Damaged block installing block heater L5240

[Adiredneck]

Ya know, you make it sound pretty nice, maybe I'll go drill a couple holes in my block too.

I would not advise it!

Funny story for you all. Talking about those memories that you laugh about later..

Back in 2004, my wife and I sold our first house. We moved in with my parents for 6 months until we could find another house with some property. Parents have an outdoor wood boiler. Mom is notorious for taking a ripped or worn out piece of clothing and throwing it in the boiler. Dad hates it.

Well around Christmas time, mom tore a pair of pants and tossed them on in. Later that day, she realized that she had almost $1000.00 in the pocket that she was going to go Christmas shopping with!

I calmed her down and handed her a wad of cash (we were living there for free) so dad wouldn't find out. That weekend at Dinner, somehow the conversation turned to Christmas shopping. Sister and her fiancee were there.. Dad says your mother was out spending money again today. I piped right up as if doing some standup comedy and said "you know dad, the way she goes through money, you'd think she had it to burn". Evil stare from mom, smiles all around the table. (Everyone but him knew what happened).

Mom told him what happened, he shook his head and now we have a running joke. I think I will be hearing about the time I drilled a hole in my block for a long time!

 

[kuboman]

Isn't the moral here, dad is always right.?:laughing:

I would not advise it!

Funny story for you all. Talking about those memories that you laugh about later..

Back in 2004, my wife and I sold our first house. We moved in with my parents for 6 months until we could find another house with some property. Parents have an outdoor wood boiler. Mom is notorious for taking a ripped or worn out piece of clothing and throwing it in the boiler. Dad hates it.

Well around Christmas time, mom tore a pair of pants and tossed them on in. Later that day, she realized that she had almost $1000.00 in the pocket that she was going to go Christmas shopping with!

I calmed her down and handed her a wad of cash (we were living there for free) so dad wouldn't find out. That weekend at Dinner, somehow the conversation turned to Christmas shopping. Sister and her fiancee were there.. Dad says your mother was out spending money again today. I piped right up as if doing some standup comedy and said "you know dad, the way she goes through money, you'd think she had it to burn". Evil stare from mom, smiles all around the table. (Everyone but him knew what happened).

Mom told him what happened, he shook his head and now we have a running joke. I think I will be hearing about the time I drilled a hole in my block for a long time!

 

[CobyRupert]

Very informative thread and cautionary tale for those of us thinking of installing a block heater.

I'm rootin for the OP!! Wish I could buy him a beer, great attitude and smart approach!!

Man!! I just discovered this thread a couple days ago and have read through the 26 pages of comments like it's a mystery novel / cliffhanger series blockbuster! Can't wait for the ending!
I make fun of my wife being addicted to PBS's TV series Downton Abbey and having to watch every episode, but now I know how she feels.

 

[aeblank]

I find the bickering about the solution entertaining.
I especially like how the OP is just doing what he's going to do anyway, and not justifying/arguing/explaining.

An engine teardown is a tough pill for a block heater. At the same time, if you don't do anything, you'll never make a mistake.
I had a **** of a time getting my freeze plug out. I'm very very glad that I was real *real* careful.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I would not advise it!

Funny story for you all. Talking about those memories that you laugh about later..

Back in 2004, my wife and I sold our first house. We moved in with my parents for 6 months until we could find another house with some property. Parents have an outdoor wood boiler. Mom is notorious for taking a ripped or worn out piece of clothing and throwing it in the boiler. Dad hates it.

Well around Christmas time, mom tore a pair of pants and tossed them on in. Later that day, she realized that she had almost $1000.00 in the pocket that she was going to go Christmas shopping with!

I calmed her down and handed her a wad of cash (we were living there for free) so dad wouldn't find out. That weekend at Dinner, somehow the conversation turned to Christmas shopping. Sister and her fiancee were there.. Dad says your mother was out spending money again today. I piped right up as if doing some standup comedy and said "you know dad, the way she goes through money, you'd think she had it to burn". Evil stare from mom, smiles all around the table. (Everyone but him knew what happened).

Mom told him what happened, he shook his head and now we have a running joke. I think I will be hearing about the time I drilled a hole in my block for a long time!

Thanks! I laughed out loud!

 

[ruffdog]

What series Kubota engine is that? On the engine tag there will be a number like V2203 b4 or something like that. Some of these engines are used in other types of equipment like skid steers. If the OP was to look for a used engine, most of the time they use that number.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I find the bickering about the solution entertaining.
I especially like how the OP is just doing what he's going to do anyway, and not justifying/arguing/explaining.

Very well said.

gg

 

[Adiredneck]

What series Kubota engine is that? On the engine tag there will be a number like V2203 b4 or something like that. Some of these engines are used in other types of equipment like skid steers. If the OP was to look for a used engine, most of the time they use that number.

There are a lot of variants to this engine that I have learned about. It's a V2403. Very popular in Bobcat Skid steers and is also used in the KX161 excavator. They also use it for stationary uses, like generators, welder too. There are differences like turbo, no turbo, egr, no egr, tier 2. 3, 4i, 4. If I could know if the bottom end, is the same, I would take a gamble. No telling what the differences are in compression ratio of the Pistons, etc...

Probably fewer differences in the block than I think. Likely the most differences are in the head, which I could re-use off my engine.

I met with the machine shop tonight. Nice guys. I would put money on no one there being younger than 65. I saw a Cummins, a Detroit and a Cat engine there, plus many other large diesels in various stages of machining.

Shop foreman took me to meet with a guy working in the back. I'd guess he was around 70. Shop foreman says this guy needs to see if we can sleeve his engine. Has a crack in it. He never said the word hole, or drilled. I said actually it's a couple of holes I drilled in it. Man looks at me and says "frost plug was giving you trouble, huh"? Smiles and says "seen that a few times before".

We went out and looked at my block. He looks it over good, I spin it over so he can see how far down the piston goes. "We can fix it", he says. Goes over the whole process. I asked him what to do with the holes after the sleeve is in. "Nothing", he says. Says the liner will fit so well, I would really have to overheat it to get any antifreeze past it. As for the Antifreeze hurting the liner, he said unless your PH is way off, it won't hurt the liner. It's made of the same thing as the rest of the block. I mentioned possibly putting permatex in the holes from the frost plug hole and he said it wouldn't hurt, but not necessary.

Says unless you have a crack from top to bottom, they can usually sleeve a cylinder.

I'm going to have them hone cylinder 3. He wondered if I had a broken ring to put that gouge in there. I'll find out soon if that's the case.

Somewhere back someone made a comment about the cleaning/rinsing solution eating up cam bearings. They said up until about 15 years ago, that was true, but now the solution is much gentler. He said I may lose a little paint, that's all.

So my total cost is estimated to be between $800 and $1000, including the machine work.

 

[ovrszd]

Sounds good. I've got faith this will work out!!!!

Good job on keeping your wits about you and logically addressing this problem!!!!

 

[GPintheMitten]

Great. It's always good to find a group of mature men with vast experience and confidence that comes from it.