What would you do

[Steve Gerot]

I have a cracked block and am wondering what to do. I have highlighted the cracks. There is also a small crack between 2 of the sleeves. Only good news is the vertical crack is a hairline. I leaning more every day towards making it a parts tractor. Other options are fix it right for hundreds of dollars which will melt the Babbitt out making even more expense, Nickel weld which is near impossible to make look good, Brass weld, or epoxy.
I hate to give up on such a rare block but It may just not be worth fixing.

All pictures

 

[Rod (NH)]

You could look at <a href="http://www.locknstitch.com/">metal stitching</a>. I've never tried it myself but it's another possibility.

 

[Hoss In ME]

I would drill a small hole at the end of each crack to stop it from going any further.Use a small disc grinder or diegrinder and groove out the cracks clean real good with brakekleen and put the JB Weld o it. Hoss

 

[george md]

Steve,

Get a bigger box of the lock n stitch
plugs and go at it like we talked about on
the phone . What ever you do don't get near
it with an arc welder, if you do you will
not be able to drill for the plugs.
I did a cont'l for a farmall 350 last year
with the lock n stitch plugs ,boy what an
improvement over the irontite taper plugs.

george

 

[Dick L]

I'd stitch it like said below. The cracks on the deck will not hurt a thing. The head gasket will seal it right along with the outside edge of the sleeves.

 

[Anonymous-0]

Steve
I am active in the old muscle car hobby. Many guys are wanting to save their original numbers matching block and heads so numerous ocmpanies have popped up that repair these cracks and at a reasonable price too.

I have seen one engine where there was literaly a fist size piece of the block missing due to a rod going out of the side and after the repair it was 100% impossible to detect the repair. These guys have it down to a science

I would check out a Memmings Motor News for starters for a reputable company in your area..

 

[Anonymous-0]

Steve
Also, I would try to save your original block even if it cost more because to me a tractor without it's original engine is just not the same.

 

[Brad Buchanan]

If you really want to save the original casting you might want to try this.
Clean the casing completely.
Drill the ends of all cracks.
Heat the casting evenly, slowly and thoroughly. Suggestion might be an old electric oven. The hotter the better.
Weld with a cast-iron rod. Lincoln makes a rod named ferroweld or in absence I have had luck with 6018.
Cool slowly!! bury in dry sand or cover with heavy moving blankets or such.
The repaired cracks will not take a thing away from the originality of the block.
Hope this helps,
Brad.

 

[Dave Sherburne NY]

I had a Farmall A with a 3" X 12" piece that was broken right out of it because of Freezing. I took it to the best welder in the county, and he told me to clean it real good with a wire wheel, then lacquer thinner, and glue it back in with JB weld. I had the engine out, and laying on it's side so gravity held it in while it dried. Still going strong. I would drill the ends of your cracks, clean it good and put JB weld on it. You can make it look like a casting by pressing sandpaper in to it. Might not work with a pressurized cooling system.

 

[Steve Gerot]

I found another block for a more then reasonable price so that is the route Im going to take. Thanks guys

 

[Scott Hightower]

"V" it out and weld the "V" with nickle rod. I once broke a transmission in a crash in a stock car. We welded it with nickle rod and ran it for an entire season. Since you are cutting a "V" you can come back and grind &amp; polish the weld flush and it will look pretty good.

Scott
Fab Manager
http://www.welders360.com/