This guy went to great lengths to save his A-12 block…

[QuickBpBp]

This is crazy. I get the whole numbers matching thing but I think I would have just kept it with the car… The guy did a good job trying to save it but I wouldn’t trust how weak it probably is and the mess in the oil galleys..
Here it is…

 

[gtx6970]

How would it even be possible to read any stamped numbers in that ???

 

[QuickBpBp]

How would it even be possible to read any stamped numbers in that ???

His responses…

 

[ykf7b0]

Impressive!

 

[64BEL]

Wow - that's kind of the engine version of a rebody.

 

[pnora]

Still will need a ton of cleaning. How would you clean all the oil galleys?

 

[eldubb440]

is that what they mean by "boat anchor"?

 

[QuickBpBp]

Wow - that's kind of the engine version of a rebody.

No the rebody would be restamping a clean HP block…

 

[6PKRTSE]

How is that block rotted so badly? I have seen piles of engines in the junk yards that have been sitting outside and sitting submerged into mud and water for 50+ years that are not eroded that badly??? I doubt those numbers were legible. I am guessing re-stamped another block. It's amazing how many "so called" numbers matching cars exist today.

 

[QuickBpBp]

How is that block rotted so badly? I have seen piles of engines in the junk yards that have been sitting outside and sitting submerged into mud and water for 50+ years that are not eroded that badly??? I doubt those numbers were legible. I am guessing re-stamped another block. It's amazing how many "so called" numbers matching cars exist today.

Here is what happened….It was face down so I bet the side rail vin pad numbers were fine like he said…

 

[6PKRTSE]

Hell, one of my 440's was a running and driving engine, until I pulled it for a rebuild. Once I tore it down, the side core plug areas were corroded so badly. I was shocked that it did not leak coolant. I had to re-machine them up to a Big Block Chevy 1-3/4" size cup plug.

 

[4speed68rt]

I don't think that block increases the value of that,or any, car. I'd be pissed if I bought the car and found out that was the motor in it. Find another block and build it right and keep that one as a prop and tell the story... then get in the car and drive, confidently. Then you will have some real value.

 

[BeepBeepRR]

I watched fabrats pull a boat out of Lake Havasu I think thats spelled right. It was under water for 30 years. Olds 455 I believe. And it looked way better than that block for being under water for 30 years.

 

[QuickBpBp]

I watched fabrats pull a boat out of Lake Havasu I think thats spelled right. It was under water for 30 years. Olds 455 I believe. And it looked way better than that block for being under water for 30 years.

Fresh water along with less oxygen will actually slow the process down..

 

[QuickBpBp]

I don't think that block increases the value of that,or any, car. I'd be pissed if I bought the car and found out that was the motor in it. Find another block and build it right and keep that one as a prop and tell the story... then get in the car and drive, confidently. Then you will have some real value.

I agree that is why I said I would have just kept it with the car instead…. Pictures of this block if it gets assembled and installed devalues the car IMO…

 

[oldkimmer]

He said it was blown up so there is probably nothing there to salvage. Kim

 

[ykf7b0]

The bores look incredibly good, and it seems to me the block was standing in dirt and mud only on the timing chain/water pump end which accumulated the most crust. His car only has "one" numbers matching engine and this is it. I totally agree with the builder of the A-12 Super Bee for putting forth the effort of acquiring and refurbishing this block.

 

[QuickBpBp]

He said it was blown up so there is probably nothing there to salvage. Kim

Spun a bearing or something like that…not catastrophic like the rust is/was..

 

[oldkimmer]

Spun a bearing or something like that…not catastrophic like the rust is/was..

Then it was hurt not blown up.

 

[QuickBpBp]

Then it was hurt not blown up.

Exactly, a lot of people refer to a "blown" engine in different fashions when it's really not especially 50 years ago.. Wiped cam, rod knock, blown head gasket, spun a bearing, bent valve etc...