the millions
they stamped out, I missed it.  Remember, 350 is its model designation, not its
weight.

George