The Ford Barn

Lee Mitch · 10-20-2014, 10:04 PM

I have 1,100 miles on my newly restored A. The engine was rebuilt by a professional builder but a crack in the front of the block has appeared. I am guessing that it was not magnafluxed. I have it in a climate conditioned shop. The crack is up and under the portion of the block that is the upper front flat part and is 3-4 inches long. Sorry I cannot describe the location better, but this location makes me think it is a water jacket to the exterior. This is a numbers matching, original engine. I would like to try something other than stitching, but will do that if necessary. It is so darn new, I hate pulling it already after less than a year.

I am thinking about cleaning out the crack and JB Weld for now. Do you suggest that I "pin" the ends of the crack with brass rod so that the crack doesn't run further?

Mike V. Florida · 10-20-2014, 10:11 PM

"V" it out and use slow set JB Weld. The a block is not pressurized and the repair will last for years.

Drive Shaft Dave · 10-20-2014, 10:19 PM

I like to drill a small hole at each end, J. B . Weld. As Mike said.

Lee Mitch · 10-20-2014, 10:23 PM

Mike- no brass rod?
Dave- drill hole and put brass rod or JB weld in it?

Thanks fellas!

Drive Shaft Dave · 10-20-2014, 10:44 PM

Do like Mike V says and vee it out and use the slow set J.B.Weld. Drilling a hole at each end of the crack will keep the crack from spreading.

darrylkmc · 10-20-2014, 11:05 PM

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Lee Mitch,

Is this the area that you are saying is cracked on your block?

Darryl in Fairbanks

Lee Mitch · 10-20-2014, 11:24 PM

Yep Darryl, that's the spot and about the length. Brass fix on yours?

darrylkmc · 10-20-2014, 11:34 PM

Lee,

Yes, this is a B engine that I repaired about Thirty years ago with 11 solid 1/8" brass pipe plugs. Most people today recommend using Steel or Iron and a Stitch method.

I have never had any trouble and run this engine to this day.

Darryl in Fairbanks

hardtimes · 10-20-2014, 11:06 PM

Hey Lee,
Before you go 'drilling/mudding', I'd show pics of situation here, so something more settled can be said about how to... Your description lets the imagination loose to make maybe bad call/prognosis !

tbirdtbird · 10-20-2014, 11:41 PM

common location when antifreeze is overlooked

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-21-2014, 04:03 AM

If it were mine, I'd put in a jar of the regular old BARS-LEAKS & later on, clean the area & paint over it & FORGET about it!! I've seen amazing results, using this product, & freeze cracks were sealed up "indefinitely"!
I feel that drilling, tapping, driving in pins, etc, "might" cause the crack to GROW!
Bill W.

James Rogers · 10-21-2014, 04:59 AM

Just do like Mike V says and you will forget it is there. Take your time and make sure you get it sealed when you apply the JB Weld.

rocket1 · 10-21-2014, 07:08 AM

AND,let that professional know he rebuilt a cracked block!!

Mikeinnj · 10-21-2014, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rocket1

AND,let that professional know he rebuilt a cracked block!!

Never ass-ume anything !

Didn't leak for 1100 miles.

Perhaps it was not cracked when it was rebuilt.

Maby it was magnafluxed and was OK.

Things can happen during installation.

Did it freeze up? Overheat ?

This cast iron is 86 years old !

Lee Mitch · 10-23-2014, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeinnj

Never ass-ume anything !

Didn't leak for 1100 miles.

Perhaps it was not cracked when it was rebuilt.

Maby it was magnafluxed and was OK.

Things can happen during installation.

Did it freeze up? Overheat ?

This cast iron is 86 years old !

Really? You should re-read my post. Do you rebuild engines by-chance?

Mikeinnj · 10-23-2014, 12:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee Mitch

Really? You should re-read my post. Do you rebuild engines by-chance?

Yes Really !

I do re-build engines, but not by-chance. I use precision.

Perhaps you should ask your "professional rebuilder" if he magnafluxed the block.....

BILL WILLIAMSON · 10-23-2014, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikeinnj

Yes Really !

I do re-build engines, but not by-chance. I use precision.

Perhaps you should ask your "professional rebuilder" if he magnafluxed the block.....

Maybe he did & just didn't see it, in such an out of the way place.
Have you ever made a mistake?--------I've made MANY!
Bill W.

Tom Wesenberg · 10-21-2014, 07:43 AM

Is it leaking?

Can you tell for sure it' a crack, and not a mold line?

If the block was stripped clean during the rebuild, I'd think a crack there would have been easily seen.

Lee Mitch · 10-21-2014, 09:39 AM

Yes, it is leaking. That is how I found the crack. Thanks everyone. Where would I be without the fellas on Fordbarn....

1crosscut · 10-21-2014, 03:05 PM

If you use J.B. weld mix up a small batch about the size of a quarter. Wait 20 minutes and mix up another batch that you will use to make the repair. Keep testing the first batch to see when it starts to set up. Then you know when to put the fix it batch on. Keeps you from having to fuss with it to keep it from running down the front of the block. You can also put some masking tape over the J.B. weld when you fill the crack.

10-20-2014, 10:04 PM	#1
Lee Mitch Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sandy, OR. Posts: 157	crack in block I have 1,100 miles on my newly restored A. The engine was rebuilt by a professional builder but a crack in the front of the block has appeared. I am guessing that it was not magnafluxed. I have it in a climate conditioned shop. The crack is up and under the portion of the block that is the upper front flat part and is 3-4 inches long. Sorry I cannot describe the location better, but this location makes me think it is a water jacket to the exterior. This is a numbers matching, original engine. I would like to try something other than stitching, but will do that if necessary. It is so darn new, I hate pulling it already after less than a year. I am thinking about cleaning out the crack and JB Weld for now. Do you suggest that I "pin" the ends of the crack with brass rod so that the crack doesn't run further?

10-20-2014, 10:11 PM	#2
Mike V. Florida Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South Florida Posts: 14,054	Re: crack in block "V" it out and use slow set JB Weld. The a block is not pressurized and the repair will last for years. __________________ What's right about America is that although we have a mess of problems, we have great capacity - intellect and resources - to do some thing about them. - Henry Ford II

10-20-2014, 10:19 PM	#3
Drive Shaft Dave Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New hope Minnesota Posts: 742	Re: crack in block I like to drill a small hole at each end, J. B . Weld. As Mike said.

10-20-2014, 10:23 PM	#4
Lee Mitch Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sandy, OR. Posts: 157	Re: crack in block Mike- no brass rod? Dave- drill hole and put brass rod or JB weld in it? Thanks fellas!

10-20-2014, 10:44 PM	#5
Drive Shaft Dave Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: New hope Minnesota Posts: 742	Re: crack in block Do like Mike V says and vee it out and use the slow set J.B.Weld. Drilling a hole at each end of the crack will keep the crack from spreading.

10-20-2014, 11:24 PM	#7
Lee Mitch Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sandy, OR. Posts: 157	Re: crack in block Yep Darryl, that's the spot and about the length. Brass fix on yours?

10-20-2014, 11:34 PM	#8
darrylkmc Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Fairbanks, Alaska Posts: 767	Re: crack in block Lee, Yes, this is a B engine that I repaired about Thirty years ago with 11 solid 1/8" brass pipe plugs. Most people today recommend using Steel or Iron and a Stitch method. I have never had any trouble and run this engine to this day. Darryl in Fairbanks

10-20-2014, 11:06 PM	#9
hardtimes Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: South California Posts: 6,188	Re: crack in block Hey Lee, Before you go 'drilling/mudding', I'd show pics of situation here, so something more settled can be said about how to... Your description lets the imagination loose to make maybe bad call/prognosis !

10-20-2014, 11:41 PM	#10
tbirdtbird BANNED Join Date: May 2012 Location: inside your RAM Posts: 3,134	Re: crack in block common location when antifreeze is overlooked __________________ '31 180A

10-21-2014, 04:03 AM	#11
BILL WILLIAMSON Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: FRESNO, CA Posts: 12,560	Re: crack in block If it were mine, I'd put in a jar of the regular old BARS-LEAKS & later on, clean the area & paint over it & FORGET about it!! I've seen amazing results, using this product, & freeze cracks were sealed up "indefinitely"! I feel that drilling, tapping, driving in pins, etc, "might" cause the crack to GROW! Bill W. __________________ "THE ASSISTANT GURU OF STUFF"

10-21-2014, 04:59 AM	#12
James Rogers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Asheville,NC Posts: 3,104	Re: crack in block Just do like Mike V says and you will forget it is there. Take your time and make sure you get it sealed when you apply the JB Weld. __________________ http://www.model-a-ford-4bangers.com/

10-21-2014, 07:08 AM	#13
rocket1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Midland Park,N.J. Posts: 1,108	Re: crack in block AND,let that professional know he rebuilt a cracked block!!

10-21-2014, 07:43 AM	#18
Tom Wesenberg Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Mpls, MN Posts: 27,582	Re: crack in block Is it leaking? Can you tell for sure it' a crack, and not a mold line? If the block was stripped clean during the rebuild, I'd think a crack there would have been easily seen.

10-21-2014, 09:39 AM	#19
Lee Mitch Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Sandy, OR. Posts: 157	Re: crack in block Yes, it is leaking. That is how I found the crack. Thanks everyone. Where would I be without the fellas on Fordbarn....

10-21-2014, 03:05 PM	#20
1crosscut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Lincoln, Nebraska Posts: 1,907	Re: crack in block If you use J.B. weld mix up a small batch about the size of a quarter. Wait 20 minutes and mix up another batch that you will use to make the repair. Keep testing the first batch to see when it starts to set up. Then you know when to put the fix it batch on. Keeps you from having to fuss with it to keep it from running down the front of the block. You can also put some masking tape over the J.B. weld when you fill the crack. __________________ Dave / Lincoln Nebraska