Questionable epoxy/weld job

[Amsterdamned96]

This is an ALLEGEDLY low-mileage 4-bolt main Gen iv 454. I’ve been told it’s been damaged by a fire, I can’t wether this is what caused to block warp & tear. The bore measures stock and the cross-hatching is intact, the interior also showed little wear coinciding with the low mileage.
There is however a crack at cyl 8, (right besides the oil filter) that has been filled with some two-component epoxy. There also appear to be two porous spot welds, not sure if this is just slag or a particularly bad weld.

I hope to hear your thoughts on this, I’m by no means a welder so please correct me if I’m wrong.

See the photos below.

Edit;
it’s actually by the outer wall of cyl. 7, also the epoxy produces a ding when tapped with a screwdriver or rock hammer. Is that a trait of JB weld or other steel based two-component putty?

 

[Amsterdamned96]

Just to clarify as to why I’m making this thread, I’d like to know if anyone has an understanding of what causes this kind of fracture/tear.

I’ll give it pass-over with a straightedge once acquired, if it’s warped. Is it worth resurfacing considering it’s been welded?

 

[someotherguy]

So you're acquiring this engine block for what purpose..

..boat anchor? I think they have purpose-built ones, these days

Richard

 

[Amsterdamned96]

So you're acquiring this engine block for what purpose..

..boat anchor? I think they have purpose-built ones, these days

Richard

Funny.. I have to acquire a straight-edge.

 

[someotherguy]

Funny.. I have to acquire a straight-edge.

A hardware store gimme yardstick might work better than that sketchy big block.

Richard

 

[Amsterdamned96]

This is not a laughing matter to me, even a scrapyard high-mileage block will set me back about 750€ Here in europe. Perhaps even more for a well-kept 4 bolt main.

 

[stutaeng]

I don't think you can make anything of what was done to it with that paint coating over it...remove the paint and inspect?

Is it an imperfection of the casting process itself? Welded? JB "Welded"/Epoxy? Bondo? Have you seen the vice painted a pretty color from China...until guys grind away the paint and it reveals huge bondo patches!

Can you take it somewhere to get it maganfluxed?

Disclaimer: I'm not an engine builder, just a DIYer...

 

[someotherguy]

This is not a laughing matter to me, even a scrapyard high-mileage block will set me back about 750€ Here in europe. Perhaps even more for a well-kept 4 bolt main.

Understood, but I'd hate to see someone dump money into machine work and build on a block that may split in half the moment you mat the pedal. It sure looks like someone made a real half-assed effort to patch that thing up, and even less of an effort to hide it.

Richard

 

[Amsterdamned96]

I don't think you can make anything of what was done to it with that paint coating over it...remove the paint and inspect?

Is it an imperfection of the casting process itself? Welded? JB "Welded"/Epoxy? Bondo? Have you seen the vice painted a pretty color from China...until guys grind away the paint and it reveals huge bondo patches!

Can you take it somewhere to get it maganfluxed?

Disclaimer: I'm not an engine builder, just a DIYer...

That’s a fair point, I’ll take the coating of paint off the vertical/diagonal ‘weld’. The hard-to-spot porous weld by the oil filter is steel/metal, i’ve used a steel brush to get off the paint before I splattered the red aerosol on.

I’m looking all over and someone on the peninsula (Spanish mainland) ought to have the MPI/magnaflux equipment, I’m going to see if i can find a machinist/engineer and hopefully get both done in one trip.

 

[Amsterdamned96]

Understood, but I'd hate to see someone dump money into machine work and build on a block that may split in half the moment you mat the pedal. It sure looks like someone made a real half-assed effort to patch that thing up, and even less of an effort to hide it.

Richard

Yeah, it’s laughable. I don’t blame you.