292 cracked block - now what

[jcramsey]

Just picked up a 292 and discovered this under a layer of rtv/paint/oil/dirt after I got it home Part of me wants to put it in and see if it will hold up. The rational side of my brain says I should I just cut my losses and move on. It's a complete motor minus the harmonic balancer, carb and motor mount stands. I know the exhaust manifold is worth a little to the right folks. Any value in 292 internals or did I just buy a very large paperweight.

[The Rocknrod]

How long do you think it's been running like that?

[HO455]

Its hard to tell from the picture. I would take it to a machine shop and have it magna-fluxed to see how much of a crack exists. Then you can make a decision. It may have been welded up correctly.

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

How long do you think it's been running like that?

Not sure. Guy I bought it from pulled it out of a c30 and it had been sitting for a year or two in his garage. Based on the dirt/oil, it looks like it had been ran like that for a while though. Was gonna check the oil and make sure water hasn't been getting in it and see what the block looked like on the inside.

Originally Posted by HO455

Its hard to tell from the picture. I would take it to a machine shop and have it magna-fluxed to see how much of a crack exists. Then you can make a decision. It may have been welded up correctly.

Yea that would be the smart move...any idea what it costs to get a block magnafluxed?

[sambrutay]

my little 230 has about 6 cracks is it. Little bastard wont give up the ghost. Want's more road.

[The Rocknrod]

I don't think you bought a boat anchor. Thats why I asked the question. Like HO455 said, if you are concerned get it mag'd, the cost would probably depend on the shop and calling them would probably be more accurate than asking here. Straight six's are hard to kill.

[cg285]

assuming the area is clean first - magnufluxing involves sprinkling some magnetic powder and putting an electro magnet over it. not a complicated or time consuming procedure

[cg285]

but it may have some porosity not so easily detected with magnuflux

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by sambrutay

my little 230 has about 6 cracks is it. Little bastard wont give up the ghost. Want's more road.

Originally Posted by The Rocknrod

I don't think you bought a boat anchor. Thats why I asked the question. Like HO455 said, if you are concerned get it mag'd, the cost would probably depend on the shop and calling them would probably be more accurate than asking here. Straight six's are hard to kill.

Originally Posted by cg285

assuming the area is clean first - magnufluxing involves sprinkling some magnetic powder and putting an electro magnet over it. not a complicated or time consuming procedure

Thanks guys...I appreciate it. Good to hear some encouragement that cracking isn't an automatic death blow. I know these old sixes are tough for sure. I'll probably forgo the magnafluxing and run it anyway....but hold on the extra 250 I have just in case

[TJ's Chevy]

Don't give up on it yet, have it magnafluxed and see how bad it is....if it held up to RTV I don't think it's that bad. Could be fixable yet.

EDIT: I forgot you had the 250. You could always stroke the 250 with the 292 crank and have a short deck 292.

[LVPhotos]

Lil 250 for thought.

[The Rocknrod]

Australian right? Looks awesome!

[Captainfab]

Considering where that crack is/was I wouldn't worry about it much. It is obvious that there hasn't been any coolant leaking from there and maybe only a slight amount of oil. Actually the oil could have come from somewhere else.

[aotte1]

Also, their is a sticking method that certain machine shops do, to fix cracks in cast iron. Have had a couple of engines fixed that way, including an iron cylinder with crack into water jacket on exhaust valve seat. It was a NHRA motor that ran for several years after being"stitched", retired and never leaked.
The process is like little screws ( very special ones) installed in the crack, with each one overlapping into the previous screw type insert.

Les

[vince1]

Back in the early 70's I got a new company truck that happened to have Ford written on it. First trip down the highway I looked in the mirror and saw a big cloud of smoke. After tearing down and putting the engine back together a couple times without success they let it run for a while. After it got warm there was a nice little stream of oil squirting directly onto the exhaust. Apparently sand cast holes like that were not out of the ordinary and Ford used some kind of glue to seal it up.

[Softpatch]

Run it
.
looks like a stress crack
the cracks you don't wont are the Freeze no antifreeze cracks
.
if it's a around town truck you should hold up
but if you plan on driving it Hard/ Long/Fast I would cut bait and go with another stronger block
.

[padresag]

that is more than likely nirod welded. if there is a slight leak, one can just peen it and seal it . nirod is a little softer so this can be done.
put it in and use it
ron

[vince1]

If it was weeping oil I wonder if a good cleanup and a coating of JBweld would seal it up?

[jcramsey]

Thanks for all the insight guys! This will be an around town truck, that might hit the interstate once or twice a year. Either way, I'm not going to be pushing it too hard.

[faribran]

Run it. And let us know results.

[LT1 Burb]

I would clean it and put a topping of JB weld over it to smooth it out, You have then, only 10.00 to lose, and I would do it before I tore it down.

[Blue666(2)]

If you were closer, this might be an option. https://southbend.craigslist.org/pts/5982456041.html

[luvbowties]

Originally Posted by Blue666(2)

If you were closer, this might be an option. https://southbend.craigslist.org/pts/5982456041.html

Wonder if Jasper warranty still applies?

[jcramsey]

Originally Posted by luvbowties

Wonder if Jasper warranty still applies?

Haha too funny! I wouldn't mind having a 0 mile 292 though!