[sdbob]

Curious.I've been reading about that large IA block with one main missing due to rod breaking. Thermal welding the new piece in place. For you high end guys is this repair safe with all the $$ spent?

[65madgoat]

Forget that it is safe. It is too costly and not ever worth doing.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgdeN7Muvhw

Old thread:


https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...=welding+block

[Johnny406]

It was very fascinating to watch and it makes me wonder if the origional casting molds for that block are still around and can be redeployed. With the cylinder head advancements now available, building a 600+ CI engine is far more practical now than when this block was cast.

Speaking of practicality, unless you're stupid rich and can afford not to be practical, this was nothing more than a "yes, it can be done" process. Now that I know in theory and with enough money, I can have my 557 block "thickened/reinforced" at a cost much much higher than a new aftermarket block...

[sdbob]

I never heard of that big CID IA block. I was interested in the tech. However for cost I was thinking just buy new.

[Dragncar]

They act like that IA1 block is some super rare and desirable piece. Just buy a IA2, done.
The Indian head logo is cool though.

[Stan Weiss]

Originally Posted by Dragncar

They act like that IA1 block is some super rare and desirable piece. Just buy a IA2, done.
The Indian head logo is cool though.

Troy,
Did I miss understand about that block? Isn't that a tall deck height block they are fixing?

Stan

[BILL BOWMAN1]

Originally Posted by Stan Weiss

Troy,
Did I miss understand about that block? Isn't that a tall deck height block they are fixing?

Stan

Yes tall deck

[PAUL K]

IndianAdventuresTTF!

[Scott Stoneburg]

Originally Posted by BILL BOWMAN1

Yes tall deck

Yep, tall deck, not available any more to my knowledge.

[ID67goat]

Do you guys think they were able to save it? Did not see an updated video so was guessing that it maybe didn’t work out…

[Dragncar]

Originally Posted by Stan Weiss

Troy,
Did I miss understand about that block? Isn't that a tall deck height block they are fixing?

Stan

Yes it is. I bet you could take a IA2 and make a plate and sleeve the whole thing and end up with something better than any welded cast iron. There will always be a heat line, no way around that.
Any cast iron welding is a risk.

[Stan Weiss]

Does anyone know if the tall deck height blocks had a raised cam location?

Stan

[BILL BOWMAN1]

Originally Posted by Stan Weiss

Does anyone know if the tall deck height blocks had a raised cam location?

Stan

Yes it did

[sdbob]

Dragncar you are saying make a plate similar to a honing plate then install sleeves to the height of the plate? Would head bolts hold everything in place then?

[Scott Stoneburg]

Originally Posted by sdbob

Dragncar you are saying make a plate similar to a honing plate then install sleeves to the height of the plate? Would head bolts hold everything in place then?

I believe I remember seeing that McCarty did something like that at one time.

[hojs69]

Steve Barcak did something like that to a big inch configuration on a 370 (or was it a 389) block I thought.

[hojs69]

Old post from 2014 from Steve.

"My 577" is a '59 389 with a .315" over stock bore and stroked 1.050"! This was done around 20 years back in an effort to have the largest Pontiac ever. The problem with boring out the stock cylinders is that the deck is not strong enough to support it. I learned this from Ken Crocie, he had told me he had tried it years earlier and the decks lost so much strength, it would not work.

The way I made mine work was to use deck plates that raised the deck and added the support needed for integrity. I ordered custom extra long sleeves to accomplish this. Again, this was very expensive and time consuming and before the aftermarket blocks were available.

If you can access a boring bar to use as I did, you can try all sorts of things but, as others said, you are better off seeking a 400 block."

I know he showed pics and all but I cannot find it right now. Hopefully he weighs in. Ahead of his time here.

[Stan Weiss]

Originally Posted by BILL BOWMAN1

Yes it did

Bill,
Thanks. Do you happen to know how much the cam was raised?

Stan

[BILL BOWMAN1]

Originally Posted by Stan Weiss

Bill,
Thanks. Do you happen to know how much the cam was raised?

Stan

No, I just remember that because I was going to do a tall deck at one time and decided against it.

[Stan Weiss]

Originally Posted by hojs69

Old post from 2014 from Steve.

"My 577" is a '59 389 with a .315" over stock bore and stroked 1.050"! This was done around 20 years back in an effort to have the largest Pontiac ever. The problem with boring out the stock cylinders is that the deck is not strong enough to support it. I learned this from Ken Crocie, he had told me he had tried it years earlier and the decks lost so much strength, it would not work.

The way I made mine work was to use deck plates that raised the deck and added the support needed for integrity. I ordered custom extra long sleeves to accomplish this. Again, this was very expensive and time consuming and before the aftermarket blocks were available.

If you can access a boring bar to use as I did, you can try all sorts of things but, as others said, you are better off seeking a 400 block."

I know he showed pics and all but I cannot find it right now. Hopefully he weighs in. Ahead of his time here.

Originally Posted by Steve Barcak

Changing bore spacing makes no practical or economic sense and will not happen as a result. With that said, there should be a need for taller deck heights but, apparantely most builders aren't using the foresight to take advantage of better rod ratios with larger displacements.
I will predict that as more of the new parts are used and larger displacements are sought for more power, demand for a taller deck height block will follow. Most people now with larger engines are seemingly happy in the 530" range. As you go over 550" or so, the taller deck becomes more attractive and even necessary.
I have had a super tall deck 577" Pontiac project for years but, it has been put on the back burner since I decided to go the with small inch route with my AA/Fueler. However, the first one may be together in 2007.

My blown/injected 577s, based on early 389s, have deck heights of over a foot. One will be used in my '65 Tempest altered wheelbase funny car project and another in one of my boats.
Tall decks have advantages, esp with larger displacements.
What is the 'tall' deck height of the engine you are considering?
Stock height is in the 10.2..." area. My 577s" are around 12.200".
Running the taller height in the deck gives much more room for a better ring stack, allows longer rods, etc and is very attractive with longer strokes.
Steve Barcak www.pontiacheaven.org

"Real Pontiacs only...no corporate nonsense!"

WOW 2" increase.

Stan