Technical This engine block toast?

Today took a bit of a hard left turn this evening. Trying to get the Y block off to the machine shop and I noticed what looked like a crack in one of the main cap landing areas. Touched it and the top chunk came off in my hands...crap.

Looking at the two surfaces it appears this happened some time ago.

So, toast? Am I now on the search for a Y block?

 

i can't see how that could be fixed , to me it's junk

 

You now have a great boat anchor!!!

 

Yup, thought so. OK, off to buy a boat!

and then...a 292/312 block.

 

I would not use it.
Having said that, that does not mean it is useless.

Make it into a wine rack.
Make it into a coffee table.
Make it into an oil pan / motor mount fit up fixture. Cut off the bottom 3 inches:

 

Happens even more frequently on 312" blocks, so check carefully.

IIRC, a 272" block can be bored to 292".

jack vines

 

i used one like that for fill in a driveway a few years ago

 

It can be welded but it will take a lot of extra machine work to make the block usable.

I would be torn, if it were a 350 Chevy I would say throw it in the pile, and snag another, but being a Y block unless you have another it may be worth repairing.

Oh Frenchtown,
The reason you wouldn't I use it is because you would expect it to run low 8s when you were done.

 

Beaner, was tryin' to imagine some kind of girdle, or custom 4-bolt.

 

It's now a paper weight. HRP

 

You must have some big papers!!

Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

If someone fixes it for you, you will spend your cruising time listening for noises that warn of an impending Bang. Your best insurance policy is another block.

 

If it was Aluminum, no problem.
Cast Iron, start looking for another.

 

If it were a super rare block it could be fixed, but you can't justify the cost on a Y-block... find another one.

 

sorry for your loss.....

 

Believe it or not, I got me a replacement block/crank thanks to Tony over at Ross Racing Engines. The guy is a lifesaver...

Seems this is super common in 312s

 

I'm glad it's working out for you.

 

Being on the edge of the casting like that, it would not be that hard to repair. I think it it were mine and I decided to take a crack at it, I would clean it up good, get a good quality stud to replace the bolt. Then fixture the stud in place and weld it in there. Build it back up and machine back to original. Shame it got knocked off, break looks pretty fresh to me in the pics.

 

I hear you but for the price of another block I would rather have the peace of mind and not be worrying about whether it will hold up. The crack was there when the cap was removed, by simply gripping the top piece I was able to pull it away. Don't know how long it had been like that but the photos are deceiving, the surfaces look pretty dark as if the crack had been there some time.

Either way, Ross Racing Engines to the rescue...

 

I would worry what caused it and what else is wrong that is going to break next? For what the block is worth I would junk it.

Charlie Stephens

 

Talking to Tony over at Ross Racing Engines last night he tells me this is a common occurrence in the 312 blocks. Switching to a 292 as it is going into the wife's 55 Tbird and a cruiser. 55's were 292 anyway.

 

You could always grind the mains on the 312 crank to 292 size and make your engine a 312. Common way to get around the propensity of 312 blocks to crack where your did.

 

Could have been caused by torquing the bolt down with a pool of oil in the hole, hydraulic pressure will break the block at the web. A friend has a broken 406 block caused by that. Having said that, 312's are known for having issues in this area... could have just been the luck of the draw...