Here's a good one. Check out eBay #2446787556. This is an auction for an old Yenko aluminum bare block. The winning bidder got this "prize" for only $3,750. You will note that this block is in need of a lot of repairs. All cylinders are cracked, there are cracks in other parts of the block, and the seller says that it might be "stretched" (whatever than means). Basically, all of this is repairable by a competent aluminum welder and machine shop. New sleeves need to be installed, anyway, so the cylinder cracks shouldn't be a major problem. To restore an original Yenko car (or create a fake), I suppose the cost and effort would be worth it. From the repairs I've described so far, this engine will never be "right", but it could be made serviceable.
Things get better, though. The seller says that this block has the cooling passages filled, he thinks to "stabilize" the block. He's likely correct, too. This sort of thing is done to add rigidity to blocks used for 1/4 mile drag racing. Why anyone would use an aluminum block engine for 1/4 mile, all-out drag racing is beyond me, but, apparently, someone did it once-upon-a-time with this thing. In any event, the seller says that usually filling the cooling passages is done with cement but, in this case, it was done with some sort of "plaster material" so, he says, it's reversible. He says that, according to what someone told him, using MEK the material can be dissolved and the block returned to its original configuration. Without this repair, of course, the block would never be usable for a street engine; it would only be of use to someone that wanted to use it for 1/4 mile drag racing. Like I say, I can't imagine that anyone would pay big bucks for an aluminum block engine, let alone an old Yenko block, to use for 1/4 mile drag racing.
I wish I could be a "fly on the wall" when the buyer of this block attempts to do 2 things:
1) remove the aluminum block plugs which look to me like they've been sealed with epoxy or some other material;
2) "dissolve" the "plaster material" out of the block using MEK.
Yes, indeed; I wish I could be there to witness that "terrible sinking feeling" coming over this fellow.
As far as I'm concerned, this block would not be worth $100, let alone $3,750. The risk, alone, is FAR too great to pay that kind of price for it.
Things get better, though. The seller says that this block has the cooling passages filled, he thinks to "stabilize" the block. He's likely correct, too. This sort of thing is done to add rigidity to blocks used for 1/4 mile drag racing. Why anyone would use an aluminum block engine for 1/4 mile, all-out drag racing is beyond me, but, apparently, someone did it once-upon-a-time with this thing. In any event, the seller says that usually filling the cooling passages is done with cement but, in this case, it was done with some sort of "plaster material" so, he says, it's reversible. He says that, according to what someone told him, using MEK the material can be dissolved and the block returned to its original configuration. Without this repair, of course, the block would never be usable for a street engine; it would only be of use to someone that wanted to use it for 1/4 mile drag racing. Like I say, I can't imagine that anyone would pay big bucks for an aluminum block engine, let alone an old Yenko block, to use for 1/4 mile drag racing.
I wish I could be a "fly on the wall" when the buyer of this block attempts to do 2 things:
1) remove the aluminum block plugs which look to me like they've been sealed with epoxy or some other material;
2) "dissolve" the "plaster material" out of the block using MEK.
Yes, indeed; I wish I could be there to witness that "terrible sinking feeling" coming over this fellow.
As far as I'm concerned, this block would not be worth $100, let alone $3,750. The risk, alone, is FAR too great to pay that kind of price for it.
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