Cracked 440 Numbers Matching Block

[moparlee]

I have been a member of FEBO for about a year now but have not really introduced myself. I am from mid Michigan and have been a Mopar fan since HS. Retired now and have more time to enjoy my Mopars. First one was a ‘68 318 Charger. Now I have my original ‘71 Citron Yella 383 4 spd Challenger RT with black strips and black vinyl top which I bought new, sold when family came along, found again 12 yrs later, then did a full nut and bolt restoration back to original which took me 5 years. Also have a ‘71 340 Challenger and ‘69 440 GTX.

I need some professional help with my 440. It is currently being re-built, but found that the original matching numbers block was cracked :icon_mad: during magna flux inspection. There are two parallel cracks about 3 ½” long which end (or start) in one of the frost plug holes and are about ¾” apart. I have had the car about 15 years which always had a 50/50 mix of ethylene glycol and it never showed any signs of leakage. I suspect the previous owner had put in a block sealer. I do not trust it so now using a '73 block for the street build.

So here is where I need some help……do I have a boat anchor or can it reliably be repaired by welding or using those tapered threaded pins? My concerns are the freeze plug hole and the cracks being close together. The cracks are outlined in the pics with white chalk.

Thanks guys for any advice you can give me.

 

[Chryco Psycho]

My engine guy would fix the cracks no problem , drill the end of the crack install & threaded pin & work back to the frost plug

 

[Adrian Worman]

Dead right, drill and stitch, it's worked well for loads of so-called scrap blocks, get it done and don't worry about it!

 

[moparlee]

Thanks Chryco and Adrian. I will talk to my machine shop. And I would think the frost plug bore would need to be re-machined to remove any remains of the last threaded pin which would need to extend into the hole to remove the last bit of the crack.