hole in 302 block
Thread Starter
1st Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 131
From: Utah
hole in 302 block
I had a local machine shop hot tank and bore my 302 block (.030") about 2 weeks ago. I finally unwrapped the block and got it on an engine stand today, and I noticed a hole in the block that I hadn't noticed before when I tore it down. My suspicions are that they knocked a hole in it while they were doing the machine work, but didn't say anything thinking I wasn't going to notice. I don't think it is worth arguing with them about at this point, but my question is, can I weld the hole shut without damaging the integrity of the block? In the attached picture, I am pointing at the hole, about the size of a penny. I would "cold weld" it with nickel electrode, and keep my heat input to a minimum. It isn't my welding skills I am wondering about, rather, can the block be welded on without compromising its strength. It isn't in a water jacket, but the ridge that seperates the timing gear from the lifter area. You can see the hole for the distributor above my finger.
Thread Starter
1st Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 131
From: Utah
It really looks like a piece has been broken out with as rough as the hole is. Also, down inside where the machined surface where the distributor sits looks like part of it has been broken out. I imagine Ford did this too?
6th Gear Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 8,162
From:
That hole has been there might have been plugged up with sludge.Welding cast iron is one of the hardest things to weld just so you know.I believe that hole is for oil to come in the lifter valley or its a drain hole.
Banned
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,049
From: Maryland
I thought the same thing when i got my block back.
Its so oil can drain out of the lifter pan, onto the timing chain.
Tell me about how hard it is to weld cast iron, for a "special assignment" at work, i was sent to our salvage yard to work on a jeep with a broken control arm, my task was to temporarily repair the control arm to be able to move the jeep around, equipped with 1 small bottle jack, a generator a MIG WELDER!, and a file.... After fooling with rocks i found there and using tires to hold this car up in the dirt moving it 5 inches at time with a bottle jack... anyway i take the wheel off to find its cast, but i didn't stop there, using the heat of the mig welder i preheated the cast enough to melt together. Wasn't "fun" per se, but it was a challenge i couldn't help but accept.
Its so oil can drain out of the lifter pan, onto the timing chain.
Tell me about how hard it is to weld cast iron, for a "special assignment" at work, i was sent to our salvage yard to work on a jeep with a broken control arm, my task was to temporarily repair the control arm to be able to move the jeep around, equipped with 1 small bottle jack, a generator a MIG WELDER!, and a file.... After fooling with rocks i found there and using tires to hold this car up in the dirt moving it 5 inches at time with a bottle jack... anyway i take the wheel off to find its cast, but i didn't stop there, using the heat of the mig welder i preheated the cast enough to melt together. Wasn't "fun" per se, but it was a challenge i couldn't help but accept.