The Ford Barn

Shootinok · 06-26-2019, 07:34 AM

So a running flathead doesn't mean it's not a cracked flathead.

I drove this baby into the shop, pulled it and took to the machine shop.
got this sad news... several cracks

I'm heartbroken

Tim Ayers · 06-26-2019, 07:54 AM

I hear you and share your pain. I went through 5 blocks recently. One engine, also ran prior to my purchase, was cracked and two of the rod bearing throws on the crank were so out of round, you can see they were egg shaped. Floating bearings were split in two on both. Motor ran quite and cool. Amazing.

If the crack in your block is accessible (looks like it is), it can be pinned and the bore sleeved, but the folks who do this type of work are getting few and far between.

The cracks between bolts and water holes are no issue and quite common. The "deadly"
crack on your block is the valve seat to bore. From what I've found and read, they normally crack in the exhaust seat area due to lean mixture and a overheated charge.

Don't panic yet and do a little research to see if you can find someone who can repair it.

Heavy machine repair/machine shops would be a good place to start since those type of motors are very expensive and they try to fix them before replacing them.

Good luck. It absolutely stinks when you get this news.

flatheadmurre · 06-26-2019, 08:41 AM

If the machineshop was worried about the cracks going from stud to water jacket they ain´t used to flatheads...
If only one valvepocket is cracked and not to far down the valvepocket repair it !

Shootinok · 06-26-2019, 05:37 PM

I talked to Mike at H&H Flatheads today and he says he can fix it!!
Super stoked

Low50s · 06-26-2019, 08:38 PM

I am chewing my nails. I dropped my block off at the machine shop a week ago and need to hear if my block is good or not!
Glad to hear it can be repaired!

supereal · 06-27-2019, 11:17 AM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

Those cracks are repairable if the machine shop knows their stuff. We drill the cracks and install threaded pins before resurfacing the deck. In all rebuilds we install new valve seats as a part of the rebuilding process. Over the years we have found that virtually all old Ford blocks have cracks. When we visited the Rouge plant years ago, we saw a mountain of rejected blocks. It is true some cracks cannot be fixed if they are directly into the water jacket or at the bottom of a cylinder, but only disassembly and Magnafluxing can tell.

Ritzy1 · 06-28-2019, 04:59 AM

Mine had some similar cracks and areas around a head stud that needed to be repaired. Shop took care of it. All it takes is $$$!

tubman · 06-28-2019, 05:27 AM

"Ritzy1" - To be clear; did you have the "Part number" cracks (the ones between the headbolt holes and the water passages) repaired?

Tim Ayers · 06-28-2019, 07:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tubman

"Ritzy1" - To be clear; did you have the "Part number" cracks (the ones between the headbolt holes and the water passages repaired?

Tub

I was wondering the same thing.

Frank Miller · 06-29-2019, 09:00 AM

Braintree Ma, so I'm thinking if he had J&M do the block then Frank casey stitched it.

https://www.jandm-machine.com/metalStitching.html

06-26-2019, 07:34 AM	#1
Shootinok Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Oklahoma (near Tulsa) USA Posts: 9	8BA Heartbreak So a running flathead doesn't mean it's not a cracked flathead. I drove this baby into the shop, pulled it and took to the machine shop. got this sad news... several cracks I'm heartbroken

06-26-2019, 07:54 AM	#2
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,177	Re: 8BA Heartbreak I hear you and share your pain. I went through 5 blocks recently. One engine, also ran prior to my purchase, was cracked and two of the rod bearing throws on the crank were so out of round, you can see they were egg shaped. Floating bearings were split in two on both. Motor ran quite and cool. Amazing. If the crack in your block is accessible (looks like it is), it can be pinned and the bore sleeved, but the folks who do this type of work are getting few and far between. The cracks between bolts and water holes are no issue and quite common. The "deadly" crack on your block is the valve seat to bore. From what I've found and read, they *normally* crack in the exhaust seat area due to lean mixture and a overheated charge. Don't panic yet and do a little research to see if you can find someone who can repair it. Heavy machine repair/machine shops would be a good place to start since those type of motors are very expensive and they try to fix them before replacing them. Good luck. It absolutely stinks when you get this news. Last edited by Tim Ayers; 06-26-2019 at 08:18 AM.

06-26-2019, 08:41 AM	#3
flatheadmurre Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: Sweden Posts: 3,045	Re: 8BA Heartbreak If the machineshop was worried about the cracks going from stud to water jacket they ain´t used to flatheads... If only one valvepocket is cracked and not to far down the valvepocket repair it !

06-26-2019, 05:37 PM	#4
Shootinok Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Oklahoma (near Tulsa) USA Posts: 9	Re: 8BA Heartbreak I talked to Mike at H&H Flatheads today and he says he can fix it!! Super stoked

06-26-2019, 08:38 PM	#5
Low50s Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: New Hampton IA Posts: 16	Re: 8BA Heartbreak I am chewing my nails. I dropped my block off at the machine shop a week ago and need to hear if my block is good or not! Glad to hear it can be repaired!

06-27-2019, 11:17 AM	#6
supereal Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,634	Re: 8BA Heartbreak Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Those cracks are repairable if the machine shop knows their stuff. We drill the cracks and install threaded pins before resurfacing the deck. In all rebuilds we install new valve seats as a part of the rebuilding process. Over the years we have found that virtually all old Ford blocks have cracks. When we visited the Rouge plant years ago, we saw a mountain of rejected blocks. It is true some cracks cannot be fixed if they are directly into the water jacket or at the bottom of a cylinder, but only disassembly and Magnafluxing can tell.

06-28-2019, 05:27 AM	#8
tubman Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Minnesota, Florida Keys Posts: 10,312	Re: 8BA Heartbreak "Ritzy1" - To be clear; did you have the "Part number" cracks (the ones between the headbolt holes and the water passages) repaired? Last edited by tubman; 06-28-2019 at 04:05 PM.

06-29-2019, 09:00 AM	#10
Frank Miller Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Auburn, MA Posts: 2,106	Re: 8BA Heartbreak Braintree Ma, so I'm thinking if he had J&M do the block then Frank casey stitched it. https://www.jandm-machine.com/metalStitching.html __________________ “The technique of infamy is to start two lies at once and get people arguing heatedly over which is true.” ~ Ezra Pound