Any Old Iron!

[MiNiKiN]

To be fair the seller was open about the issues, what a price, lucky seller

Makes you wonder what caused the issue, could it really be over tightening on a stud ?

Oil in the blind hole. Once you tighten it up the hydraulic pressure cracks the material. My best guess on the cause...

[timmy201]

I'd think because both stud holes are cracked the same direction it would more likely be due to a drop/impact while the cap/studs were installed.

[mk1]

I'd think because both stud holes are cracked the same direction it would more likely be due to a drop/impact when the cap/studs were installed.

That was my guess too.

I was not criticising the seller, he was perfectly honest about the damage. I do wonder about the bidders though.

[Costafortune]

As soon as you can buy all this stuff new again at a reasonable price, particularly cranks (most of which were scrap 30 years ago) then the price of all this stuff will drop to what it should be, i.e 50 quid and a Twix.

All these blocks, cracked, milled, bodged, bored and sleeved to buggery, cranks ground to 50 thou and probably full of cracks - just door stops depriving a foundry of a decent feed.

[Hipwell]

FWIW, Those on Instagram, (probably not many lol), KAD repaired this (or what looks much the same failure) on another S block this week.

Theres numerous pics/videos, midway screengrab.

[mk1]

A job well done, but at what cost?

https://www.instagram.com/p/CoIkp9QoGw7/

[360gts]

Sometimes it is worth paying the $$ when you get such incredibly professional work. You can drive home with a smile on your face knowing that you got what you paid for.

Hats off to British engineering once again. Compare that to the sort of crap work that I have seen here in Western Canada.....to rub salt in the wound is the cavalier attitude and the ridiculous prices that we are subjected to.

That is a beautiful piece of workmanship......would love to have that option here.

[mk1]

I bet the cost was twice that of a decent second hand block though.

[360gts]

I bet the cost was twice that of a decent second hand block though.

Could be Mark, but the point is....maybe the owner wanted to retain that block...maybe the date etc. was important....
As I said.....sometimes it is worth paying for top workmanship.
I would trade our crap for that any day. Just my opinion.

[Exminiman]

Sort of raises the question, about the MS block and what date code would it have.

Probably not practical, but would be good if you could choose date code you wanted

Closer to the original block the better in my view

I can understand someone wanting to keep original block that came with car, but other than that, a replacement block is just another block with a date code that's close.....from another car.

[mk1]

Sort of raises the question, about the MS block and what date code would it have.

Probably not practical, but would be good if you could choose date code you wanted

That ain't going to happen, is it. How could you order a date coded block when the numbers are cast into it, it would mean them being cast to order. .

[Exminiman]

Sort of raises the question, about the MS block and what date code would it have.

Probably not practical, but would be good if you could choose date code you wanted

That ain't going to happen, is it. How could you order a date coded block when the numbers are cast into it, it would mean them being cast to order. As with all stuff like this 90+ % will be going to Racers who don't give a stuff about things like this.

Guessed as much, Just thought would be icing on the cake.....cant be beyond the wit of man....

[mk1]

The only way that anyone can get costs down on a project like this is by casting a large number of blocks in one go & machining them in the same way. Invariably there is as much cost in setting up as there is in machining time. Doing a large number together amortises the set up cost over a large number of items. Doing them individually would push the price up exponentially. I doubt that anyone would want to swallow the cost of a date coded block, even if someone was prepared to do them.

[Costafortune]

Imagine talking about date coded blocks 40 or 50 years ago.

[mk1]

Imagine talking about date coded blocks 40 or 50 years ago.

Indeed

[mk1coopers]

Just 3D print a date code, stick it to the block, paint over it ?

[251 ENG]

Historic race cars haven't had to use cooper s blocks for years .

I think they would be very limited demand for new blocks for appendix K 1293 race engines

Formula Juniors have to use blocks with tappet chest covers but technically they should be AEG 151 thin flange ones

[bubbacluby]

Sort of raises the question, about the MS block and what date code would it have.

What are Minispares up to with their recast a-series blocks?
I haven't seen or heard anything about them since IMM60?

[Exminiman]

Phoned them up last week to ask the question, transferred to someone “ who would know”.was told maybe by end of this year, more likely early next….still some testing to do though. If anyone knows any more please do chime in

[Exminiman]

Just 3D print a date code, stick it to the block, paint over it ?

Thats all I could think of, maybe in aluminium……..possible factory option or kit, for those who need it or want it….

Had my tongue firmly in my cheek when I suggested it though ……