Frozen block

Michael Pliska · 02-25-2009, 03:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIZMANRACING

a little problem happened to me the other day. i went and got my racecar out of storage. it sat all winter in the yard in the trailer. when i opened the door to the trailer under the car was a nice little 1 5/8 freeze plu from my motor. looks like it the one of the 2 in the rear of the block.

all freeze plugs have been pushed out "some" only one is all the way out. my question is what are the odds that i did damage to this block? how do i know one way or the other.

my intensions are to pull it. then replace all the freeze out plugs with new ones and pressure test the motor in place with a radiator test pump. if it holds 13 lbs i'm figuring i'm good to go. any other inputs. sides i'm a dumb ***.

news flash to self. half draining the raditor in the middle of winter filling the remainer with antifreeze and then running the electric water pump dosn't do a good enough job. who knew.

signed. screwed before he got started, and never kissed.

You probably don't want to know my experience (which was very similar). Mine had a huge crack in the lifter valley (350 Chevy). I JB-Welded it up, and it still runs to this day.

Regards,

dak · 02-25-2009, 03:41 PM

I did the same thing a couple of years ago. Maybe I go lucky, never had a problem with a crack. What I did have a problem with was I did not change out the frost plugs and lost 2 of them the first time I had the motor up to temp.

Replace the frost plugs. Pressure test it, if it holds I think you'd be good.

About the draining the rad and adding anti freeze. I rented out my garage to some buddies to store their race cars 1 year and during a real cold snap 1 of the guys showed up just to check the rad/water. He drained the rad, added antifreeze ran the pump to mix it up and the freezing temp of the coolant did not go below freezing... It baffled us for a bit.

We fired the car up, got it up to temp and then retested the coolant and then it regestered below zero. I think that the anti freeze and water need heat to mix properly.

R&S Motorsports · 02-25-2009, 07:21 PM

I did have a engine block that cracked. It didnt crack for the same reason but I also JB welded it and as far as I know the guy I sold the motor to still runs it that way today.

reknapp52 · 02-25-2009, 07:29 PM

Have you pulled the oil dipstick and checked it? If it shows about 3 quarts above the full line, you've got cracks inside, probably in the lifter valley area.

buzzinhalfdozen · 02-26-2009, 08:04 AM

This may be an odd question, but why would you leave water in any engine, the minerals in water attack almost every part of the cooling system. My suggestion (take it for what it's worth) drain the block and rad. go buy 2 gals. of premix antifreeze and pour it in, this would eliminate the potential for freezing and the antifreeze helps stop the errosion effects of water. Joe.....P.S. I've been told by may Rad. manufactures that you should use distilled water in a race motor as all the nasty stuff has been boiled away

02-25-2009, 03:41 PM	#2
dak Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: west coast Posts: 26 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Frozen block I did the same thing a couple of years ago. Maybe I go lucky, never had a problem with a crack. What I did have a problem with was I did not change out the frost plugs and lost 2 of them the first time I had the motor up to temp. Replace the frost plugs. Pressure test it, if it holds I think you'd be good. About the draining the rad and adding anti freeze. I rented out my garage to some buddies to store their race cars 1 year and during a real cold snap 1 of the guys showed up just to check the rad/water. He drained the rad, added antifreeze ran the pump to mix it up and the freezing temp of the coolant did not go below freezing... It baffled us for a bit. We fired the car up, got it up to temp and then retested the coolant and then it regestered below zero. I think that the anti freeze and water need heat to mix properly.

02-25-2009, 07:21 PM	#3
R&S Motorsports Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Wind Lake, WI Posts: 54 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Frozen block I did have a engine block that cracked. It didnt crack for the same reason but I also JB welded it and as far as I know the guy I sold the motor to still runs it that way today.

02-25-2009, 07:29 PM	#4
reknapp52 Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Cascade, CO Posts: 48 Likes: 22 Liked 7 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Frozen block Have you pulled the oil dipstick and checked it? If it shows about 3 quarts above the full line, you've got cracks inside, probably in the lifter valley area.

02-26-2009, 08:04 AM	#5
buzzinhalfdozen Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bellevue Ohio Posts: 984 Likes: 0 Liked 11 Times in 8 Posts	Re: Frozen block This may be an odd question, but why would you leave water in any engine, the minerals in water attack almost every part of the cooling system. My suggestion (take it for what it's worth) drain the block and rad. go buy 2 gals. of premix antifreeze and pour it in, this would eliminate the potential for freezing and the antifreeze helps stop the errosion effects of water. Joe.....P.S. I've been told by may Rad. manufactures that you should use distilled water in a race motor as all the nasty stuff has been boiled away __________________ Joe Buchanan SS/BX 3117

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