Welded Block

[Gearhead68z]

My dad and i did some mud flow diversion work for our neighbor just to be friendly. Well in return he gave us a set of 6.00 carillo rods, stock bore Wiseco lightweight pistons, Angle milled heads, and a cracked and welded bowtie block. I guess he wanted to clean out his shop. Anyways i think the block cracked because he did not pull both drain plugs, but only one to drain it and it craked over the winter. The block only had one season on it(what a shame). the crack is external and not even as deep as the tip of a pen so he welded it, do yall think it's safe to use in an under 650 hp application or even use at all?

[Racefab57]

You may want a good machine shop to look it over just for another opinion, if its like you say its prpbably ok. usually if water was left in it it cracks big! but get an opinion of someone standing right their in frt of it looking at it with you.David,

[zipper06]

Not to worry,
I've got a 509 400 blk, filled to the water pump opening and after i put it together and started filling the radiator, we discovered a 4 1/2" long crack about 3/4" below the deck. We decided to run it dry and made 11 passes on alcohol in the dragster.
We then pulled it out and before transferring it to my Malibu, i tig welded it with nirod using the hammer method (weld 1/4" hammer the weld, cool down and repeat), without even pulling the Alum. heads. I re-torqued the heads and put it in the Malibu, it now has over 100 passes without one flaw.
And i do get a lot of flap from some excellent engine builders for using stock blks, but this engine ran 5.16 and 8.23 in an 1850lb dragster while running dry.
Due to the too nasty cam it's down on torque and not enough gear for the heavy car (3253lbs) so it only runs 6.52 and 10.59 @124mph in the Malibu.

JMO

Zip.

[Gearhead68z]

Thanks for the advice, the crack is long maybe 4 inches ain't looked at it in a while, but i do remember it being a very shallow crack, just like if you were to make a imprint with a piece of tiewire. I was asking because one engine builder said good and the other said i would'nt trust it or use it. The bigger name builder said use it so i just might since it is a bowtie block and clearenced for what i need already. I just won't use nitrous or blowers i think.

[Gearhead68z]

Thanks zip sounds alot like the crack on my block i suppose i'll use it then, it's already been welded by a shop also(forgot to mention that i think).

[edvancedengines]

I agree with Zip,

Ed

[billhendren]

Get the block magnafluxed in the valley area,they crack there as well. if it checks ok weld it and go race.Bill

[Tod74]

Since we are on the subject...I have a 454 block that I had a roller lifter break in. It is cracked between the lifter bores in the cam tunnel...it didn't hurt the lifter bores just kinda crunched in a spot between the..sorta hard to see but it's there. It didn't leak water but you can see where the metal is pushed in a little .....guy at Schmidt Automotive in Indy looked at it and said he could put epoxy over it and do a partial block fill and it would be ok..but he couldn't gaurentee it would never leak.I was afraid to use it so I got a Merlin block. I hate to throw this one in the junk because it had very few runs on a fresh bore...but at the same time I hate to use it..if that makes sense..lol. Also if it is repairable is there an optionm other than the block fill? One that would allow it to be used on a street application?

[Racefab57]

if it doesnt leak now,epoxy it ,Ive fixed heads with it, street use should be fine!! David.

[Gdaddy]

welded blocks are fine...if they use nickel welding rods..have it magged and pressure tested..if it checks..go race it

[Bubstr]

I wouldn't be afraid of a well repaired block. I ran a 426 hemi with a 6 inch piece of ford Y block in between the main webs on one side for 3 years at over 8,000 RPM. Best free block I ever seen.

[brsd415]

I also have a question about a cracked block. The block is a 010 020 with billet caps and has been filled. I got it from a good friend that was getting out of racing and it just needed a sleeve. Had the sleeve put in and ran it with my dartbuick stuff and kept having sealing problems on the cylinder that was sleeved. Finally after numerous teardowns and putting orings in the heads i found two cracks running from the head bolt hole too the number 4 and 6 cylinder. Can this be welded up redrilled tapped and decked or is it a boat anchor.

[Racefab57]

sounds very involved, and expencive. Hard to know not looking at it. David.