A460 block with cracked main cap

I'm looking at buying a used a460 block, but the current owner told me the front main cap is cracked. Anyone here ever broken a cap on one? Should I consider buying this if the price is right? My brother runs a machine shop so replacing the caps and and boring the mains can be done for just the price of the caps. Are the mains available separate from the block?

Thanks Derek

Make sure it's the cap and not the block that is cracked at #1. There has to be a blown A460 sitting somewhere with a good #1 cap.

dfree383 wrote:I never heard of cracking caps as a problem, I'd be worried about other stress problems, what was the block used for??

Yeah I'm worried about that also. He didn't say what the block was used for. If I could get it cheap enough I think it might be worth my time. It seems to me it could be two things, either it could have possibly been a defective cap, or the block has underwent lots of abuse, or a combination of the two.

OR ... someone dropped the block on the front main.

rmcomprandy wrote:OR ... someone dropped the block on the front main.

........ .......

rmcomprandy wrote:OR ... someone dropped the block on the front main.

odder things have happened.

I'm pretty sure I have an extra front main from an A-460 block. Just got to find it in the garage.

Uncle Charlie

c.evans wrote:I'm pretty sure I have an extra front main from an A-460 block. Just got to find it in the garage.

Uncle Charlie

Thanks Charlie, I'll get with you if the deal goes through.

rmcomprandy wrote:OR ... someone dropped the block on the front main.

I 've seen that done. It cracked the block right next to the front main stud.

It turns out that the block is cracked in the main saddle. I could've swore that he said the cap was cracked, but I may have just misunderstood him.

derek528 wrote:It turns out that the block is cracked in the main saddle. I could've swore that he said the cap was cracked, but I may have just misunderstood him.

buy the caps

derek528 wrote:It turns out that the block is cracked in the main saddle.

Usually the result of a spun main that got really hot, the main almost always cracks perpendicular to the saddle right across (and through) the main oil feed, or it cracks in-line with the saddle from the main oil feed to the cam oil feed....or it cracks in both places.

Technically, such a main web crack is repairable by knowledgeable and experienced expert, but in an A460 block that may see gobs of power you are better off starting with a clean slate.

Paul

Derek, what is the asking price for this block?