Repair of cracked 115 clutch bellhousing?

[Kevin Trent <trentkc@domain.elided>]

After removal of the starter from my '73 spider for servicing I found that 
the clutch bellhousing was cracked where the starter bolts up.  At this 
point it is a crack that starts between the bottom and middle bolt holes 
then extends up around the middle mount hole and ends just short of the top 
mount hole, about 3 inches in length.

I'm thinking of using my MIG welder to put a few plug welds on the crack to 
prevent it from breaking completely.  I don't have the time or inclination 
to remove the transmission at this time, and want to do the repair in the 
car, believing that I have room to access the crack with the weld gun, and 
the exterior bellhouse surface is not greasy.  I would be able to clean it 
further with a solvent.

The procedure I would use is:

Use ER5356 (versus ER4043) .035 aluminum wire with Argon gas; try to 
preheat the area with a propane torch; give it a final clean with a 
stainless steel brush, and then hit it with a series of plug welds.

Questions:  Anyone done this??  Should I start the weld plugs at the end of 
the crack (where it stops) or the beginning (edge of the 
bellhousing)?  Suggestions??

Thanks!  //KCT, Powell, TN
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