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So after some debating and head scratching, I believe i have fixed the mysterious(but not unheard of) crack on the front side of the engine block in my 'Fesplicity'.
I have an engine I could swap but the original runs great, don't smoke, etc. So I wasn't about to give up on it.
My initial repair (JB Weld) held around 2 weeks then cracked. (I had drilled 1/8" holes at the end of the crack, 'V-ed' out the crack with a die grinder, pulled vacuum on the block and applied the JB, and let it sit for 24 hours under vacuum. Well it still didn't hold, so on to 'plan B'.
Plan B was nickel rod and my Lincoln 225 AC buzzbox. I figured the worse thing is I would STILL have to do an engine swap if things went wrong so I ventured on. I did the 'no preheat' method explained in this video;
So after completely removing the JB from the 1st attempt I fired up the welder and had at it. After welding there were still some small 'seepers'. So I reasoned the failure of the JB was caused by attempting to use the JB as an actual structural repair on something which moved with heat and cooling. I knew JB would plug/repair leaks on a stable surface with not much problem.
Soooo I again pulled vacuum, douched the weld areas with brake clean, applied JB and let set for 24 hours.
So far (3 weeks) and the coolant level is staying put and there is no evidence of leaks.
IF something changes I will update, but so far I'm satisfied.
I have an engine I could swap but the original runs great, don't smoke, etc. So I wasn't about to give up on it.
My initial repair (JB Weld) held around 2 weeks then cracked. (I had drilled 1/8" holes at the end of the crack, 'V-ed' out the crack with a die grinder, pulled vacuum on the block and applied the JB, and let it sit for 24 hours under vacuum. Well it still didn't hold, so on to 'plan B'.
Plan B was nickel rod and my Lincoln 225 AC buzzbox. I figured the worse thing is I would STILL have to do an engine swap if things went wrong so I ventured on. I did the 'no preheat' method explained in this video;
So after completely removing the JB from the 1st attempt I fired up the welder and had at it. After welding there were still some small 'seepers'. So I reasoned the failure of the JB was caused by attempting to use the JB as an actual structural repair on something which moved with heat and cooling. I knew JB would plug/repair leaks on a stable surface with not much problem.
Soooo I again pulled vacuum, douched the weld areas with brake clean, applied JB and let set for 24 hours.
So far (3 weeks) and the coolant level is staying put and there is no evidence of leaks.
IF something changes I will update, but so far I'm satisfied.
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