Projects progress? more like two steps forward, one step back

I finaly got all the engine parts together to ***emble the '57 Olds 371 for my '30 coupe
long story but I had many hurdles to jump to get this far,
my core motor had a cracked head and spun bearing
so I located a good pair of heads and crankshaft and had the machine work done, then had all the rotating parts ballanced

started putting it together about a week ago (I work slow)
I get the long block together and it's looking real good,
clearances are perfect, all nice new parts
solid cam, forged pistons- I'm diggin it

I squirt some paint on it to seal the cast iron
(the final color will be One Shot Gold)

and two cracks jump out at me
aparently the machine shop that did the work on the block did not magnaflux it, or pressure test it,
hell they must not have even done a thorough visual

they are frost cracks, one on each side
running horizontal an inch or so below the deck surface
one about an inch long and the other almost two inches long

not knowing if there are more cracks inside there is only one thing I can do,
I will have to tear the whole thing down
have it checked right and if it's not junk, have it welded back up.

before that though, I will use it to check fit in the car

yesterday I
pulled the mockup 394 and Muncie out
bolted the transmission to the 371 and hung it in the ch***is

fabbed up and tacked the front mounts to the frame
and rested some of the shiny stuff on it

at least it starting to look like something

 

I feel your pain. I've got a series of cracks on the right side of the hemi block in my coupe that the machine shop missed. Didn't seem that extensive till I started driving it. I welded it in the car but still need to do the JB weld thing every once in a while.

Your's is looking sweet!!!

 

i've done that dance alot lately. getting tired of it myself. great car though and your engine combo sounds killer. it will definitely be worth the anguish once it is done and done right. good luck.

 

Looking good Paul.

 

Holy Moly, looks nice! I don't see any cracks.

Not going with V belts?

 

It sure is !

 

looking cool Paul. Were you going for that east coast channeled / full height cab look ?

 

"If it wasn't for bad luck I'd have no luck at all". This is my "sometimes" marching song. I'm not currently using it so if your so inclined feel free to give it a shot. No need to be in a hurry returning it. I'll let you know if I get desperate.

Frank

 

Looks great! Here's hoping the cracks don't junk it for ya.

 

Dude! that car is the sh*t...hang in there...

 

Well , The motor mounts are Bad *** !!!! >>>>.

 

that car is asome! i know an old timer who used to drive truck. he bought a 60 pete that was nearly new but the water jackets froze and cracked. he welded them up, parked the truck in 79 after it was worn out. anyway i hope you can get your block problems taken care of looks like it'l be pretty snotty when it its together..

 

Paul looks bad ***. Dave could fix the block for you with probably very little time.

 

Get in touch with Mikal Bray at Cast Iron Repair inc. in Marysville, 360-657-7660 if you need the block fixed. He is a cast iron repair magician.

 

thanks guys