Ditto! If there's an external crack, there's also the possibility of an internal one into the crankcase, etc. If you choose to attempt a repair, look into brazing instead of welding. A skilled oxy-acetyline welder can groove the crack out with a die grinder and and lay a bead of brass over it with somewhat less stress than an arc weld produces. Just get the metal VERY clean for an inch or more on both sides of the crack with a wire brush in a drill motor or the die grinder before starting the project. an arc weld with nickel-alloy rod us the strongest, nost permanent method, but the block will need to be pre-heated, peened for stress relief after the weld, and slow-cooled by burying the block in sand or some other way of preventing quick cooling of the metal. If you choose the nickel rod repair. don't weld more than an inch at a time before peening and re-heating. It's a slow, tedious process. Another block is a better choice!
Jerry
