New block???

[Kstang]

Over this week I pulled my head in anticipation for the install of my new OZ head. My car had been smoking for a while and we had tried every thing under the sun to get it fixed except change the piston rings. So with the head off we decided to pull the pistons and replace the rings. The cylinders looked in good shape on our first look. After pulling the first piston and cleaning it up and replacing the rings we started to hone the cylinder. Since this had been the cylinder that had been leaking oil into the combustion chamber due to the broken ring we paid extra attention to it. We discovered a small crack in the block!!! We sat there and contemplated what to do for a while. We decided to just go on with replacing the rings. After some debate over what to do we came to the conclusion we will just use this block and build up another one on rainy days, and replace it when the old one breaks even more or the new one is done. Ok so my question is, Is there a particular age/model of block I should look for to build up. I mean is there a difference like the head or are all of them basically the same? I would greatly appreciate and advice you could give me.

Thanks a bunch
Kevin

 

[MustangSix]

You can easily fix a cracked bore by sleeving it. Any good machine shop can handle that. If you do it right it will be as strong and as durable as the original.

When looking for a block, get one at least as new as the one you have now. The blocks themselves are basically the same, but Ford added and deleted a lot of little bosses over the years.

For example, if you have a 78 Fairmont and try to use a 66 block, you'll find that while the engine itself uses all the same parts and bolts to the transmission, the PS pump, alternator, and AC brackets will not fit.

OTOH, if you have a 66 Mustang, you will simply not use the extra bosses.

If you have a 61 Falcon, you cannot use a road draft tube on a 78 block because that was eliminated in the casting.

 

[Anonymous]

wow, that sux. I've heard of that b4, sleeving it. It snds fairly expensive tho. However, I would imagine, if u had it done and it was done correctly ofcourse, it'd be even stronger than original : ) I jus wonder why it crackt in the first place : \

I have not run the engine I have, yet. It was given to me after being honed and new pistons/rings etc, I am hoping I wont find any lil "suprises" so to speak. I'd like to change the head to I guess its the 250 or whaever, so I can change the intake etc. What were they thinking yrs ago, making the intake into the head, sigh.

 

[weeds]

I had inquired about sleeving a chevy 235 about a 18 months ago. IIRC it was around $40 a hole (sleeve and bore to match). Much cheaper than reconditioning a second block, which I ended up doing.

 

[Anlushac11]

Over this week I pulled my head in anticipation for the install of my new OZ head. My car had been smoking for a while and we had tried every thing under the sun to get it fixed except change the piston rings. So with the head off we decided to pull the pistons and replace the rings. The cylinders looked in good shape on our first look. After pulling the first piston and cleaning it up and replacing the rings we started to hone the cylinder. Since this had been the cylinder that had been leaking oil into the combustion chamber due to the broken ring we paid extra attention to it. We discovered a small crack in the block!!! We sat there and contemplated what to do for a while. We decided to just go on with replacing the rings. After some debate over what to do we came to the conclusion we will just use this block and build up another one on rainy days, and replace it when the old one breaks even more or the new one is done. Ok so my question is, Is there a particular age/model of block I should look for to build up. I mean is there a difference like the head or are all of them basically the same? I would greatly appreciate and advice you could give me.

Thanks a bunch
Kevin

I have looked into this also because I have bad ring lands on the drivers side of bores. I have been unable to find a good 200 block locally just in case so I have budgeted for sleeving just in case.

 

[Kstang]

ok, i know where i can find several 200 blocks for about 100 bucks. and i think i want to build one up so it will be stronger. I also know where i can get a completly running 76 200 for 100 bucks with a c4 transmission. But i would probably get a block from this mustang only junkyard about 5 miles from my house. he has good prices and a whole bunch of crap. So avaiablitly is not a problem. But i want a car to drive so i think getting another one would be the best so i could drive the slightly broken one until catostrophic engine failure, or the new block is ready. i have a 65 mustang and i think he has a couple blocks from a 66 and one from a 67 and i think even a 65 too so i will try to stay with the same year. But my other question will my 65 bellhousing fit up to another older block bc i all ready have the T5 adaptor from al and i dont want to get another one but i want to keep the T5 bc it is one of the best upgrades i think you can do!!!