Is this block junk?

[Rusty knuckles]

This is the numbers matching 383 block from my 69 charger. It obviously spun a rod and knocked a piece of cylinder skirt off.

In your guys experience is this worth having checked to see if its viable or a junk block?

Worst case I think it could be sleeved if the block is ok.

 

[Nxcoupe]

Looks savable to me. It's not in the water jacket, so just put a sleeve in it. I have notched cylinders for stroker clearance that much on other brand blocks with no issue provided the edges are rounded.

 

[R413]

That's where the piston skirt rides in the bore. Could smooth off the edge and use it.
Ask a machinist. Yes a sleeve would fix it.

 

[RemCharger]

Looks exactly like 1 I had that broke a rod. There's still lots of better blocks out there

 

[roadrunnerh]

Since it's a #s matching block, I would see a machinist and save if possible.

 

[RemCharger]

Since it's a #s matching block, I would see a machinist and save if possible.

Missed the #s part.. a careful crack check in the mains would be a start

 

[70bigblockdodge]

I'd blend that away. You could measure piston height at skirts plus stroke from top of the bore see how far it comes down at that break. With 383 short stroke I think it does not even stick out the bottom of the bore. With that chip out the skirt may only barely get to that.

 

[33 IMP]

I'd sure get it to a shop that could look at it, and check it out. Then get a price quote on fixing it.
I agree, from here it looks like a sleeve would fix it. Number matching block would be worth saving to me.

 

[Rusty knuckles]

Looks savable to me. It's not in the water jacket, so just put a sleeve in it. I have notched cylinders for stroker clearance that much on other brand blocks with no issue provided the edges are rounded.

This was my thought process as well. Thanks!

 

[davek]

If thats the only damage it can be fixed, Ive seen a block that the lifter hole was gone and it got fixed. Numbers matching must be saved.

 

[RonnieLongball]

I'd blend that away. You could measure piston height at skirts plus stroke from top of the bore see how far it comes down at that break. With 383 short stroke I think it does not even stick out the bottom of the bore. With that chip out the skirt may only barely get to that.

Definitely blend it away. Unless there is an obvious crack going elsewhere up the cyl. What is going on in the lifter valley? That looks kind of fubar, but it might be casting flash or the angle of the picture

 

[R413]

I'd blend that away. You could measure piston height at skirts plus stroke from top of the bore see how far it comes down at that break. With 383 short stroke I think it does not even stick out the bottom of the bore. With that chip out the skirt may only barely get to that.

Yes the skirts come out the bottom on a 383 but not much

 

[Runcharger]

Absolutely save it being numbers matching. Might not even need sleeving but 1 sleeve is cheap enough anyway.

 

[zyzzyx]

Blend the sharp edges down and it'll be fine. As stated before, you're not into the water jacket. I wouldn't sleeve it.

 

[PROSTOCKTOM]

I wouldn't be to concerned about it. Lots of racers are running on skirts that have been ground away more than that minor issue.

As, zyzzyx stated above, smooth out the rough edges and use it.

Tom

 

[zyzzyx]

I want to clarify something here. Earlier I made a comment NOT to sleeve your block. I'm a retired Machinist and
from experience, I know that when you have two different pieces of material next to one another such as a shrunk-in
sleeve the heat generated in the inner sleeve has a hard time moving across that gap between the two parts. It does
happen, but not as if it was one piece. The reason bearings in an engine have such a good interference fit is so they
can transfer the heat from the oil to the block which is a solid surface. If you could "puddle" babbitt into a main or rod
like they did in the Model A engine, you would eliminate that gap and the heat transfer would be really good. So, sleeves
are the last resort if you need to save a block. Only do it if you need to.

 

[rickseeman]

I would run it, not sleeve it. I think you are far enough from the water. The cylinders are 1/8" longer on a 383 than a 400 making it look worse.

 

[Rusty knuckles]

Thanks all. My main question was it even worth spending the money to verify the block was sound or if that would be throwing good money after bad. If it wasn't the numbers block I wouldn't even concern myself with it.

 

[rickseeman]

Yes, that's the only reason for using it.

 

[Dave6T4]

Definitely blend it away. Unless there is an obvious crack going elsewhere up the cyl. What is going on in the lifter valley? That looks kind of fubar, but it might be casting flash or the angle of the picture

I noticed that, too. It looks like a chunk of the lifter valley casting is missing.