From what I could see, and it was hard to see, I did not see any significant cracks. Going to try to clean off around the mains studs after dinner and see if I can see anymore.
CK5
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painting stuff when its out is probably my favourite part. old stuff = new stuff!
Dont look to hard for cracks. Theres an old saying, dont ask questions you dont want to know the answer to 
Dont look to hard for cracks. Theres an old saying, dont ask questions you dont want to know the answer to
This. I now have 100% certainty that I'm driving a cracked block.
Knowing this has added absolutely nothing to my confidence level.
Yeah, but now you'll spend oodles of extra time trying to get it installed without scraping the new paint.
You know what you're looking for, right? The weaker sections of the main webs crack where the bolts run through them. You'll need to rotate the crank around to get a good look at each of the 6 webs. Pictures of my block for comparison:
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/the-great-smaug.313869/page-33#post-3825119
No, I didn't paint the oil pan.
Dont look to hard for cracks. Theres an old saying, dont ask questions you dont want to know the answer to
You have a point there.
Yeah, but now you'll spend oodles of extra time trying to get it installed without scraping the new paint.
Maybe. There are some minor scuffs on the valve covers, but nothing that breaks my heart. I doubt I’ll cry about it if it gets a little marred during reinstallation.
Valve covers are buttoned down. Tomorrow morning the oil pan goes back on.
You know what you're looking for, right? The weaker sections of the main webs crack where the bolts run through them. You'll need to rotate the crank around to get a good look at each of the 6 webs. Pictures of my block for comparison:
https://ck5.com/forums/threads/the-great-smaug.313869/page-33#post-3825119
No, I didn't paint the oil pan.
So I made a compromise between you and @78K30, I checked the ones I could see and skipped the ones I couldnt. As far as I can tell, I am crack free.
Ignorance is bliss, eh?
The place to look is the side with the cutaway surface (like the last picture). That side is both weaker and has that stress concentration around the protrusion.
Ignorance is bliss, eh?
The place to look is the side with the cutaway surface (like the last picture). That side is both weaker and has that stress concentration around the protrusion.
I’ll look again in the morning with fresh eyes before I put the pan back on. It all looks relatively decent though. And yes, ignorance IS bliss in most occasions.
Some wives complain that their husbands spend too much time watching football.
Others complain their husbands spend too much time playing video games.
This husband spends too much time working on his truck. But she doesn’t complain. “It’s for the family”, she keeps telling herself.
I keep telling myself that too.
Today will be for the family though. Going to get this oil pan back on this morning then pack it in. Got to pay back some time to the wife and kids after this week.
Others complain their husbands spend too much time playing video games.
This husband spends too much time working on his truck. But she doesn’t complain. “It’s for the family”, she keeps telling herself.
I keep telling myself that too.
Today will be for the family though. Going to get this oil pan back on this morning then pack it in. Got to pay back some time to the wife and kids after this week.
All buttoned up. This is where I’ll be leaving it for a few days:
At this point, this is the remaining list to have the engine compartment back together:
- harmonic balancer
- j code intake
- reinstall injector lines
Those should all get wrapped up this next week.
Then need to drop the transmission pan and replace the gasket. While it’s off, I’ll get the Transgo shift kit installed that I bought 2 years ago.
This thing should be ready to ride after that.
Right now, it’s time to give some back to the family. And I need a break anyways.
Andy
At this point, this is the remaining list to have the engine compartment back together:
- harmonic balancer
- j code intake
- reinstall injector lines
Those should all get wrapped up this next week.
Then need to drop the transmission pan and replace the gasket. While it’s off, I’ll get the Transgo shift kit installed that I bought 2 years ago.
This thing should be ready to ride after that.
Right now, it’s time to give some back to the family. And I need a break anyways.
Andy
Ignorance is bliss, eh?
The place to look is the side with the cutaway surface (like the last picture). That side is both weaker and has that stress concentration around the protrusion.
I forgot to mention, I looked again at the mains per your guidance (the ones I could see anyways), and I saw no cracks. So I was satisfied with that.
Has anyone ever installed the Transgo “700R4 2 and 3” shift kit before? I have been reading over the installation instructions and watching their help video (from 1992), and seems a bit beyond my skill level. Then again, I could just be getting intimidated by the tediousness of it and running with my tail between my legs. Just looking for some advice or feedback from anyone who’s done it before.
Actually, it's probably faster to give him a call during business hours.
https://www.phoenixtrans.com/
Dude! You’re killing it with the progress. Good job!
David
David
Thank you! It has been a lot of hard work and certainly has stretched my comfort zone as I have always considered this stuff beyond my abilities. But I will be excited to fire it up again soon, hopefully this week or next. Has been sitting since October I think.
Thanks for the tip, Ethan! It got me where I needed to be. I was able to speak with Greg, and he actually convinced me that based on my current build specs of my transmission (I will list below), the Transgo shift kit is unnecessary for my application. So it is up for sale to anyone who’s interested, I promise I’ll make you a reasonable deal!
It has not been opened until this past weekend and only so I could study the directions, the parts are still in their packaging as originally shipped to me. 
Here are the specs of my trans, the reason why @Greg Ducato suggested I forego the shift kit:
5 pinion front and rear planetary gears - factory GM parts
Beast Sun shell - thick billet steel
Corvette servo
New band clutches bushes seals washers gaskets
10 vein pump rotor
Drilled out plate
New sprag
K case
Today will be all about the harmonic balancer, if the weather holds out.
Andy
