[Robert C.]

Just a quote that I found on the net:

(For mass production applications, auto manufacturers do wait a year or
more before using cast iron engine blocks. In fact, the foundries normally stack the engine blocks out in a yard and let them rust. When needed they pull them into the shop for machining. At Ford they called it the seasoning.)

(Engine bearing tolerances are tight, but most block tolerances are not, including the cylinder bore. The piston rings have a certain degree of springiness to conform to the bore. Bearings are normally inserted into a housing in the block and torqued down. Racing engines or other high performance engines are a different story. They call finding the exact and tight tolerance "blue printing.")

yard.) From: Kempinski, Robert M. ([email protected]) http://groups.google.com/groups?q=Se...asa.gov&rnum=2

CNC Machines are cast and put out side to rust for a year or more. The process of expanding and shrinking everyday will take out stress. This is used to hold extreme close tolerances that are need to machine parts. I do not think that we are machining down to the .00002 millionth of an inch here. Yes a block will settle or move over time. Yes you can heat treat it to remove stress. Are you willing to add $200.00 to the price or more maybe for .0005 tenths of and inch?

Seasoning: It’s like spaghetti and meat balls. Isn't better after you have put it in the refrigerator for a week and reheat it? Only a
Wop like me would know. Aint that right?

Bob Cacciotti