the crack in my block

[austinsailor]

I mentioned a couple days ago that there was a crack in my block we found after it was done. It wasn't real clear until it was decked.

I first looked into getting it welded, but that is expensive and has a good chance of cracking again. I took it by a friend who's built race motors for 25 years and he suggested tapping the bottom of the hole and using a stud instead of a bolt.

In the pictures you'll see the crack running around the corner about at the bottom of where the bold ended. We ended up drilling it a little deeper and tapping it to the bottom of the hole. It now goes as deep as the stud goes where I'm holding it. Plenty far into good metal and should not be a problem. I'll "v" the crack a bit and use some JB Weld to insure no water leaks.

[greg g]

I would think that it shouldn't be a problem. I would however drill a small hole at the end of the crack. This will spread the stress into the surounding casting and prevent the crack from lenghtening. a 5/32 or 11/64 should do the trick about 3/16 deep right at the outside end of the crack.

[austinsailor]

What may not be obvious is the horizantal line about half way down the stud is a crack going all around the corner. the entire corner was lifting on addition to the crack going out from the hole.

[greg g]

As long as the stud is in new meat I would think its OK, as it will relieve the stress on the cracked area.

[PatS....]

These guys had their crack stitched

http://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk/dodge_rebuild/part6_cylinderhead.htm