My husband just informed me the engine builder called and my 400 block is cracked. We picked up another 400 a few years ago but I haven't figured out what it's from yet. Hopefully that one is in better shape.
We're putting a 700R4 in so it's not like it was totally #'s matching anyway but the news is still disappointing.

Maybe I'll make a wine rack out of it.

So the spare 400 decoded as a 1967 XJ, 350hp B-body engine. Hope it's usable.

Mine was cracked as well, but for $450 they did some special welding tecnique (had to send it out to a specialty welding shop). Been running it now for 5 years with no problems....

now you tell me!

I threw my 350 HO block away 35 years ago. You see ... that's why I hate throwing things away!

Throwing things out you "dont need" will just make sure you will need it , just like looking for something, ......buy a new piece , it just means that you`ll find what you couldnt find...best way to find it , buy a replacement!
its just one of many Murphys laws....lol

[quote=Bjorn Sefeldt]Throwing things out you "dont need" will just make sure you will need it

and this philosophy is why it's impossible to work in my husband's shop. But it's also why we had a spare 400. Doesn't everyone have 11 different transmissions laying around?

The shop said it was unrepairable and we trust them.

Where exactly is the crack?

Find a correct casting and date coded block and have it restamped.
Matching numbers? Yes.
Original? No
Ethical? Depends on who you ask and whether it's disclosed at time of sell.

Unless it's some super rare combo I'd rather have a re-stamped block than a welded one.

Just left the engine shop. There's so many things wrong with it it's beyond saving and it's been "repaired" at least once already. It was a hot mess, surprised it even ran before it was opened up again. If something could be done wrong, it was.
So the XJ 400 is there now. It looks like it's never been apart so hopefully it's usable. If not, the engine builder knows someone with another b-body '67 400.