my block is cracked
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 434
Likes: 1
From: Charlotte NC
my block is cracked
I'm in the middle of having my engine rebuilt. I just found out it has a 3" crack in it. anybody ever heard of stitching? its a way to fix the block.
is if worth the trouble? I have another block i can get for $100
Thanks
is if worth the trouble? I have another block i can get for $100
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,330
Likes: 13
From: Europe , Luxembourg
Hi
Nobody is stitching ( Metalocking ) this for 100 USD.
So it depends on you if you want to keep this block for any reason like numbers matching or so.
Metalocking seems to be the only way to permanently repair a block, but it is only repaired and Good knows how long it will hold.
http://www.inplace.com/machining/metalstitch.html
Good luck. Günther
Nobody is stitching ( Metalocking ) this for 100 USD.
So it depends on you if you want to keep this block for any reason like numbers matching or so.
Metalocking seems to be the only way to permanently repair a block, but it is only repaired and Good knows how long it will hold.
http://www.inplace.com/machining/metalstitch.html
Good luck. Günther
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
the 327/365hp motor in my '65 had a crack by the freeze plug on the passenger side and was stitch welded back in 2004. It was well worth doing because it's the original motor from the car so the value is in keeping that particular original numbers matching motor.
you would not know where the repair was unless I pointed it out to you and I've since had that motor up past 7500rpm (6500rpm redline) and it's holding together well.
i'm told that where the stitch welding is done is actually now stronger than the rest of the block so strength is not an issue on this type of repair if done correctly.
The bigger question than strength is if your motor is the original motor for the car or not. If it is it's well worth doing. If it's not and you can get another good block for $100 you need to weigh the cost between the expense of having a shop do the stitch welding on your existing block vs the cost of the new block at $100 PLUS the cost of building the replacement motor from that new block.
Overall the stitch welding of your existing block will be less expensive than completely building a new motor but if you are looking to upgrade for higher performance, etc anyway than now may be the best time.
you would not know where the repair was unless I pointed it out to you and I've since had that motor up past 7500rpm (6500rpm redline) and it's holding together well.
i'm told that where the stitch welding is done is actually now stronger than the rest of the block so strength is not an issue on this type of repair if done correctly.
The bigger question than strength is if your motor is the original motor for the car or not. If it is it's well worth doing. If it's not and you can get another good block for $100 you need to weigh the cost between the expense of having a shop do the stitch welding on your existing block vs the cost of the new block at $100 PLUS the cost of building the replacement motor from that new block.
Overall the stitch welding of your existing block will be less expensive than completely building a new motor but if you are looking to upgrade for higher performance, etc anyway than now may be the best time.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 1999
Posts: 2,897
Likes: 0
From: Moon Township PA
1. Is this your original block? If so, keep it, fix it, rebuild it and reinstall it.
2. Is the $100 replacement block guaranteed? If so, and if your engine isn't the original one, then go for a rebuild. The downside to a used block is just that, it is used.
3. Have you looked at the GM crate engines? Lots of nice engines for a pretty decent price.
4. There is a very detailed article in the latest issue of the NCRS Driveline in which they repair an original engine with a similar crack in the block. They stitched the engine and rebuilt it prior to reinstallation.
2. Is the $100 replacement block guaranteed? If so, and if your engine isn't the original one, then go for a rebuild. The downside to a used block is just that, it is used.
3. Have you looked at the GM crate engines? Lots of nice engines for a pretty decent price.
4. There is a very detailed article in the latest issue of the NCRS Driveline in which they repair an original engine with a similar crack in the block. They stitched the engine and rebuilt it prior to reinstallation.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 7,106
Likes: 38
From: Newark DE
BTW, depending on where the crack is the motor may not even have to be disassembled and for that price the crack must be an in easy spot.
Where mine was they did it while the motor was still in the car and all assembled also.
Well worth that cost to keep the original numbers matching motor
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 3
From: NORTHEAST
We have repaired quite a few cracked blocks over the years with this http://locknstitch.com/ with no problems so far.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,360
Likes: 3
From: NORTHEAST
Check out the stitching Frank Casey does as I have work on some blocks that his guy has repaired as I call him an artist.
http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic...ighlight=casey
http://speedtalk.com/forum/viewtopic...ighlight=casey