Free is great, but I would like to know some things to look for, like how do I tell if it is a 2 or 4 bolt main, or whether or not it is a good rebuildable block? What other things are there to look for?


Thanks,


Clint

 

rod hanging out the side or a big gouge in the cylinder. Otherwise, just about anything is useable. Big ridge can be probs but not really too much.. don't try to go more than .040" over.. so if it is already +30 and has a ridge.. you got some work ahead..

The blocks can be 4bolts and still have 817 or 509 castings. Two freeze plugs is a good start.

edit
You can't tell a 4bolt vs 2bolt by the 2freeze plug rule but everything I have read says that 2freeze plug (with one dummy freezeplug in the middle) 400s is the best starting point.

 

Thank you for the reply. What do those casting numbers mean?

 

they basically identify 400s and not much else.. i don't think there was anyother numbers-rb would know 4sure.

 

If it's free, take it. Worst case, if it's totally roached, bury it in the back yard or sell it by the pound for scrap.

The 2-freeze plug versus 3 trick doesn't always work. Yank the pan and find out what it's got. Either one is acceptable for building a really stout engine although I like the 2-bolt blocks, myself.

If it's free, beleive me, it WILL need serious machine work to get it ready for prime time unless you are getting it from a beloved relative or something. People know these motors are worth bucks in good condtion.

 

The guy who is giving it to me says it already has been align honed, but I am going to take a good look at it and also have a machine shop look it over. I'm sure I will have more questions Friday, when I get it, or everything posted here will be more clear when I see the block. Free is good, hopefully I can make something good out of it.

Thanks for all of the replies.


Clint