main caps hold the crank in, if you dont have them, you will need a new set, and then a line bore of the block to true them. Not only is a line bore expensive, it moves the crank closer to the cam and that is a bad thing for timing chains and rods smackin cam lobes.

besides, you would have to buy the main caps, and anther stock set is dicey, so you would go with aftermarket caps... with all the machine work and parts, you could have bought an aftermarket block.

 

i might check a yard tomarow, to see if i can find a 351w. how can i tell what size a block it is from the outside?

 

imagine where the two water holes are in the front of the block (at the top of where the timing cover goes on). if theres like a solid inch between the holes and the deck surface of the block than its a 351, if theres almost no room its a 289/302. lemmie see if i can find some pics to better illustrate.

*edit* heres a pic of a 351 W block i found on ebay, going for 150 bucks right now. anyways i circled the main caps, drew what looks like an I between the water jacket and the deck surface, and made a dot where the water jacket actually is.

 

look at what i picked up today! ...its a 1972 351W block for only $100!!

[IMG]local://upfiles/27709/28E8C1BEBF174289A34B6B00B972C646.jpg[/IMG]

[IMG]local://upfiles/27709/83EE2D13193B4925A9F76F857EC9782C.jpg[/IMG]

 

more...

[IMG]local://upfiles/27709/3FA16FEF9EBE4FF28164304700C95753.jpg[/IMG]

 

last....

[IMG]local://upfiles/27709/F06A97DE6E084524A864662BBD984A1F.jpg[/IMG]

 

there ya go, now drop it off at a machine shop to get cleaned, bored (you'll need your pistons and have them use a torque plate when they hone it - with a fine finish for moly rings), get it decked, check line bore in the mains, install new cam bearings and freeze plugs.

 

so the first step would be to get it cleaned?...whats the normal cost for that?

 

50 bucks prolly, hot tank or baking/shot peening. might as well get it all done at once though, that way when you get your block back you can oil it down and bag it until you can gather the rest of the parts for the build.

 

yes, i do want to get everything done at once... so when i get to the shop, what do i tell them?