Block Material
Turbo Mini Forums

Okay guys,

I need to know the type of Cast Iron that rover used for the a+ blocks. Any ideas? Need to block up some old stud holes for my 16v conversion!! Don't want stuff with a different thermal expansion!!!

Cheers
Anthony

No idea... Loking at the numbers, there ain't any discernable difference between mild steel and grey cast iron on the thermal expansion.

I'd have thought the main problem would be if you needed to 'half' drill into a 'current' stud hole; if you plugged it with some reasonable grade steel, you'd find your drill would wander out of true (especially with depth) and you'll end up with an angled hole!

So in that respect, why don't you just get some bar turned and threaded from some random grey cast iron and thread&loctite this into the the holes?

This will be more than enough i'd have thought?

Edited by turbodave16v on 22nd Dec, 2005.

that is prob wot will happen just tryin to do it properly to start, even if i bodge it slighty later on!! The problem is that some of the new holes i need to drill overlap existing holes!!

wierd - I just went and edited my post to include the overlapping - and you went and stated about overlapping! LOL!

Other alternative is to use the lowest grade mild steel (putty steel as i like to call it) and wind that in...
To totally get round it - consider plunging the 'overlapping' holes on a vertical mill with a slot drill.

i will be doing it on a vertical mill anyway cos my boss broke the pillar drill so have been using the mill for 3 months as a drill!!

problem solved then!

I did mean using an actual slot drill rather than a conventional drill-bit though

rite, got it, i'll get on the fone to the foundry!!! and will look to see if we have any slot drills at work!

Hows the 16v going pete?

sound like you might have it sorted now, but if you do need metal of the same grade, why dont you melt down a bit of old block?

"Turbo's make torque, and torque makes fun"

"did you know you can toast potato waffles?"

I think it broke way before that but never had a use for it!