Thread: Have I cracked the Block?

The normal 'cracked block' failure mode of these (and all 94mm bore blocks) is cracking behind the liners, not the webs. Those marks dont appear to be cracks, but its hard to tell from the picture. If you have overheated the engine, have a close look at liners. If any have dropped below the block deck then it's most likely you have a crack behind the liner which releases it's grip on the liner and allows it to move.

I'll run with Taz .... I would expect cracks would be more "Hair line" rather than broad & shiny



Mike

They look more like scratches.

This is what a slipped liner looks like:

Originally Posted by p38arover

They look more like scratches.

This is what a slipped liner looks like:

for a sec I just couldn't work this out and then I saw the engine was upside down.... like in a tiger moth... I hadn't realised they were that way in P38s...

....I don't know if that's a dead mosquito,... or something worse.... in the bore...

seriously, an instructive pic - thanks Ron

regards - Laurie

might be worth getting a dye penetration test done just for peace of mind...

you can buy the 4 spray can packs that comprise the test kit if you want to DIY for about $30 but most reputable machining shops should have a kit and may do the test for you for a small fee, it takes about an hour to do but is a case of spraying each can on in turn and waiting the prescribed time between the different sprays.

Originally Posted by 87County

for a sec I just couldn't work this out and then I saw the engine was upside down.... like in a tiger moth... I hadn't realised they were that way in P38s...

....I don't know if that's a dead mosquito,... or something worse.... in the bore...

seriously, an instructive pic - thanks Ron

regards - Laurie

The engine was in a scrap metal bin (not mine) when I photographed it. It is a 3.9, not a P38A 4.0/4.6 - I'll invert the image. You may need to refresh the page to see the upright image.

thanks for all the info, the block will be off to an engineer on Monday.

Can anyone recommend (if thats allowed) a good workshop in the Nth Canberra area?

Ron,

How do you put the photo in the text?


while pulling the engine down I found that the Flex Plate was only just hanging on - see pic

Cheers
David

Originally Posted by Guesty

Ron,

How do you put the photo in the text?

Like this:




When you are creating a message, see the image symbol on the second row (5th from the RHS)? Click on it and a dialogue box will open. Put the URL of the pic in there and click OK.

That was lucky, finding that broken flex plate. Two of mine broke around the centre.