Dana 35 housing broken?

[robber364]

Hey y'all,

I picked up a Dana 35 TTB setup to upgrade my 86 ranger's stock Dana 28. I started blowing it apart, and in the process found out that a cast ear on the differential housing was broken, and fell off when I pulled the pumpkin out of the beam. I'll attach some pictures here so y'all can see what i'm talking about, but what I want to know is if this is going to be a problem. If that ear is super structural i'd rather just replace the housing, but i don't know if that is possible or even cost-effective. if not, what do y'all think is a good way to repair it? I don't have the ability to weld aluminum, and i'm not sure that's a good idea anyway, but maybe I could use screws and JB weld or something, idk. should I even bother? I'm kinda bummed, because I got a great deal on a setup with the right gears, but if this is going to be a problem then I need to know my options.

 

[Shran]

This is pretty common. I would not worry too much about it, the purpose of that bolt is to pinch the beam around the axle housing, thus making the whole assembly stiffer... that ear just kinda helps keep it centered but it'll be fine without it. Clean it up and use it.

 

[Curious Hound]

I'd drive it.