When do you consider a crack in the engine block to be a BAD one?

Dodge 95 Neon SOHC with about 140,000 miles


I had an overheating problem in my car due to a bad head gasket, but I
ignored it and kept on putting "sealant" additive to the coolant
system for almost two years... now, before I opened up the engine I
went and bought: a Remanufactured Cylinder Head (assembled with new
valves and all), Head gasket Set (including the bolts and all), Water
Pump, and a Radiator (with its hoses). And as you can guess this was
not cheap. Without mentioning the recent timing belt and tensioner
replacement...

So, now that I opened up the engine and cleaned the up the top engine
block I saw a little tiny CRACK between cylinder number two and a water
flow passage, about a quarter of an inch long, I can barely feel its
groove by touch.

Now, I need your expert advice, should I put the whole things together
and not worry about the crack or should I sell the parts on e-Bay
before dirtying them?

I have also the following questions:

1 - When do you consider a crack in the engine block to be a BAD one?
2 - Does any crack size in the engine block cause problems or only
some?
3 - Does the location of the crack matter?
4 - How big should the crack be and where for the block to be
considered trash?

 

--

A crack is a crack no matter the size or wear it is at. The block is toast,
no good, don't waste your time or money.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

 

Your screwed! You would probably be better off buying a used engine at a
scrap yard, and rebuilding it with your new components, then selling the
stuff on EBay. Use car-part.com and search for an engine block for the
neon. You can search by city, state or region. I looked up a block for the
Neon for the soutwest and found some for $150.00.

 

Thank you all for your info.

Hartl, just so you know, I called car-part.com, and asked if they
inspect the block before they ship them, but they don't, meaning they
could send me a cracked block for $150 + $125 shipping (from the
nearest area to where I live) with no return policy! So what am I going
to do with another cracked block that would cost me $275, I don't even
have a recycling business!

I might as well sell the parts on e-Bay and get rid of the car.

Thanks again!
Ameen

 

That may be the deal, but why not just toss on the old stuff again,
permatex it, and run it locally??????? Just a thought, but waste of
$$$$ to put new stuff onto a cracked block, Nuff said.........

 

There are Neons all over the place, and they're cheap, so it doesn't take
much to put them in the junkyard. You shouldn't be shipping Neon parts to
yourself sight unseen, even if you live on the moon. I think it was an okay
suggestion. The junkyard is one of those things that requires unplugging
and going out into RL.

Your "just so you know" above, as if you could teach Hartl to mend his ways,
seems a little bit crazy.

 

Find a reputable Auto Wrecker. The ones here usualy have guarantees on
things like trannys and blocks as many establishments pull the heads
and inspect the block before shipment.

Just ask. Most wreckers here are NOT wanting to tarnish their
reputation and risk future business by flogging defective goods. If
they unknowingly sold you a cracked block, you can usually exchange
for another - or get a refund.

Just ask before buying. You might be pleasantly surprized.

hth

 

Where on Earth do you live, guy? Certainly they must have
wrecking yards in your area. Check craigslist.com as well, people
put old blocks up there all the time.

Engine rebuilders deal with this kind of stuff all the time. Why
don't you simply call the nearest engine rebuilder in your area
and ask them who they purchase rebuildable engine cores from?
They will give you the name of the guy who makes a living grubbing
through wrecking yards and who has sweetheart relationships
with all the wreckers in your area and I would bet he could have
a good block delivered to your doorstep in a week, and would stand
behind it as well.

Ted

 

I guess I'm confused since car-part.com is just an on-line listing
service. You would not be buying from or thru them. They provide you
with contact info. for junk yards that have the part that you looked up
and you contact that place directly - any warranty, or lack thereof,
would be direct from the seller.

Bill Putney
(To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
address with the letter 'x')