[shaggy69gradprix]

anyone ever weld up cracks in the mains and have any luck with it?

[shaggy69gradprix]

the block has been cracked for awhile probly..i never lost oil presure.im guessing the motor makes 600HP because of the weight of the car and what it runs on motor.i've sprayed 275 bigshot plate off the line and added a 175 shot midway through 2nd gear on top of it for a total
of 450 im pretty sure it was the 275 out the gate that has cracked it and the weight of the car.thanks for the info.

[shaggy69gradprix]

ive got plans to build a new combo in september when i get my bonus.will go with the new IA-II block but trying to get buy for a couple months with my curent stuff.

[Robert C.]

That is why we built the IA II. Save the stock block for restoring a nice car. The time and money that you spend on building a stock block, you have spent over 2k to make a block that will take 700hp for a while, but in time it will not last. For the dollar per run IA II is the only way to go. Add the resale value of an IA II motor to this equation, and you have an even better return to the investment. We added more meat in the main webs of our IA II motor and remove all of the stress risers in inside the water jackets that were in the old IA motor. It is the things that you can't see that made our block the strongest and only after market block made.

[Badbird69]

Had a nice back-up 474 that went 9.55 in a 3100 pound car, 8.70's w/250 shot. While freshening, discovered crack in #2 and #4 main webbing. Made the decision to spend $1000 to get it "fixed". They ground material out of the cracks, heated the block up in a huge oven, brazed the cracks. Then machined the bottom of the block flat, bored the mains, bored and sleeved the cam bores.
Ran the motor last half of the season. Ran great, no oil pressure or performance issues (were running a titan pump).
Recently disassembled for inspection: #4 main web cracked up through lifter valley, #4 cam bearing spun - scored cam journal, #3 main bearing and crank journal scored, crank cracked at #3 main journal, #5 & 6 rod bearings wiped. Surprisingly, crank end play was only .010 and #4 thrust bearing looked pretty good, considering. Block AND crank are now both junk.
Was it worth the gamble? In hindsight, no. The block repair company routinely does these kinds of repairs, but those blocks probably aren't subject to this kind of abuse. One more weekend on the racetrack and we would have been picking up pieces.
Now I need a good block that can bore .060.

[Ray Cox]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Blowing Hot Air:
Maybe a dumb ? But does the IAII block come machine or do you have to have everything machined?
Thanks Tom </div></BLOCKQUOTE>depends somewhat on the application, band your preferances, but for the most part Finish hone and assemble

[rumair]

tom- i thought plainfield was a suburb of joliet?

[Mr. P-Body]

The mains in the block (bulkheads) or mains on the crank?
Crank? NEVER!!! It WILL break...
The block? Iffy. Welding cast iron is an art. In most places, a crap-shoot. "Spray" welding will fill the holes, but won't add any strength lost to the crack. Arc-welding (nickel rod, low energy) MAY work, but has been known to extend cracks ("spider webbing").
Best of luck. We would rather machine up another block to be safe, unless you simply have SO MUCH money in the block, it's worth the risk.

[PONTIAC DUDE]

Repairing cracked parts (I.E. Iron Heads, Iron blocks) is for <span class="ev_code_RED">Very Rare</span> or #'s matching <span class="ev_code_RED">Very rare</span> collector items.

[Brinson Pachar]

Shaggy, if you decide you need a block, I'm just right down the road from you in Orange. I've got a few that might work.

[ErikW]

I often wonder what impact it would have to run the block regardless of the cracks. I have cracked a couple in the past, but only knew of the cracks after end of season tear downs. Car never slowed and never showed oil pressure variances. Who knows how long the were cracked.
Just wondering.

Erik

[Half-Inch Stud]

I agree.

[Blowing hot air]

Maybe a dumb ? But does the IAII block come machine or do you have to have everything machined?
Thanks Tom

[shaggy69gradprix]

ive been spraying 2 plate systems on the car. a69 gp street car 10 inch tire.I welded mine up and im curently putting it back together.the block is o-ringed filled steel 4-bolt caps scat 6.800 rods cast crank not a N crank 4.25 stroke.car runs 10's on motor 6.o's on the dope.any info would be great.

[Larry Navarro]

Hey Shay.....glad to see you are finally here!
Took you long enough!

[shaggy69gradprix]

i ment to say i cant afford a IAII block right now.i plan on going that route in this september.got to have the car running for the summer time

[loren]

pitch it it's done it's job and then some from the sound of it.

[Half-Inch Stud]

I suspect Rear and front engine plates will ELIMINATE cracked mains webs.

Do a Force-Balance Diagram on the Block with Factory engine mounts and see where all the distortion-inducing Force concentrates...

[shaggy69gradprix]

i have a virgin 455 block that i will use now thanks to all of yousguys input motor plates may help but i cant afford a IAII

[punisher#1]

shaggy, this is john in austin with the fairmont. we were running steve's motor last year with the stock block and when we tore it down for inspection we found no problems. if you want to talk to me about block prep or if you need to find another block call me at 512-771-5257 and i'll hook you up. but please don't try to weld up the block and think it will hold with what you're running. it wont work.