Block availability

[fordor]

Interesting article. I had a block junked by a builder because he said it was no good. He said it had cracks between the valve seats. Probably should have held onto it anyways.

[philipswanson]

Originally Posted by fordor

Interesting article. I had a block junked by a builder because he said it was no good. He said it had cracks between the valve seats. Probably should have held onto it anyways.

Don't think so. That one sounded like a real loser. Cracks across valve seats and into cylinder walls are a bad deal usually.

[Henry Floored]

Originally Posted by philipswanson

Don't think so. That one sounded like a real loser. Cracks across valve seats and into cylinder walls are a bad deal usually.

I fixed one of those with Lock & Stitch new valve seat and no sleeve and that engine runs strong 5 years later. In fact the guy was so happy with it he was going on and on about how that's one of the best running Flatty he's ever had.

I fixed it because he had a bunch of money tied up in the engine and wanted to save it if he could. I fixed the crack and overhauled the engine, did some sensible porting and ran a Max 1 cam.

The engine already had Offy heads and intake with dual carbs. It's in a '51 Ford sedan.

Yes it was a little scared at first but once I did the repair it looked really good.

The Lock & Stitch company walked me through it after I sent them good pictures of the crack. They have quite a few different styles of pins so they hooked me up with those and I carefully followed their instructions to the letter.

It was their recommendation NOT to sleeve as that would have a spreading effect on the area.

I should say this crack ran from a center exhaust valve pocket, through the seat and down into the cylinder about 1/2". Yes it looked bad but the engine ran.

When I was done you could hardly tell where the repair was done.