So I reached out to a couple people including mrblaine and asked around. Consensus was weld it where it touches. But that's about when I realized the spring perch was crooked and the factory welds at the tube to C were a bit lumpy in spots causing interference. Once I did some filing/grinding the truss fit flush against the spring perch and there was a sizeable and even gap to the pumpkin on each side.
::edit:: I misread your question. I left them stitched. I figured less potential warping, and if one weld fails it won't tear across all of them.
Long answer, but no, I didn't. The only place I ended up welding to the pumpkin is the upper CA mount ears. I preheated them with a map torch but I think with their size and surface area they wick heat pretty fast, could only get them to 300°f. Welded and wrapped right after with a fiberglass blanket. Just used regular 030 mild steel wire with the feed and gas turned up. There was a lot of sputtering I assume from the cast iron and I'm sure a good bit of porosity in there, but with the amount of fill I did all around I think it's probably solid enough. Time will tell.
I think people are often afraid to post their welds since welders are the judgiest motherfuckers around but I ain't scared. I'm very much an amateur. Open to suggestions too, of course.
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This morning I finished hacking off the front control arms. Going to sand everything down, weld on the new brackets, then paint the front half of the frame. Got a new rear main seal and oil pan gasket while I'm in here. Probably give the oil pan a coat of paint. Tempted to do red since I have the engine paint here. All of that oil mess appears to be from the valve cover, btw. I have a new one of those gaskets as well.
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