So I 'm starting to get to work on the 383 when I find this

[bigmanjbmopar]

Take a look at this crack in the cam valley, I tugged on it and it's not loose but what should I do force it off?? What if I don't and it falls in and boom there goes the cam and who knows what else, this is my back up enging but that would suck to drop it in and only have it last a few miles.

 

[nothingbutdarts]

Unless it uncovers part of the lifter when you take it off, I wouldn't worry about it!

 

[tpodwdog]

that looks like something from the casting.if youre that concerned. put a bunch of magnets around it and see if it will break off.if it does break off...the magnets will grab it !

 

[MikeStahl]

looks like a Casting flaw to me....run it!

 

[MarPar]

Ouch. can you feel around to the backside and see if it's all the way through?

it doesnt seem like it from the pics. the left side looks solid. the right side seems worrisome.

btw Bigman, thank you for gettin me in touch with Steve. he took real good care of me. i installed it thursday and it works great!!

 

[snakeoil24]

Looks like standard Mopar casting flaw.

 

[RustyRatRod]

I don't like it. I'd knock it out and dress it up.

 

[roadrunnerman]

I myself would be leery to leave it like that. If you do run it, some piece could break off and get into your oil then into your oil pump. It's your call if you feel comfortable with it.

 

[snakeoil24]

You can incapsulate it in Industrial Epoxy and forget about it.

 

[Meep-Meep]

That's broke alright. Question is how long do you think it was like that? On one hand you can leave it alone if it hasn't gone anywhere and seems stable, but like Rusty said, I'd much prefer you to break it off and clean it up if it's hanging by a thread. What you don't want to do is break more than you have to.

 

[747mopar]

I don't no that I'd say that it is cracked, my 400 block has casting flaws that look a lot like that in the same area although not so deep. Cracked or not if it is a deep casting flaw it might as well be cranked and could be a problem. I would give it the hammer test if it takes a good wack without budging forget it.

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

Ouch. can you feel around to the backside and see if it's all the way through?

it doesnt seem like it from the pics. the left side looks solid. the right side seems worrisome.

btw Bigman, thank you for gettin me in touch with Steve. he took real good care of me. i installed it thursday and it works great!!

Great, hope he didn't over charge? he called me back trying to tell me he had to make more or have a at least a certain amount. I told him you worked directly for me out the Chicago office, Glad it worked out at least now you have a good pro system and for cost! lol Did you get it online for web viewing yet?

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

It's funny the story you uncover when you start on a motor. I was blasting the old paint off for a repaint and find what should be the original color of orange, followed by black on the 402 pan followed by a teal followed by a Chrysler blue. the intake had one final layer of aluminum lmao

I also uncovered what looks like a factory line check mark on the head, how to re paint and keep that?

 

[roadrunnerman]

Take some close detailed photo's of it and buy a yellow grease pen and when you repaint the motor just copy it back on the block.

 

[Cranky]

What type of use will this engine see? I'd take a small inspection mirror and see if the crack extends to the other side.

 

[MarPar]

you da man!!!

Great, hope he didn't over charge? he called me back trying to tell me he had to make more or have a at least a certain amount. I told him you worked directly for me out the Chicago office, Glad it worked out at least now you have a good pro system and for cost! lol Did you get it online for web viewing yet?

Nah, i dont think he over charged me. initial quote was 799 and he sold it to me for 650. im very happy with it!! lol
it works on my network right now, (very easy to setup btw) only took me a couple hours to configure it...
i started to fiddle with the smartphone thing on friday, but i didnt get it to work yet. i have 8 static ip's at my disposal, so ill probably host it myself. i downloaded the manual, but havent read through it yet. ill be fiddling with it this week sometime and get 'er done! thanks a bunch Bigman... :blob1:

 

[bigmanjbmopar]

What type of use will this engine see? I'd take a small inspection mirror and see if the crack extends to the other side.

It's all stock and will sit on the stand until needed if needed - fingers crossed I don't blow the 496 lmao. I just can't stand a dirty, leaking, wrong color, on the fly fixes motor sit in my garage like that seems disrespectful to the brand besides the low cost of a few gaskets and paint and bolts here and there and still under $150 to get it back to looking as awesome as the factory intended or better ;) is worth the fun I get to spend in my cave during the winter months

I will check it out again, I had the motor flipped over to get the oil pan off and new gaskets on it. Now wondering If I should have changed the rear main seals while I had it open? no sign of leaking but wonder if I should have anyway for piece of mind?

 

[RustyRatRod]

Here's the thing. Since we're not there to actually see it in person, it could be a casting flaw where some of the iron got "folded" over. In that case, it would be fine. From how it looks though, it surely looks cracked. If it is, I know how I would fix it.