bb engines cause stress cracks?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,052
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver BC, Canada
Re: bb engines cause stress cracks? (road2xs)
IMO, I think that is a myth; tires are still the weak link. But any Corvette will have stress cracks in the body, mostly due to jacking.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,958
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From: Middletown Connecticut
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Re: bb engines cause stress cracks? (Barry's70LT1)
i dunno about that, i had a few stress cracks added to my small block car that just rolled out of the paint (garage).. luckily its just the hood and I'm replacing that anyway,but that was from my torquey motor snapping both motor mounts and slamming the alt bracket through the hood... DOH!
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 34,454
Likes: 665
From: Republic of Texas
Re: bb engines cause stress cracks? (Corzvette69)
A Big Block or a very radical cammed SB and old fiberglass can be a bad combo. A friend installed a radical solid cammed small block in his '76 and within 6 months time he had to do glass work because the fenders were cracking. It doesn't happen often but it's possible. :cheers:
Pro
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 502
Likes: 1
From: Georgia
Re: bb engines cause stress cracks? (Corey 68)
I've gotta throw up the BS flag on this one since we don't have a gong to use. These engines are mounted in rubber mounts unless they've been changed to some kind of solid stuff, and big blocks and radical camshafts DON'T cause stress cracks. My L88 was a high mileage car when I found it and it doesn't have stress crack one.........neither do my other cars, most of which are big blocks, some of which are high mileage, and a few which had hot rod motors when I found em. An F41 suspension would be harder on the car than engine combos and they don't break the car up either unless somebody's drivin' em through a pothole field.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,620
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From: 20 forward gears to shift through in MD
Re: bb engines cause stress cracks? (Solidlifters)
I've gotta throw up the BS flag on this one since we don't have a gong to use.
Yup, gotta agree with Solidlifters on this one. I would guess that aging (as in going bad) suspension components and frame weakening would likely result in more cracks than the engine.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
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From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
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St. Jude Contributor
Re: bb engines cause stress cracks? (road2xs)
Cmon guys, do you really think GM would even offer a BB if they thought something as heinous as stress cracks could happen? And risk the integrity of General Motors? Or the full faith of its consumers? I have yet to see the General do anything that is half baked....Cough, Choke, WheeeeAzteceeeeeFieroeeeAllanteeCimmaron eeeeeRiataeeeeeze.
Sorry.
Sorry.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,286
Likes: 8
From: San Jose California
Re: bb engines cause stress cracks? (road2xs)
Kind of. More power equals more stress on everything, especially if the power is delivered in a brutal manner. I can't think of any mechanical device I own that wouldn't wear out faster if I am hard on it.
Gumball tires, race suspension, on solid bushings will corner fantastically; but, will induce stress cracks at numerous points on the frame eventually, small block or big block. Stiffer suspension will put more stress on body panels too.
Consider professional race engines. Best components and assembly money can buy; but, worn out within a few thousand miles of hard use. If driven modestly, they would probably go 200,000 miles or more. The rest of the car will go the same way.
Chuck
Gumball tires, race suspension, on solid bushings will corner fantastically; but, will induce stress cracks at numerous points on the frame eventually, small block or big block. Stiffer suspension will put more stress on body panels too.
Consider professional race engines. Best components and assembly money can buy; but, worn out within a few thousand miles of hard use. If driven modestly, they would probably go 200,000 miles or more. The rest of the car will go the same way.
Chuck