Anybody ever Jb welded a block?

yoder519

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 1, 2010
Location
Abingdon, VA
So I bought a 98 chevy xcab 1500 4wd for dirt cheap. Radiator started leaking and the girl parked it for 2 years. So I bought shocks radiator and battery for it. Got to looking when I pulled the front tire off and there's a good crack in the block on both sides. I'm guessing she had water in it when she parked it and it froze. The motor runs excellent but antifreeze pours out it as soon as you put it in. So I'm gonna try my hand at Jb welding it. What's the worst that can happen? A leak? If it don't work I'll buy me a motor and still b in it cheap. Anybody ever done this? It's actually pretty common to do this on a cast iron block. From what I've read
 
There are some areas that JB Weld has worked. But first I'd try Liquid Glass. That's the common name, don't know the tech name. Used to be able to but it at the Drug Store. Maybe you still can. What you want to do, is block off the heater hoses, cause it will plug the heater core, & flush out ALL the antifreeze. This stuff only works with Water! Get the truck running & warmed up, leaving the radiator a good quart low. Used to get it in a quart jar. Pour it in, & let it idle. I'm not sure about the thermostat & pressure cap, might have to check Goggle. As it leaks out the crack, it hardens, as most stop leaks products do. Once your sure the cracks are plugged, Flushed that bugger out. You don't want any left inside, as it will gel up if antifreeze gets to it. If your lucky, this will be a permanent repair. Maybe some other older heads will jump in here, that have used Liquid Glass.
 
I'm a fan of JB Weld Steel Stick. Works good on fuel cells and transmission cases. It's a two part putty that isn't runny like regular JB Weld.
 
Jon aka @SwamperXJ JB welded the block on the boat... seems to work because he does it every year lol
 
I used it on our parts washer the pump housing was cast and it froze and cracked I Welded the outside and JB welded the inside. It never leaked at pressures much higher then a what a cooling system would ever see and about the same temperatures. Plus JB weld's packaging clearly states that farmers seal blocks with it all the time so it must work. Definitely worth a try.
 
I used it on an old f head jeep engine. Looked wet around it all the time, but never leaked. Make sure you get it CLEAN of oil before you apply it.
 
Blue Devil....It's at the parts store...block off heater hoses to core and pour it in. It works, I've used it several times...not cheap though. $40 a bottle or so. If that doesn't work I'd go for the JB. I went to Super Crawl in St. George Utah years ago (03' maybe) and saw a 4.0 jeep motor sling a rod out the side of the block on Saturday. That night they dropped the pan and fished the broken rod out of the motor, made a patch and glued it over the hole with JB weld, they ran it the next day on 5 cylinders and I think had a top 5 finish. So yeah, I've witnessed it work.
 
A guy at work was telling me about something like the te process you all are talking about with liquid glass but he said it was copper? The crack on one side is pretty big bough an i don't think that stuff would harden before it seeped out. I took a deemed tool to it and cleaned it up and put some Jb on it but it'll take a few coats to get the biggest part sealed. Maybe I can get it at least halfway sealed up with Jb then put te liquid glass in it? How long does the liquid glass take to harden?
 
The good news is there's no water in the oil and I don't have to buy freeze plugs because they didn't work haha
 
yoder519 said:
A guy at work was telling me about something like the te process you all are talking about with liquid glass but he said it was copper?
Click to expand...

The "copper" you refer to sounds like Bar's Leak. It has also been around for years, and I have used it. DO NOT run it through your heater core!... I learned the hard way. On the lighter side, I remember an old fellow talking about fixing a radiator leak by pouring oatmeal in the radiator. haven't tried that one myself... yet. :)
 
As long as I use off brand oat meal it may be worth doing! I'm hoping this is gonna work but if not I I can find a used motor for 500 or less I'll still be n the truck at a killer price
 
Bars leak has one that's called head gasket fix. It's expensive but works very well I used it as a temporary fix to stop a pouring head on a 6.5 diesel and ended up driving it 3 more years before selling it and as far as I know its still going.
 
I have used egg whites & pepper before on a radiator leak. Lasted about a month of daily driving.
 
Seriously Jeff b? I've heard of putting an egg in it as an old auction trick but didn't know if it was true or not. Got a little more Jb welded just now. Found a good trick to for those that ain't tried it, when u put the Jb on a vertical surface it tends to sag but if u stick a piece of notebook paper over it it stops the sag! When ur a half asser I guess u learn a few things
 
Here is the spot in question before I cleaned it up and jbd it. Pretty obvious the water froze as it's buckled out. Most would think it's to far gone but I just wana c if this will actually hold it
ai213.photobucket.com_albums_cc272_kxrider519_Mobile_20Uploads_image_zps0cddb564.jpg

ai213.photobucket.com_albums_cc272_kxrider519_Mobile_20Uploads_image_zps8189a376.jpg
 
With it being level with the freeze plugs I would think you could do a block fill. Old Hot Rodders used to do it to strengthen the bottom ends of stock blocks for classes that mandated them. Among other uses I am sure. Either way here is a link to the stuff, I think you can fill as high as the lower water jacket ports of the water pump.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/h...JTTQ0Cqh604VXrMkRh9NxeRN3r5s-wKbNyRoC-C7w_wcB
 
Thanks for the link I didn't know they even made such a thing. Defiantly might be worth a try
 
I bought this truck to be a 350, turns out it's a friggin 305 but oh well anyways after 2 packs of Jb, it still leaks but in one spot so I'm gonna just get a motor. If I buy an older, let's say tbi 305, can I use my existing intake on it without any mods? Older ones seem easier to find. I would do a 350 swap if I can find a donor truck for cheap so I can get the injectors and comp but if not a 305 will go back.
Leakage-

ai213.photobucket.com_albums_cc272_kxrider519_Mobile_20Uploads_image_zps797d38a4.jpg
 
I think your TBI stuff will work on a 350. you will need a computer. Somebody correct me if I am giving wrong info..
 
My is a a CPI. From what I've read everything will work minus injectors and comp
 
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