How good is the china made L 134 engine block?

[Wulfie]

Got bad news about my engine block ,it has 3 cracks on side of block . Was wondering about the new block that Kaiser Willys has advertised . Has anyone used one of these blocks ?

[bmorgil]

A lot certainly went into it. They have been around since 2016. I haven't heard any bad things. If you go with one, a full instrumentation of the critical dimensions would go a long way to tell you the quality. If all the bores, bearing fits and alignments look good, flat and square, its probably a good bet its a good part. You could have your machinist check it over. He will spot the good the bad and the ugly. They wouldn't spend the time, money and effort on good machining if the casting was junk. The odds are if the machining is junk so the material and vise versa. Here are a couple links with some info.

https://www.motortrend.com/features/1608-vintage-jeep-engine-blocks/

https://hansonmechanical.wordpress.com/2016/08/20/wonders-never-cease-a-new-l-134-flathead-has-arrived/

[Wulfie]

Well called Kiser Willys and they said nothing available until after first of next year. Does anyon have a rebuildable block for sale ?

[Wulfie]

Plan B, gonna try and weld the cracks.

[51 CJ3]

That’s kind of disconcerting news about the new blocks. I am fairly certain I will need one for the 2A if I ever get the 3A back together. Too soon to for me to really speculate on it but I was entertaining a diesel conversion on the 3A at one time so maybe the 2A will get the 3A motor if I must swap something to get them both going.

[bmorgil]

Don't give up so easy guy's. I see them come up from time to time. All you need is a good used core. You can find rusted up L134's that have been junked. I would exhaust Google and the usual web sites like http://www.ewillys.com/ and https://willysforsale.com/. there are a few others. I think you will find one. There is a L134 complete on Ebay right now. Even if the cylinder bores are gone, it can be sleeved back. As long as there are no cracks. Some cracks can be repaired like around bolt holes and head studs, sometimes.

Though I understand the need, I have not seen a welded cast iron block stay together very long. It might happen but I have never had good experience with welded or brazed castings. There is a lot of thermal expansion activity in an engine block water jacket.

[TJones]

There are 2 on Willy’s for sale now in Clemmons North Carolina that are locked up for free, you have a 50-50 chance one is a good core.

[bmorgil]

A few for sale on eWills. One sold but a few left.

http://www.ewillys.com/?s=l134+engine

[Wulfie]

Think im still gonna weld mine and hope it last until next year and then get a chinese block . Good thing about the chinese blocks kaiser willis said they sold 150 of them and none have come back. Dont have a good used core . But got lead today on two jeeps close to me and man said he would try and find out the owner and let me know, said he took rear end out of one of them in the 90's .