This is a follow-up on my post of late December on a P444 restoration project. My titling problems are solved and your comments on the B16 versus B18 were a big help. I decided to buy the 1965 544 parts car to see if I could use the running gear, grille, hood, etc. to change the 444 from B16 to B18. The 544 had a locked up engine but I bought it anyway bacause of other parts. I now have the B18 apart. It had thrown the #4 rod which broke off the oil pump. Took parts to local engine shop. I watched as they did some quick checks and came up with the following:

The crank is straight, the mains show virtually no wear and the journal which threw rod is just slightly out of round - easy to regrind, they say.

They recommend replacing the cam and lifters - some corrosion/wear.

The cylinder bores show only a little taper/out of round - if pistons check out OK, could probably just re-ring or, if I prefer, rebore.

Head looks OK, but they want to disassemble and check for warpage or cracks.

So far, I feeling OK. But they suspected a crack in block where the rod had jammed. They cleaned things up a little and using a magnet and dusting what looked like powdered metal, found a crack in the lower right part of the block. It is shaped like a "Y", maybe two or three inches long. The shop did not seem that concerned. They suggested stop-drilling at crack ends, installing what I take to be basically screws, grinding them off and treating the area with epoxy. They said that the block at this location is basically a big oil container and not subject to much stress. I suggested welding but they prefer this approach. Of course, an alternative is to go find a better B18 "core" engine and start over.

The shop suggests that they 1) thoroughly strip and clean the block to check for further damage, measure more carefully, etc.; 2) if block is OK, that they do the same for head and 3) if that is OK that they magnaflux the crank (my impression is that they consider this a low priority - they don't seem to expect a problem here). Then, based on that work, make a plan for rebuilding.

I have left the parts with them but it will be a week or so before they do any work (spend $). In the meantime, I would appreciate your thoughts about the cracked block repair suggestion. Does it make sense to you? If not, what should I expect to pay for a b18 "core" (one that isn't locked up).

Keith W.