Hitting clay birds is often easier than hitting the right mental picture -- Oooo -- I see things.
Anyways, if the crack is not where the solid closing strength needs to flow, I think you could most easily braze the crack shut. If there is space, ?, you can also add on some brazed on braces on the sides. This way, you keep all the geometries intact whereas electric welding will do a neat job of distorting everything.
Make a new part first before arc welding so that you have the dimensions right. Then mess around with a repair to test yourself. And if the part is heat treated to begin with it will not be weldable (not within common practice) while it will still be brazable and the side effect will be loss of temper.
It's only suggestions and hope it helps.
