Damaged block installing block heater L5240

[aczlan]

KTAC might cover it.
Dad did the same thing with an L3650 and had to have the engine rebuilt (they tore it down, welded it up then machined it smooth IIRC)... The shop ended up charging twice their quote to fix it.

Aaron Z

 

[Egon]

Does the block have sleeves or is it a parent block.

 

[s219]

I know that sick feeling pretty well, so I can sympathize.

Is there enough room through the frost plug hole that you could possibly weld the holes up? Really depends on what is behind those holes I suppose. Could be an oil passage, in which case it's going to be hard to fix with welding or devcon or JBweld without messing up the oil passage. With limited space, I doubt a patch could be welded over the holes.

I like the other suggestion of tapping the holes and sealing a screw in -- if there's enough room and depth to get an end-tap in there, cutting some fine threads and putting a screw or plug (even stubby set-screw) may be a perfect option.

Hang in there, try not to give yourself an ulcer.

 

[Adiredneck]

The plan is to tuck it in the back of the garage so the wife's car will still fit. I will drop the oil pan, borrow an inspection camera and some night this week try to find where my hole is. Then I'll determine a plan of attack from there. A call to my uncle confirmed my suspicions and he agrees on the proper plan of attack. He will be here when we inspect everything.

 

[aczlan]

Does the block have sleeves or is it a parent block.

IIRC, the L3650 was a parent block engine.

Aaron Z

 

[countrybumpkin]

Sorry to hear about your mishap, hopefully you can figure out a simple fix after determining the extent of the damage. Oh PICS, we all love pics.

 

[newbury]

Thank you for this thread. Another one to help me temper my DIY activity.

 

[Cat_Driver]

Go get one of these and see if you can look INSIDE

 

[Egon]

Suppositions:
Okay, the oil is white. Indicates water in oil. Indicates the holes allow cooling fluid into the crankcase.
Pressure should be highest on the cooling side.
If those suppositions are right a pressure test on the cooling system should fail.

What I am getting at is that a patch on the pressure side may be held in place by help from the cooling fluid.
Looking at an engine diagram may give a good idea of what's on the other side of the holes. The patch could just be a high temperature epoxy of ??

The clarity of my thoughts here is not the clearest but if correct the OP may have an easy fix??

 

[countrybumpkin]

Possible easy fix , but he says he has oil coming out of the exhaust too.