How do you tell you got a cracked block? while its still in the car.

 

it would all depend on where the crack is. Symptoms may include among other things coolant in the oil, loss of compression in one or more cylinders, oil or coolant leaks, smoke, death rattle/piston shudder, rod through oil pan, crank through block etc. I'd start with cleaning any dirt/oil off the block and do an external inspection with a trouble light then pull the heads and intake and check out the cylinders - thats about all you could do with it still in the car. Beyond that if you're fairly certain you have a cracked block you might as well get your cherry picker fired up and get to pullin.

 

my block's are fine, but there is a 1989 mustang coupe with a 351 in it that im looking at and it had some leaking around the pump which is bad and just wanted to see what everyone else thought.

 

it needs to be magged

 

magged?

 

Taken to an engine builder and "magnafluxed" They use a solution that stays in the cracks and is easy to see under certain light.

 

the "solution" is basically powered metal (usually colored) and they magnetize the block. the powered metal sticks to the crack. heres an example with a 2300 ford head