I was given a complete 350 Chevy that was dropped off of workbench. It broke off a chunk where the dial pin for trannie is or was. It's a clean break but guy was scared. Very low mile 4-bolt 350 out of wreck truck. it doesn't seem to bother me if nickel rod back in by experienced welder. What you all think?
Neighbor was given a 350 from a wreck that had busted starter bolts out of block. I cut heads off two bolts and nickel welded them in and it did fine. No preheat, etc. Also welded ear back on 3 speed after he tried to **** a truck trans into a car bellhousing by its bolts. Just ground a vee on mating side and dressed it slightly below surface. Again no problem.
Did the block also lose the bolt hole below the dowel pin? Either way, I think I'd go for it. Whether nickle rod or cast iron rod (**x-289 something), no reason not to repair it. Attach a stick trans bell housing and dial indicate the concentricity of the center hole. If off, use an offset dowel pin to dial it in. Ray
Not a big deal if it was a clean break and they guy welding knows what he is doing. we get steer axles welder and machined all the time, that bell housing dowel will never see those kinds of forces and abuse. Also get the starter ear welded on 4.3 often with no issues
When I rebuilt the 312 in my T-Bird, the block was badly cracked in the main webs. I found another block, but one of the starter mounts was broken off. The guy I was buying it from had one of his guys saw the piece it needed off a junk block and welded it on the block I bought. It's been there for the past 15 years with no problem.
If you have half the dowel pin hole left on the block you are probably in good shape as far as welding the pice back on. A stick bellhousing might go a long way to make sure things are all lined up right when it is welded back on. That would serve as a fixture to hold the guide pin and get the broken piece back in the right spot.
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