What Happened Here?

[Gary C.]

Took the valve cover off a 65 I picked up a while back and found this. Its directly over the front water jacket. Seems odd for a crack repair.

Anyone want to speculate what happend here?

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[Joe L.]

Re: What Happened Here?

Took the valve cover off a 65 I picked up a while back and found this. Its directly over the front water jacket. Seems odd for a crack repair.

Anyone want to speculate what happend here?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]41468[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]41469[/ATTACH]

Gary-----

I'd agree that this is a crack repair------probably not a professional job but effective, nonetheless. Most likely there was a very short crack (or what APPEARED TO BE) a very short crack. So small holes were drilled at either end of the crack to prevent its propagation. Then, the holes were tapped for small machine screws.

By the way, it looks like guide plates have been added to these heads. No 1965 small block ever was originally equipped with these. Maybe the crack repair was done at the same time.

[Kenneth B.]

Re: What Happened Here?

Gary-----

I'd agree that this is a crack repair------probably not a professional job but effective, nonetheless. Most likely there was a very short crack (or what APPEARED TO BE) a very short crack. So small holes were drilled at either end of the crack to prevent its propagation. Then, the holes were tapped for small machine screws.

By the way, it looks like guide plates have been added to these heads. No 1965 small block ever was originally equipped with these. Maybe the crack repair was done at the same time.

I think you are right but I don't know why they put screws in the holes at the end of the crack. Maybe they thought it would help hold the weld.Cast iron is hard to weld it needs to be heated up before welding.

[Joe L.]

Re: What Happened Here?

I think you are right but I don't know why they put screws in the holes at the end of the crack. Maybe they thought it would help hold the weld.Cast iron is hard to weld it needs to be heated up before welding.

Kenneth-----


I don't think that any welding was done (wisely). I think they just drilled holes at the end of the crack to stop its propagation. They could have stopped there but I guess they figured something would be added by installing the screws. It's also possible that the holes were drilled quite deep to make sure they intercepted the entire crack and, possibly, into the water jacket. In that case, the screws (with sealer) would have been necessary.