Engine: Bummer... crack in cylinder wall

[mmagic]

Getting the Champ 259 cleaned up, I think I see a crack in #7 cylinder wall. It could just be a score as it does go perfectly straight up the wall but I'm not optimistic.

Question: Is a sleeve an economical option?

[Kurt]

Put the word out locally. I bet someone has a good block you could use. I had one a few years ago with a crack between the two core plugs. It didn't take very long to find another.

[starliner62]

Putting a sleeve in a block is no big deal to an experienced machine shop. We do many sleeves with no issues and is is not too expensive.

[ROADRACELARK]

If you're interested in keeping the "Original" engine for authenticity reasons, the sleeve is the answer. You would have to disassemble your engine anyway, to use another block.

Dan Miller
Auburn, GA

[PackardV8]

It could just be a score as it does go perfectly straight up the wall.

More likely a score from a broken ring. Cast iron seldom-to-never cracks in a perfectly straight line up the cylinder wall. Only way to be 100% sure what it is a pressure test.

And yes, a sleeve is an inexpensive fix. However, with members here scrapping 259" blocks on a daily basis, another block is certainly an inexpensive fix also.

jack vines

[DEEPNHOCK]

Heed this reply!

More likely a score from a broken ring. Cast iron seldom-to-never cracks in a perfectly straight line up the cylinder wall. Only way to be 100% sure what it is a pressure test.

And yes, a sleeve is an inexpensive fix. However, with members here scrapping 259" blocks on a daily basis, another block is certainly an inexpensive fix also.

jack vines

[mmagic]

More likely a score from a broken ring. Cast iron seldom-to-never cracks in a perfectly straight line up the cylinder wall.

jack vines

I wanted to hear that as I had marked the piston and turned up and down confirming it was a straight line... the eternal optimist in me was fading fast. Top side is now cleaned and I'll pull the pan so I'll turn it and pull that piston and see if there isn't a broken ring. That would be awesome. Cylinder surfaces look pristine but the pistons are random oversizes.