The Ford Barn

oldspert · 01-04-2025, 10:32 AM

I was looking at 2-speeds pics in an earlier post about rear main babbit and noticed their appears to be a crack running from the bottom of the cylinder wall all of the way to the cam bearing bore. Or is it just my 80 year old eyesight.
Ed

Gary WA · 01-04-2025, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldspert

I was looking at 2-speeds pics in an earlier post about rear main babbit and noticed their appears to be a crack running from the bottom of the cylinder wall all of the way to the cam bearing bore. Or is it just my 80 year old eyesight.
Ed

Id say yes!

Jim Brierley · 01-04-2025, 12:33 PM

I would say no unless it was a crack that has been welded?

rotorwrench · 01-04-2025, 12:46 PM

If I see stuff like that, I would check it with a magnet and powder or a die penetrant to make sure it's not. The line on the cylinder looks too straight to be a crack but it's worth the trouble to confirm that. From my own experience, cracks are generally visible with the naked eye but not always. Castings tend to have all sorts or trace lines and other questionable possibilities of cracks. Many are not cracks but are worth a check anyway.

nkaminar · 01-04-2025, 01:10 PM

I will go with Rotorwrench on this one. Check it.

Joe K · 01-04-2025, 01:54 PM

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Looking back at the pix above, I see MANY cracks between and across the rear main flange, extending into the cam shaft bore, and extending from the cylinder bore up into some parts of the block.

The cylinder wall one may not be a killer - think low compression (end of stroke) and primarily low mechanical forces there. Unless the crack goes through the side of the block with an oil leak there (seems like it should be the oil fill side.)

The crack across the rear main flange would be a reason to condemn the block.

2speed's thread is at https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=338702

Marshall seems to have been the contributor of the pix above?

Joe K

01-04-2025, 12:33 PM	#3
Jim Brierley Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Temecula, CA Posts: 4,251	Re: 2-speed pics I would say no unless it was a crack that has been welded?

01-04-2025, 12:46 PM	#4
rotorwrench Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 17,410	Re: 2-speed pics If I see stuff like that, I would check it with a magnet and powder or a die penetrant to make sure it's not. The line on the cylinder looks too straight to be a crack but it's worth the trouble to confirm that. From my own experience, cracks are generally visible with the naked eye but not always. Castings tend to have all sorts or trace lines and other questionable possibilities of cracks. Many are not cracks but are worth a check anyway.

01-04-2025, 01:10 PM	#5
nkaminar Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Western North Carolina Posts: 5,863	Re: 2-speed pics I will go with Rotorwrench on this one. Check it. __________________ A is for apple, green as the sky. Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die. Forget the brakes, they really don't work. The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk. My car grows red hair, and flies through the air. Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.

01-04-2025, 01:54 PM	#6
Joe K Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,610	Re: 2-speed pics Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) Looking back at the pix above, I see MANY cracks between and across the rear main flange, extending into the cam shaft bore, and extending from the cylinder bore up into some parts of the block. The cylinder wall one may not be a killer - think low compression (end of stroke) and primarily low mechanical forces there. Unless the crack goes through the side of the block with an oil leak there (seems like it should be the oil fill side.) The crack across the rear main flange would be a reason to condemn the block. 2speed's thread is at https://www.fordbarn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=338702 Marshall seems to have been the contributor of the pix above? Joe K __________________ Shudda kept the horse.