Deck thickness on 427 on block

[AlanCasida]

How thick is the deck on a 427 block? I bought a couple of 427 blocks that are cracked in the deck area between two cylinders. As crazy as it may as it may sound I think I am going to try and weld them up myself. However,  I'd like to have an idea how thick the deck is before I start grinding the crack out. Thanks!

[Katz427]

The deck between cylinders is pretty thick. I had one done with lok stitch pins and the shop that did the repair said more than 1/2 inch in that area, plenty to hold the pins. I never had another problem after that repair.

[AlanCasida]

Thanks! After posting this I found this website and I may look into doing this rather than try to weld it. It is similar to using lock pins or it might be the same thing. Trying to grind through 1/2" to get rid of a crack would be pretty daunting.

http://www.locknstitch.com/engines-casting-repair-industry.html

[jayb]

I've also used the lock-n-stitch pins with good results, on the decks of a couple of factory SOHC heads.  Should be a good solution on the deck of the block.  However, I'd look carefully at the blocks to make sure they haven't been sleeved in the bores on either side of the crack.  A lot of folks have tried to sleeve adjacent bores and run into problems after the repair, when the block cracks between the sleeves after a few heat cycles.  If you find the sleeves, I don't know of a good solution for a permanent repair to the cracked area, but I think I would try a bunch of the lock-n-stitch pins, spread out across the area between the bores and extended into some of the wider space between the bores. 

Also, once you finish with the lock-n-stitch repair, you have to machine the surface flat, so make sure you leave a little bit of the pins exposed above the deck.  Good luck with the repair, Alan.