[Rar_421]

68 350,cracked in the lifter valley,common problem?

[Formulas]

Usually that defect is reserved for high HP long stroke heavy use engines

somewhat common on the 557/400 block

do you have a pic of the area ?

[PunchT37]

No, not common.

Especially on a ‘68 350.

[steve25]

Picture please, or a much more detailed discription

[PAUL K]

Only if it's a freeze crack and that is easily fixed.

[Rar_421]

Block is still at the machine shop 2hrs away,It will get shipped back this week sometime

[steve25]

The guy / machinist has a cell phone so have him take a good picture and send it to you.

[Rar_421]

Originally Posted by PAUL K

Only if it's a freeze crack and that is easily fixed.

I'm thinking that's what happened because it got it water in it this spring while I was in the hospital and the building owner never told me about his roofing problem,I drained the oil and lubed the cylinders but it wouldn't turn over by hand so I pulled it apart to examine it and 1 piston was was frozen so I decided to send it in for a rebuild,but the machinist said no fixing this one,sucks but I'm only out the price of pistons and whatever I'm charged by the shop because i accumulated parts for a 400 that I have over the years ,rods,cam bearings,mains,rods etc and sent them in with 350

[Gach]

Not 350 blocks but I’ve found 400 and 455 blocks with lifter bore cracks, 3 of them.

[Mr Twister]

We used to throw those on the scrap pile. Unless its a numbers matching deal, find a good, uncompromised 350 block. They usually are cheap.

[Schurkey]

Originally Posted by Rar_421

it got it water in it this spring while I was in the hospital and the building owner never told me about his roofing problem... ...1 piston was was frozen so I decided to send it in for a rebuild,but the machinist said no fixing this one,sucks but I'm only out the price of pistons and whatever I'm charged by the shop

And so you're sending a bill for the shop charge plus the value of the engine to the building owner, because his faulty building caused your damages?

[64speed]

Everyone knows from my build thread what happened to my lifter valley

[thepontiacman]

I should have a 68 350 if interested. Located in AL.

Sounds like you might be moving on to a 400.



Sent from my Moto Z3 Play using Tapatalk

[mgarblik]

Personally, I wouldn't even consider repairing a 350 Pontiac block unless the following. 1. A numbers matching block for an extremely low mileage car with sentimental value. 2. One of the very few rare 350 HO engines going in a restoration. Otherwise, I would have the machine shop just keep it vs paying to have it shipped back. Although most of those freeze cracks can be repaired, another tiny crack can be missed somewhere and set up a long, drawn out unhappy experience. 350 Pontiac blocks are out there in good condition for slightly more than free. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

[4dblnkldude]

As more time goes on these cars/engines sit longer and are rotting more profusely. Mgarblick is right!!

[b-man]

Some years back I gave away a standard bore 1968 350 block. Got tired of storing it and moving it around, same as the guy who gave it to me in the first place. I couldn’t help myself and took it knowing I’d probably never use it. I ended up giving it to a friend who builds a lot of engines for his Pontiac club, hopefully it ended up in someone’s grocery getter or something similar.

They’re really shipping that junk cracked 350 block back to you? Tell them to forget shipping it and put it in their scrap pile.

[grandam1979]

I have a 69 350 listed cheap if it helps.

[Rar_421]

Originally Posted by b-man

Some years back I gave away a standard bore 1968 350 block. Got tired of storing it and moving it around, same as the guy who gave it to me in the first place. I couldn’t help myself and took it knowing I’d probably never use it. I ended up giving it to a friend who builds a lot of engines for his Pontiac club, hopefully it ended up in someone’s grocery getter or something similar.

They’re really shipping that junk cracked 350 block back to you? Tell them to forget shipping it and put it in their scrap pile.

It's not a typical shipping job,we have a regional parts store chain here,my block and crank were sent to another store which is part of the chain and happens to do the machine work for the other stores,every night the truck leaves my local store and goes to the warehouse to pick up parts and drops off everything from diesel motors out of dozers to snowmobile cylinders to be sleeved,so it's not like I hired a shipping company to get the block there,besides I have my crankshaft, pistons,rings, bearings,camshaft with the block

[Rar_421]

Got my block back,I see where it's marked,but not seeing any visible crack??

[LM93]

Shine a flashlight at different angles to see If you can find a shadow. Scratches reflect light, cracks don't. The machinist may have found the crack by magnaflux test, and I have seen false positives from surface imperfections on welds. Maybe lightly sanding the area down and retesting is warranted.