Casting defects that make a stock block undesirable for a performance build are pretty common. At the beginning of a race season we would find a 1/2 a dozen 4 bolt main 350s tear them down and send them our machine shop. He would mark the blocks, Possible race engine, Street engine or scrap. Street block were sold and any possible race engines were not needed at that moment were shelved for later use. The difference between possible race engine and "street" engines was the amount of casting defect. As a general rule half the blocks we gave them where good enough to be race engines.

Not to make you worry more but it is also possible that a defect could be found when boring the cylinders or even installing cam bearings but those are much less rare then your basic casting defect.

 

The block would be fine if I was just doing a stock rebuild again. It's far enough down that it wouldn't have been a problem. It didn't even show up until after it was hot tanked and he was starting to clean it up. He wouldn't sleeve it either because of the application. I'm not sure if the engine overheating had anything to do with it for some reason or not. I don't even know if that's her actual original engine, never checked the numbers to be sure. So there's a lot of factors and possibilities as to why it cracked open. **** happens I guess. Either way, I'm not using that block. It'll be another decoration. I'm just glad it showed up before actually getting into it. I didn't want to risk putting in a questionable block.

 

yes thats to bad , but I know like you modified cars take time ,an I have had to relize the same thing ,even with an engine in there running ok ,the accident was a set back an now more things to tweak ,you will get there though I know about the back burner thing ,though you will get there an be happy

 

Received my new torque converter yesterday. It's not pink, but it's still pretty. Better be for $1200. Precision Industries Vigilante. Block and heads are just about done, should be getting them Monday.

 

Wow that wasn't cheap,purple for prince!

 

yes mine was blue with a 2800 stall ,that was pricey ?why ,funny wont see it after you cover it ,that was more then my whole trany cost ,though over all my build was a 3rd more then my budget

 

Look who came home last night. This is actually my old block, the worked block was put on the engine stand and wrapped up before I could get a picture. Been at the machine shop since January.

 

so you got both blocks at home now, cool.

 

A lot of waiting lately. Took forever to get the block back, then took forever to get the heads. Now I have everything finally. While we were waiting, Case did a wire tuck for me to clean up that rats nest on the passenger side. So much cleaner now

 

Wires....what wires? It's all looking good!