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Cracked Block! #1525068 10/29/13 01:17 AM 10/29/13 01:17 AM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,165 Central Ohio, USA Bigbeep OP super stock
Bigbeep OP super stock Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,165 Central Ohio, USA	Anyone ever see one crack in this area? Beep 7904428-IMG_0823.JPG (536 downloads)

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Bigbeep] #1525069 10/29/13 01:25 AM 10/29/13 01:25 AM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,165 Central Ohio, USA Bigbeep OP super stock
Bigbeep OP super stock Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,165 Central Ohio, USA	A little info on this block. 66 casting for a 67 model year. filled to the bottom of the water pump holes. Had pinned a crack last spring on the other side between freeze plugs and now it has cracked between the other freeze plugs on the drivers side and found this one this evening while laying under the car. No more money into this block. Doing some soul searching on which way to go. This will be the second block I kick off the tailgate at the scrap yard. Machine work alone in these 2 blocks would have got me half way to a indy block. So how much horsepower can one make with a low deck block? Is it 700ish like a RB? Beep 7904436-IMG_0821.JPG (328 downloads)

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Bigbeep] #1525070 10/29/13 01:41 AM 10/29/13 01:41 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,875 communist bloc of new jersey J jamesc master
jamesc master J Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 5,875 communist bloc of new jersey	i'm guessing this it mounted with a motor plate so the crack near the mount can't be from stress. is this engine left with water in it in freezing weather? just because it's filled doesn't mean water can't get around the fill and cause problems especially if the fill wasn't done carefully. those cracks look like they're from ice not HP. even though i carefully filled mine and drilled drain holes at the level of the fill i still put antifreeze in it during the winter and circulate it for a while. i just don't see those cracks coming from HP unless something weird is going on.

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: jamesc] #1525071 10/29/13 02:00 AM 10/29/13 02:00 AM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,165 Central Ohio, USA Bigbeep OP super stock
Bigbeep OP super stock Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,165 Central Ohio, USA	Nope! Never sits with plain water in it. Was sonic checked and magged before machining was done also. Original crack happened in august at the 10k race 2 years ago. Thought it may have been a freeze plug seeping and would just relieve pressure after each pass. Later found that it was cracked next to the freeze plug. Was told that it was because it didn't have a mid plate and just a front motor plate wasn't enough. So I installed a mid plate which was no easy task. I ran it with sodium silicate last year the few times I had it out. By the mopar race at Norwalk it was leaking again so I parked it. This past spring I pulled it out and stich pinned it between the freeze plugs and it was good...... for a while. Now it is cracking between the front 2 freeze plugs and I found this vertical crack this evening as I was laying under it in disgust. I have also been told that the 66 and 67 blocks were the thinnest in the area at the bottom of the water jackets. I just wonder if it is too rigid with the fill in it and something has to give and it is the casting! Beep

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Bigbeep] #1525072 10/29/13 02:21 AM 10/29/13 02:21 AM
Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 345 Nebraska 4 451Cuda enthusiast
451Cuda enthusiast 4 Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 345 Nebraska	IMO find a nice early 400 block

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Bigbeep] #1525073 10/29/13 02:56 AM 10/29/13 02:56 AM
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 43,173 Bend,OR USA C Cab_Burge I Win
Cab_Burge I Win C Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 43,173 Bend,OR USA	I've ran several different 440 wedges, 426 Hemi and 400 with Elephant ears on the front with no midplate and a stock type trans. mount,they never cracked anywhere I've never had, seen or heard of a stock block crack like yours that wasn't frozen first Mr.Cab Racing and winning with Mopars since 1964. (Old F--t, Huh)

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Cab_Burge] #1525074 10/29/13 03:15 AM 10/29/13 03:15 AM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,831 N.E. Ohio 6bblFLASH master
6bblFLASH master Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 3,831 N.E. Ohio	Quote: I've ran several different 440 wedges, 426 Hemi and 400 with Elephant ears on the front with no midplate and a stock type trans. mount,they never cracked anywhere I've never had, seen or heard of a stock block crack like yours that wasn't frozen first I thought the same thing,that vertical crack in particular. I have only seen vertical cracks from frost. I suppose the filler has absorbed water and/or is porus enough the expand on its own when frozen 70` Cuda`,440 6BBL Jerico,Dana 4.56 Still on 93 Pump Gas 9.87 @ 136/1.31-60ft.`09 Mopar Nationals PASSON PERFORMANCE "Stick-Shift" Champ! 2013 StickShift Challenge Winner@ Mopar Nationals!

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: 6bblFLASH] #1525075 10/29/13 03:48 AM 10/29/13 03:48 AM
Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 345 Nebraska 4 451Cuda enthusiast
451Cuda enthusiast 4 Joined: Apr 2013 Posts: 345 Nebraska	Quote: Quote: I've ran several different 440 wedges, 426 Hemi and 400 with Elephant ears on the front with no midplate and a stock type trans. mount,they never cracked anywhere I've never had, seen or heard of a stock block crack like yours that wasn't frozen first I thought the same thing,that vertical crack in particular. I have only seen vertical cracks from frost. I suppose the filler has absorbed water and/or is porus enough the expand on its own when frozen Possible the filler wasn't tamped during the pour, and had air voids?

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: 451Cuda] #1525076 10/29/13 03:57 AM 10/29/13 03:57 AM
Joined: May 2011 Posts: 101 NC 1 1967Valiant member
1967Valiant member 1 Joined: May 2011 Posts: 101 NC	A lot of people might not agree with me. When you fill a block I think you should put torque load on block. Ie heads mains pan rails bell housing. Then pour the block and let it set a month before any machine work. Just my opinion. If I was in your position I would call Todd at Comp wedge engines

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: 1967Valiant] #1525077 10/29/13 05:31 AM 10/29/13 05:31 AM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,667 Arizona C Chris'sBarracuda master
Chris'sBarracuda master C Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 3,667 Arizona	I'm thinking it's a 47 year old block that has a history that you don't know a thing about. Then you pound on them with 600+ hp.. Just thinking out loud here.. Old Old blocks.. But, yes a 70's 400 block would be much better.. I've seen them take a beating and keep on ticking.. Chris..

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Chris'sBarracuda] #1525078 10/29/13 06:37 AM 10/29/13 06:37 AM
Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,141 junction city oregon V viperblue72 top fuel
viperblue72 top fuel V Joined: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,141 junction city oregon	I have seen a small block crack right there, and it was from a front impact with a ditch. Maybe this block was in a car that had been in a collision in the past, altough I would think a sonic check would have caught it.

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: viperblue72] #1525079 10/29/13 07:22 AM 10/29/13 07:22 AM
Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,835 MI, usa dvw master
dvw master Joined: Mar 2006 Posts: 9,835 MI, usa	Quote: I have seen a small block crack right there, and it was from a front impact with a ditch. Maybe this block was in a car that had been in a collision in the past, altough I would think a sonic check would have caught it. I've seen the them,frozen,w/o block filler. Now I can say when we knocked the inside water jacket out of a Hemi from a broken rod. I covered it with bondo, filled with hardblock and Moroso Ceramic seal. Ran it for 2 years. 2nd Hemi block numerous cracks in the side, and Moroso Ceramic seal, never leaked. 440 block cracked between the freeze plugs, Moroso Ceramic seal, never leaked. Just my experience. Doug

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Bigbeep] #1525080 10/29/13 10:55 AM 10/29/13 10:55 AM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Those look like freeze cracks to me.

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: jamesc] #1525081 10/29/13 11:32 AM 10/29/13 11:32 AM
Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 5,746 Ontario, Canada Dodgem master
Dodgem master Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 5,746 Ontario, Canada	Quote: i'm guessing this it mounted with a motor plate so the crack near the mount can't be from stress. is this engine left with water in it in freezing weather? just because it's filled doesn't mean water can't get around the fill and cause problems especially if the fill wasn't done carefully. those cracks look like they're from ice not HP. even though i carefully filled mine and drilled drain holes at the level of the fill i still put antifreeze in it during the winter and circulate it for a while. i just don't see those cracks coming from HP unless something weird is going on. I've seen that crack down the frost plug lines before. It's more common than one would think stating with older b and RB engines. One of the reasons they put a stiffening rib down the sides of the blocks in late 1968 and 1969 and up models.

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Dodgem] #1525082 10/29/13 07:43 PM 10/29/13 07:43 PM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,165 Central Ohio, USA Bigbeep OP super stock
Bigbeep OP super stock Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,165 Central Ohio, USA	If it matters the fill in this block is a 2 part epoxy that actually has iron in it. If my memory serves me, my machinist did have it cure for a week before doing any work to it. It may be the case that it was froze at some point in its lifespan. I would have thought that it would have shown up when magged. On the 400 block suggestion. How much steam can you make with one safely? Thanks, Beep

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: 6bblFLASH] #1525083 10/29/13 08:05 PM 10/29/13 08:05 PM
Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,165 Central Ohio, USA Bigbeep OP super stock
Bigbeep OP super stock Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 1,165 Central Ohio, USA	Quote: Quote: I've ran several different 440 wedges, 426 Hemi and 400 with Elephant ears on the front with no midplate and a stock type trans. mount,they never cracked anywhere I've never had, seen or heard of a stock block crack like yours that wasn't frozen first I thought the same thing,that vertical crack in particular. I have only seen vertical cracks from frost. I suppose the filler has absorbed water and/or is porus enough the expand on its own when frozen It hasn't froze since I assembled it in 2011. Beep

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Bigbeep] #1525084 10/29/13 08:14 PM 10/29/13 08:14 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 20,174 PA. pittsburghracer "Little"John
pittsburghracer "Little"John Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 20,174 PA.	That is an easy fix with today's nickle rod. 1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27 Livin and lovin life one day at a time

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Bigbeep] #1525085 10/29/13 08:16 PM 10/29/13 08:16 PM
Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,675 Akron, Ohio U.S.A. roadhazard master
roadhazard master Joined: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,675 Akron, Ohio U.S.A.	Sorry to see that John How do you manage to keep the side of that block so clean?

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Bigbeep] #1525086 10/29/13 08:17 PM 10/29/13 08:17 PM
Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,422 Pittsburgh PA Eric top fuel
Eric top fuel Joined: Jul 2010 Posts: 2,422 Pittsburgh PA	I've heard the 66' blocks are among the worst. I had one in the Duster and it broke also...with much less HP...If you want I have a 76 440 short block you can have...going to need some cleaning up.. 5.53 @ 125 1/8th on the launch control..more left in her!

Re: Cracked Block! [Re: Bigbeep] #1525087 10/29/13 09:54 PM 10/29/13 09:54 PM
Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,770 Pa W Wv68charger top fuel
Wv68charger top fuel W Joined: Jul 2004 Posts: 1,770 Pa	John I hate to see a post like this but I can tell you if and when you build another one it's worth the wait to buy an Indy block just be sure to have it checked out and go big if your budget can afford it you will be much better off.

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