Burnt engines - question
 

Ok, so my buddy with the 290 is in the process of building up another motor to match his built 454 ( about 480 hp, roller).

Local marina brought in a scorched Fountain with twin 502s. They look to be built also. Anyway, the fire was hot enough to melt the aluminum bits- manifold, carb, alt, etc. It appears they're rollers as well.

He's looking at it from a parts perspective. What are the odds that the heads would still be good, and maybe the block for resale? He could NDT the heads for existing damage, but that's no guarantee against cracking under pressure and load once the engines are rebuilt. They could be warped also, who knows?

Any thoughts,

i think i would pass if it got hot enough to melt an intake

Hi Ed. Yeah, that's the obvious answer... He's just trying to figure out if the heads primarily, are any good. Melting point of cast iron is nearly double that of aluminum, but without knowing more details, it's difficult to say if there's been any changes from a metallurgical standpoint.

Motors and heads should be fine, i rebuilt a few fire cars and even with all wiring and top of the motor burned they ran fine afterwards. Just make sure heads arent alum, if they are i would pass, more then likely heads are waprped IF they are alum

That's what we were thinking too. Heads are cast iron.

BTW, are 502s identical (except bore) blocks to 454s? Somebody told me they have more meat on them....