stitch metal

[60Buick]

Anyone ever stitched a block?

I am getting my blue 60 flattop ready for the road and when I crawled under it and FUCK!!!!, the block has a foot long freeze crack from front to back. I don't want to pull the engine and I can get to it from the bottom pretty easy now that the starter is out but I can't braze it up side down. Stitching is the best way to fix cast, has anyone here done it?

[StrayCat]

It's actually very very easy to do. And almost fool proof. I say "almost" because the only thing that will mess you up are shadows. You will need to have a lamp above and below and have your eyesight at the right angle to do this with the motor still in the car. If you can find the "snap off" type it's easiest. Just use a torque wrench and they snap off when they get to max, so you dont accidentlly pound one down too hard.

[jlprigmore]

Wow! I never even knew there was such a thing as "stitching" a block. Thought if the block was cracked it was a lost cause. Thanks for posting this! I will be watching it closely for responses from the guru's so I can be edumacated some more!

[Beast Lee]

I used JB Weld on a major cracked block on a '62 Chevy V8 years ago... The block was cracked horizontally just below the head, as well as a connecting vertical crack, stuck out about a 1/4"... Cleaned the crack area well, mixed up the JB Weld, smeared it on there, once it hardened, fixed... No leaks, no issues, no problems...