What should I do?

proxses

Founding Member
Dec 12, 2000
620
0
0
Dayton, Oh
Well, my project was well underway. I have a 331 stoker kit from Eagle that I was prepping for assembly. I checked the block clearances and just sent the block out to be hot tanked, honed, and checked for piston to wall clearance. Then I got the news.
I have a cracked block! Right at the main webs! This is after I fould out last month that my oil pump was bad, sending metal into my bearings. Oh, and I had too much preload on my clutch, which caused the thrust to wear out on the crank. The reason I'm doing a stroker to begin with.
Why does everything break at the same time! I will have no more money after this! And just in time to buy x-mas gifts!!! Sorry, a bit upset.

Anyway, should I just go ahead and get a sportsman block, and never have to worry about it cranking. Especially since I am adding boost to the stroker mix?

Cliffs: Block cranked at main webs. Sportsman block for blown stroker? Or stay stock.
 
I cannot speak from experience but from what I have heard about the sportsman is that it is stronger at the webs, but the weakest point of the block is the same as regular, the cam and lifter valley. I would either get another stock block or if your going to spend $800-900, save another and get a Dard or R block and be done with the block issue.
 
im in the same boat. except i put it together, drove it for 14 miles, blew a head gasket. ran into more complications with it down for the new gaskets, 2 weeks later get it going again. idles good, fix some complications, then just as im going out to drive it, blows again. block is cracked. :(

im also going with a 331 this time around instead of the 306 i had. blowing a 331 will definately make enough power to crack a block. its worth the investment imo to avoid bs like this.

good luck with your situation. im paying for mine in a couple days as well.
 
If it was a natually aspirated application, I'd say Sportsman. That's what I bought for my new 342 build. Since you're going blown I'd lean toward an R block or Dart block if you can swing it. If not you could go the Sportsman route but you'd be treading thin ice. The Sportsmans weigh about 10 pounds more than a Stock block so that's a pretty decent amount of additional strength over stock. Good balancing and machining plus a decent main girdle will also help keep it alive.