cracked block
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cracked block
I have a 77 400 that I was going to build but the machine shop found a crack in the lifter valley. I read somewhere here about the casting numbers and how to tell a good block. I can't find it so could someone enlighten me? Thanks Marty
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Joined: Nov 2001
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From: Phoenix USA
I had the same problem, and here is the answer, from "How to build your FORD V-8 (351C-400). Basically the blocks were cast in only two locations, The Cleveland Foundry or the Michigan Casting Center. Those cast at MCC before 2 March 1977 experienced water jacket cracking problems immediately above the lifter bores due to an internal coring problem. You can identify the blocks by looking at the casting numbers located on top of the block at the rear near the oil pressure sending unit port. The MCC blocks are identified by a large M above two C's printed within each other. and the date code would be 7C01 or earlier for the bad blocks.
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From: PacNW
351M/400 blocks were cast in 3 locations: DIF (Detroit Iron Foundry), CF (Cleveland Foundry) and MCC (Michigan Casting Center). The DIF blocks are mostly the early 400 blocks and I've never heard of anyone having a problem with them. Likewise you can be pretty comfortable with a CF block. If you have a MCC block with an earlier date code than 7C01 then you can be pretty certain it will eventually crack even if it hasn't yet. I know of 2 guys who have rebuilt motors with one of these blocks and had them crack even though they ran fine for over 20 years before they were rebuilt.
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Maryville
http://home.earthlink.net/~bubbaf250/parts/pics02.html
Look at the main caps, mine were CF. I used this and a few other's for reference when deciding on what should be done with my 351M powered F-150.
Look at the main caps, mine were CF. I used this and a few other's for reference when deciding on what should be done with my 351M powered F-150.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: In the woods of Oregon
The DIF blocks have a higher nickel content,I've heard (don't know if this is legend or what but I have read it before in an article talking about the bad rap the 335 blocks had for cracking)
can someone confirm this, or how could we test?
can someone confirm this, or how could we test?
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From: PacNW
I haven't bought into the higher nickel content theory and all the info I've seen simply says that the MCC problems stemmed from core shift in the castaings. All of the blocks have the casting location codes on the top back near the oil presuure sending unit port.
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