Thought I'd start another thread.
I can remember a magazine article in the 70's about a drag car with a red motor. They actually bolted the top half of the block to the bottom half to stop it separating. I can't remember how fast it was going. I might still have the mag.
In my race car at the moment I have a crack in one of the bores. Bugger. Water in the oil. I've got chemiweld going through it at the moment to try to seal it . I'm in the throes of building another block.
If anyone has any old 173's laying around, I'll gladly take them.
Colin.
Col
I have actually seen a Holden Red with full length studs that went right through the block from the crankcase through the block and replaced the head bolts, to try and stop motors from separating. I have seen this in a Red powered Rail in QLD that was running an overdriven 4-71 blower on Methanol in 1986. I was working at a speed shop at the time and the owner of the rail was sponsored by the speed shop.
An absolute awesome piece of gear, it also ran a full steel girdle in place of the main caps, otherwise known as a ladder cap, which was the first time that I had ever seen that adopted. This was to combat the bottom end failures. Once they did that then blocks began to separate. I never actually saw a red motor that broke totally in half, but I have heard of it happening.
As far as the crack in the bore, sleeve it, chemi-weld, good stuff that it is, won't keep it sealed up. Or get another block.
Oh and PM sent re parts that I have for you
Keith
I have seen a two piece red block it cracked through the lifter bores and across the other side through the freeze plugs .....FC427......
Thanks, Keith. I've seen your PM. I'm trying to get to the meeting at Eastern creek in June. I probably won't have my new block ready by then. If it doesn't work, so be it.
Colin.
Chemi weld ROCKS !! i had it in my old car, ran for years without a drama ( had a blown head gasket...drove it form NSW to QLD without a problem...not sure how that works with a race motor...but all the best on your quest to get a new motor
Hope the Chemi weld hangs in there for ya !!
be nice to check out that motor you're talkn about in that 70's Mag
"Have a Great Holden ( FE ) Day !!! " :D :D :D
FE 4 ME