thanks for the tips on welding, at the very least i can soak the nuts all winter so maybe it will come apart in the spring. and its the 254, it came out of a f6 and it has the 8 on the head. i see you picked up on the merryman herringbone Stu. thats how they had it posted on the auction listing. now its just kinda a joke around here. the kids call it mater, as in tow-mater off the movie cars. anyway, if anyone knows of one for sale let me know, if not i am sure i can find someone to weld it. after i stuck my head under it tho the crack is worse than i thought so replacement would be my first choice.