Thoughts, Advice on block porosity

[machoneman]

One big thing to consider: if his block has been run (and it certainly looks like it) for thousands of miles already, it's pretty much good to go.

I do remember long ago while at Brigance Chevrolet in Oak Park, IL in the early 70's (confession: started out racing BBC''s in early Camaros!) once in a great while a car would come off the car hauler and the engine leaked oil into the coolant, the other way around or fluids just leaked out period. Chuck White, the expert parts guy, said the mechanics would just do a fast look-over and then pop the engine and stuff in a brand new replacement long block! I asked Chuck why and he said that since the car was new and untitled, they took a risk in doing a teardown and repairing the numbers matching engine. Instead GM said to put the removed engine on the side and await pickup for inspection. 

Sad part? Chuck later told me it was b.s. and the GM driver that did the pickup said the engines went right to a junkyard where they were smashed up and recycled. I wanted to buy one Z-28 302 and one BBC from  the set-aside pile but this was strictly forbidden as the dealership then would not get credit for the new engine swap! 

[BigBlueIron]

Maybe it's just me, but it looks like there's a hairline crack extending from the oil hole over to that porosity hole, which would concern me enough to have it magnafluxed. Maybe it's just dirt, or an oil streak. Chances are you wouldn't have any trouble at that power level, but I would do it for piece of mind. A crack will only do one thing, get worse.

I have looked it over fairly good specifically for a crack but did not find any.

One big thing to consider: if his block has been run (and it certainly looks like it) for thousands of miles already, it's pretty much good to go.

I do remember long ago while at Brigance Chevrolet in Oak Park, IL in the early 70's (confession: started out racing BBC''s in early Camaros!) once in a great while a car would come off the car hauler and the engine leaked oil into the coolant, the other way around or fluids just leaked out period. Chuck White, the expert parts guy, said the mechanics would just do a fast look-over and then pop the engine and stuff in a brand new replacement long block! I asked Chuck why and he said that since the car was new and untitled, they took a risk in doing a teardown and repairing the numbers matching engine. Instead GM said to put the removed engine on the side and await pickup for inspection. 

Sad part? Chuck later told me it was b.s. and the GM driver that did the pickup said the engines went right to a junkyard where they were smashed up and recycled. I wanted to buy one Z-28 302 and one BBC from  the set-aside pile but this was strictly forbidden as the dealership then would not get credit for the new engine swap! 

This engine has had a long life, bearings very worn but all look the same, indicating to me things where fairly happy. I would have considered it one of my best cores if it wasn't for the porosity. The plan is to contunie with the build and see what happens. 

Sad some of the "Good" parts that get thrown away for warranty reasons..

[Nightmist66]

Maybe it's just me, but it looks like there's a hairline crack extending from the oil hole over to that porosity hole, which would concern me enough to have it magnafluxed.

I thought the same thing at first too, Doug. If you look at it, it is actually a stain from the misaligned oil hole in the bearing.


As for all the porosity, that is weird. Maybe it was a Friday at the Foundry?

[FE Jonny]

One big thing to consider: if his block has been run (and it certainly looks like it) for thousands of miles already, it's pretty much good to go.

I do remember long ago while at Brigance Chevrolet in Oak Park, IL in the early 70's (confession: started out racing BBC''s in early Camaros!) once in a great while a car would come off the car hauler and the engine leaked oil into the coolant, the other way around or fluids just leaked out period. Chuck White, the expert parts guy, said the mechanics would just do a fast look-over and then pop the engine and stuff in a brand new replacement long block! I asked Chuck why and he said that since the car was new and untitled, they took a risk in doing a teardown and repairing the numbers matching engine. Instead GM said to put the removed engine on the side and await pickup for inspection. 

Sad part? Chuck later told me it was b.s. and the GM driver that did the pickup said the engines went right to a junkyard where they were smashed up and recycled. I wanted to buy one Z-28 302 and one BBC from  the set-aside pile but this was strictly forbidden as the dealership then would not get credit for the new engine swap!

HUH I'll be, I bet we crosses paths, I worked,for Jimmy Urso, Kenny Sanfort and did a lot of dealer and race machine work over at Performance Machine over on Western back in the eighties. Was a Chevy/ Ford guy back then and ran a 80 Chevy truck with a 383 Dart engine, a 1974 Elcamino 454 BB, my tow vehicle was the 1968 Ford 410 SD I still have now. Used to hang with Russ Lindert and Gary Dyre.

[cjshaker]

I thought the same thing at first too, Doug. If you look at it, it is actually a stain from the misaligned oil hole in the bearing.

Ahh, you're right, Jared. I didn't notice it was just the continuation of the stain from the bearing hole.