Found some small cracks in my L33 block???

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May 27, 2013 | 05:30 PM

flipt86

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Found some small cracks in my L33 block???

Bought this motor as a pull out and I was disassembling it down to the shortblock to check out the internals today...

I found three very small hairline cracks around the edge of the oil galley plug that is right above the oil filter.

They look superficial, and I do not think they extend past the thin lip that encompasses the plug.

Here are my questions... The rest of this motor so far has looked pretty good. I was going to take it to the machine shop and have it re-ringed, honed, and have them check out the bearings, so I think they could tack these up with a TIG pretty easily, but...

1. Do you guys think these are from a casting imperfection?

2. If not, what would cause these? I can't find any other cracks anywhere else. The starter boss and all of the other holes on the outside of the block look great.

Opinions on whether or not I should even have these welded up?

Pics.

Thanks,

May 27, 2013 | 06:56 PM

S10xGN

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Being a threaded plug, cracks there shouldn't be an issue, but! WTF would cause that area to crack in the first place? I wonder if someone tried ramming a cup plug in there, I'd want to find out more before trusting it...

May 27, 2013 | 07:52 PM

flipt86

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I know right ^^
The stock allen head plug was in the hole... Nothing has ever been touched on this motor as far as I can tell. Stock everything, most bolts had never been touched. You could tell that nothing had been broken loose in the past. None of the bolts had any marks on them, and all of the gaskets were stock GM. Plugs and wires didn't even look to have ever been changed. Ran the VIN and supposedly only 58,xxx on this motor. IDK??

May 27, 2013 | 08:30 PM

RonSSNova

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Well, it wasn't leaking before, right? It would have been caked in oil and dirt. I wouldn't worry about it. Looks like it cracked when the machine cut the pocket for the plug.

May 27, 2013 | 08:36 PM

flipt86

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Quote:

Originally Posted by RonSSNova

Well, it wasn't leaking before, right? It would have been caked in oil and dirt. I wouldn't worry about it. Looks like it cracked when the machine cut the pocket for the plug.

My thoughts after studying it were the same as yours. I personally at this point believe it happened at GM during manufacturing, but I want to get as many peoples opinion on it before I decide whether to have them tacked up or put it out of mind. I am interested to see if anyone has seen anything similar or not on any other blocks.

No leaks, it was dry as a bone around the plug.

Thanks!

May 27, 2013 | 08:56 PM

RonSSNova

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I just happen to be working on an L33 as well, the block is on the workbench.

Same cracks as yours! I didn't remove the plugs either.
I think you are good to go!

Ron

May 27, 2013 | 09:59 PM

Italianjoe1

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If it wasn't leaking, and it doesn't go anywhere near the threads, i'd leave it be. It's not a high-stress area, and cracks like that aren't going to propagate further into the block.