426 street wedge

[67 Power Wagon]

Dave good luck with that repair! Welding a block is never good!

Question tho, is the crack in a cylinder wall, OR just a wall of the block not in a cylinder?

Cracked blocks are never good, BUT cracked cylinder wall blocks are even worse then just a crack elsewhere.....

 

[Dave L]

Hello All,The welding on the crack on my block didn't turn out so good.The welder did a very good job of welding. He had a nice bead and penatration although the crack kept moving. I decided to hard block it.The crack is right above the drain plug.The engine is disassembled and the hard block is in. I poured the hard block to the middle of the frost plugs there is about inch and half of hard block on each side. I'm hoping that much will not be a cooling problem.The only problem I see is no drain plug that can't be helped because the block is only one eighth thick according to the welder when he drilled a hole on each side of the crack. Went to the body shop today good news

 

[Dave L]

Hello All,The hard block was dry enough to put water in the block.I put about a measured quart of water in each side of the block enough to go above the crack.Good news for me no drips.Tomorrow After church I'll put the heads on and do a twelve pound pressure check with my tire pump.I keep you all posted.

 

[67 Power Wagon]

Dave,
Any news on the 426?

 

[moparsteve636]

What I've done for that is! Remove the drain plug insert a rubber hose a little above the level of filler, before the hard blok, sets up a little, remove the hose! Run some water thru to wash any dust out so it won't plug up the hole! It will be slow draining but will drain! You might have a cooling problem if you plan on driving it on the street!

 

[Dave L]

Hello All,I decided to scrap the block.Does anyone have a 426 street wedge stuffed under their work bench Pm me. I went to Mccellans a couple of days this week and was able to get the K frame built and the rotors on.I have to send the sway bar back because they sent me the wrong one.The old dodge is sitting on all four again with the help of the wife puting on tires. We will let it sit and settle in all weekend then assemble some time next week.Thanks for the usefull tip on the rubber hose in the drain hole when hard blocking.Have a nice holliday.Dave L

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

That sucks about your block Dave. I would have thought that where these blocks crack could be repaired effectively with an adhesive as it's only sealing against water...

Good luck finding another block!

You have a lovely helper, you make a great team.

 

[Dave L]

Where I ran into trouble is when I put 10lb of pressure in the block then it leaked.I just would not feel comfortable with JB weld or some other abhesive.That would be on my mind everytime I take the car out.I'll keep looking for a street wedge 426 it does't look like the car will be ready for this year.

 

[Jim's Maxie]

Where I ran into trouble is when I put 10lb of pressure in the block then it leaked.I just would not feel comfortable with JB weld or some other abhesive.That would be on my mind everytime I take the car out.I'll keep looking for a street wedge 426 it does't look like the car will be ready for this year.

Dave,a "GOOD" welder that knows how to properly heat and dissipate heat can fix your block,they have been welding cracks,patching windowed blocks for years,all you need do is find the right welder.I have a 68 Hemi block that was windowed twice and repaired,both repairs have sustained mid 9 sec runs for the last 11 years.

On another note,since you made all the mods on your motor which take you away from a correct restoration,you would be better off going with a 440 in my estimation,much easier to find and all you would need is new pistons and rings.

 

[Dave L]

Yes I have gave a 440 some thought,Like you said I did do alot of mods on the 426.I'll look around for a couple more weeks for the 426.I quess then iI will go to a 440.It would be alot better if I could find the right block. The block I'm looking for is a pre october 64.The dodge was born in october 64. I should have listen to members at the begining of this thread.I just have to take a day at time.

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

and if you really don't want to buy 440 pistons, you could get a 413 block, mag the core and bore it ..

 

[Dave L]

Thanks,That give me different routes to take.Bill Overcash found me a couple 426 street wedges for me.I'll be lookin at that after the Hollidays.

 

[Centerline]

Sounds like you have everything under control. However, let me give you one more option. You could pick up a good 383 block and then have a stock 440 crank machined for the smaller journals and bada boom, bada bing... 425.58 cu. in. :hello2:

 

[glassman]

I have a 426 street wedge block on ebay right now, and it is a .030 overbore.

 

[Dave L]

Hello All,Denny Mccellan owner of Mccellans body shop,Don Patton,and myself bolted some metal on the old Dodge today.I thought I give you an update Dave L

 

[64BEL]

Looks great, Dave!

 

[62 Dart Convertible]

Wow!!!

 

[crossram 426]

That looks fantastic. Wish mine was painted...
Awesome color...

 

[67 Power Wagon]

Dave the color looks GREAT and the body lines look awesome too! NICE job!

Any more on the engine tho?

 

[65 Coronet]

Dave,

Paint looks awesome. Are you going with the orginal 1965 "Bright Red" color?

Mike

Hello All,The welding on the crack on my block didn't turn out so good.The welder did a very good job of welding. He had a nice bead and penatration although the crack kept moving. I decided to hard block it.The crack is right above the drain plug.The engine is disassembled and the hard block is in. I poured the hard block to the middle of the frost plugs there is about inch and half of hard block on each side. I'm hoping that much will not be a cooling problem.The only problem I see is no drain plug that can't be helped because the block is only one eighth thick according to the welder when he drilled a hole on each side of the crack. Went to the body shop today good news