1936 LB Block Crack Repair Feasibity

Barn Junk

Barn Junk

Well-known member
Digging through the stash I found this block with a size-able crack between the 5 and 6 cylinders in a place I had never seen this much damage before so am looking for some advise. Since it is a 36 LB block I hope to save it and use it in a 33 3-W project. I live in eastern WA state so not too many local shops want or can deal with repairs like this if even feasible. So any advise on fix-ability or any shops in my neck of the woods (WA, ID or OR) that could help?
 

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I see no problem with welding the damage. With today's advanced techniques on a block with low impurities , a welder should be proud to do this job. Once the area cleaned and dry with no moisture, bake the block in an oven in an area with no drafts , weld and cool down as slow as possible. Machine surface the repair. You may have to sleeve that bore depending on how deep the crack goes. I can't see that in the picture. I welded a 36 , years back with stick rods on reverse polarity and all went well other than I had some moisture in the block and that cause some grief. Your block looks dry , and remember this metal is purer than blocks cast in the 60's and up. I recommend you strip the block bare and clean
it to look more tempting for a shop to take it in. Hope this helps.
 
From what i see i should drill and pin the end of the crack to keep it from going into the valvepocket and sleeve the cylinder.

Welding is always a gamble the heat causes new tension in the block.
 
As it appears that the crack goes into the cylinder, I'd recommend that you find somebody who is an expert in using the Lock-N-Stitch or IronTite 'pinning/stitching' products and processes - and then sleeve the block. Most these guys have all sorts of funny air-drills, bits, etc - as tools of their trade. As you want to save the block, I wouldn't 'experiment' on it myself . . . just sayin!

Note: We had our Flathead Cadillac race block fixed by Lock-N-Stitch in Turlock, CA last year - they did one HELL of a job (I highly recommend you sending them your block for this type of repair process).

Cast Iron Welding: I've had multiple flathead blocks fixed/repaired by cast-iron welding . . . done by folks who tend to have decades of experience (grey hair), have the necessary furnaces, etc.. It is a tricky deal in that you really need to know how to correctly pre-heat, weld it when hot and look at the material, see what it is doing and weld accordingly (just like any other welding process). Also, you need to be prepared to re-machine all machined surfaces . . . as frequently things 'move' a bit in the process. I always assume that I'll be boring, decking, align-boring, new valve job, etc.. In the end, it can get expensive - especially if you were NOT planning on all those machine processes from the start.

I just picked up my original 32 block from Columbus Col-Weld . . . guy named Maynard Stump (77 years old) did the work. I broke a piece off the deck surface trying to get the old/rusted heads off of it. I was 'sick' that I'd potentially ruined an original 32 block with a STD bore. Maynard did an excellent welding repair . . . now I will start the rest of the machining process. I'll take a picture today and post it to this thread.

Take care,

Dale
 
You might call Frank Schurman in McMinnville Or. 503-472-3200. He has experience repairing flathead blocks and isn't too far away.
 
Thanks all for the info and advise. Pinning and a cyl sleeve sounds like the surest and less stress inducing fix. SoCal is just too far but McMinnville OR could work, I'll give him a call. Anybody know a good experienced shop in Portland OR, Spokane or Seattle WA or even Boise, ID??
 
I know this won't help you in the WA area but for anyone in the Cleveland Ohio area there is a second generation business called Guarantee Auto Weld who weld repair cast iron. They have welded some engines that I would not even consider saving. I also use them for cleaning flathead blocks chemically and they offer pressure testing as well. They just finished cleaning my 36LB block and it came out great. This is the first 36LB block that I have found that was not cracked.
 
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