Well, I'm already 500 bux into machine work on my 383 4 bolt block. I have bought my entire eagle forged balanced 383 bottom end and got the block back from boring/honing/cleaning. I was "notching" the block for my first time and did not realize the water jacket/passage extended that far down and have now grinded a bb size hole into my water passage throught the very edge fo the cylinder wall right above the oil gasket area. Is this salvagable if I can have the machine shop weld the hold and grind it away? Or is my block scrapped now? I would really appreciate your peoples experiences/advice.

 

Use "Hard Block". A short fill will go to the bottom of the water pump holes.

 

92z, is this Hard Block just a temp fill so when a weld puddle is formed you empty it? Do you think this mistake is going to scrap the block?

 

Hard Block is concrete that goes inside the water passages inside the block. It will seal the hole and strengthen the block.

I'd have it welded myself, actually i might hard block it... I don't know ask the machine shop what to do.

 

Get it welded by a shop that does this kind of work, I think they have to use a Nickel type welding rod, no way would I trust hard block to seal a hole.

 

do a 1/2 filler with block grout. should of done that before you started but do it now and it should be fine.

 

Lots of machine shops require you to fill the block before they clearance it. That way they don't have to worry about hitting a water jacket. If they clearance without filling there is a possibility that the block will pass a pressure test, yet may have a paper thin spot that breaks open when the engine is running.