Sickening- Cracked Block - Repairable?

[zyzzyx]

Nice repair on the broken ear! Yeah, the freeze plug hole is not a candidate for drill & stitch repair.
Weather you use the Tig Tectic filler rod or something very similar I believe welding is your only option.
Have it welded and forget it. It's not in a high stress area. The area just needs to be V'd out and
preheated to around 250, then welded. Don't let anyone tell you any other "Hocus Pocus" B.S. It.s
a straightforward repair. Good luck and keep us in DaLoop!

 

[F4R/T]

Just find a experienced welder/ repair shop they will fix it right.. disappointing for sure, fixable you bet... nickel rods are what I’ve always heard also heard preheating the block before welding .. there is a process and it will be fine.

 

[dspur]

Well... The company Lock and Stitch is just down the road from me, for years they have sold their repair kits & repaired equipment at their facility while also having a crew that travels worldwide repairing cracks on heavy equipment, ships & anything else where the owners were willing to pay the costs... But it looks like in 2025 the company was acquired by Wärtsilä & the new owners aren't selling the repair kits anymore... I had heard something about it earlier this year but now searches appear to confirm that.. Other companies are selling the original design pins, the drill guides don't appear to be available... Though honestly that wouldn't be hard to fabricate..

https://www.ebay.com/itm/254255897225

I just purchased this off eBay. Would have preferred the lock n stitch but oh well…thanks.

 

[F4R/T]

Good luck post the after carnage pic.

 

[69Bee]

That is the real deal Lock & Stitch stuff... Which it seems is no longer available to the public.... Hopefully that will change... Cause it was the best stuff

Thanks for the info... I did a lot of looking and did fing a lock-n-stitch page of theirs (the new company) but no US contact info. I called them just now from my old PH# and they are still selling inventory on hand, by email basis only. Once it is gone, it's gone. I am thinking of selling too as it is too GD expensive to stay closed, and I still can't operate a friggin screwdriver yet with my hand after surgery...

 

[not so famous bob]

Thanks for the info... I did a lot of looking and did fing a lock-n-stitch page of theirs (the new company) but no US contact info. I called them just now from my old PH# and they are still selling inventory on hand, by email basis only. Once it is gone, it's gone. I am thinking of selling too as it is too GD expensive to stay closed, and I still can't operate a friggin screwdriver yet with my hand after surgery...

to those that think you need a special bolt or the overlapping lock stitch ...not so , reg grade 3 cheap 1/4x20 bolts about 1/2'' long work well , 14 yrs as a race engine dont lie...
still working ...

 

[69Bee]

to those that think you need a special bolt or the overlapping lock stitch ...not so , reg grade 3 cheap 1/4x20 bolts about 1/2'' long work well , 14 yrs as a race engine dont lie...
still working ...

You can fix yours however you want, BUT I prefer to do it the CORRECT way for my customers, thank you...

 

[Geff McCarthy]

0 i can top that...perversely.... When my Mother died suddenly age 60 from a ruptured brain aneurysm, my brother and I thought our Dad, a real car guy, needed a distraction, so I answered an ad on the b board at the O Club in RAF Lakenheath, UK where I was flying Super Sabres. It was a lhd 250GTE Ferrrari. We asked why a lhd was in Uk, they said it was probably stolen...We bought it and shipped it to Upstate NY, and Dad drove it around New England, selling lace tablecloths. It had circular dampers, aluminum body, 4 speed with Laycock o/d, and the most sensual motor sound ever....well, except for the sonic booms of his previous 300F. I have a distinct memory of driving riding in it in August heat and humidity, the Old Man had one of his numerous heart attacks, on my way to 'Nam. Anyway he sold it, and the local guy left it out, apparently with incorrect anti freeze and - the point of this long reminisence- the BLOCK FROZE. I don't know if you can weld up a 12cyl aluminium block, but...
I also have a photo of his 65 Dodge Convertible, almost sure it was a Hemi 4speed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!