Glad to hear this worked out. I actually had my SX lower successfully welded this year. I had a 5" long crack from the front until almost the fill hole along where it meets the skeg. I work with a professional welder and he was able to seal it up although his comments were that the porous aluminum casting led to a lot of gear oil contamination in the casting itself and although difficult, it did burn out. He took it slow and kept it cool. $250 bill, replaced propshaft seal and bearing and I was good to go. I trusted this welders skills and also figured with the cost of a new lower that I really had nothing to lose.
