Took my engine apart. Is this a Crack?

[GvEman]

I started a couple of weeks ago with ripping the old tiered engine out of the car and I started to pick it apart. Yester day I took the pistons out of the block and I found out it was about time. The timing chain for example was so slack so you could almost pull it of the wheels!! :willy: Is that good?
And when I lifted the crank out I found this.

http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sprickamp9.gif

Looks like some kind of casting fault but I don’t know if its critical.
I did also notice that the bearings was quite worn out.. The crank bearing in front of the engine was quite good but as I got further back they got worse and worse. Bad crank?

Just some pictures of the other parts...

http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=engine1ua7.gif

http://img231.imageshack.us/my.php?image=engine2rl2.gif

http://img226.imageshack.us/my.php?image=engine3ql4.gif


So what do you say? Do i need to buy another block or another engine?

Cheers

[zbugger]

What does the other side of that look like? The cast finish side.

[markus]

it doesnt look like a crack. Ive seen a lot of that with different blocks. it looks to be a casting flaw, if you question it take it in to get it checked for cracks.

[3kidsnotime]

It does not look like a crack to me, Just a casting flaw,But you will never know till you mag it, But it also is in a non fluid area and we usually grind that area out for long rod and stroke, Also we cut a radius in that area as well to keep from cutting on the piston skirts.

[GvEman]

Okay thanks for your opinions, i did have a closer look at the back side (the casting side) and it looks like a casting flaw a nasty one but it dosent look like a crack, but as you say you never know. Do you guys think that its worth building on this block or shall i buy something else. Have been thinking about LT1 but i dont know.. sounds like a load of work. But on the other hand its fun to build and it gives me more posibillities in the future.

Give me your 2 cents.