black cubes in block water jackets...block catalyst?
 

so, when i was putting the cyl head on the motor the other day, i was inspecting the water jackets (damn my ocd cleanliness) and saw two 1.5 inch sized, black cubes that look like coal or charcoal, and i was concerned as to what they were.

my thought was a block catalyst of sorts, to prevent corrosion. i just want to make sure its not something foreign, that shouldnt be in there.

any thoughts? i know, i should have taken pics, but i forgot so :dunno:

Might want to post a picture, because I have no idea what you could be talking about... I don't even know where where in the coolant system could you fit *anything* 1.5"x1.5"x1.5"???? That would plug the radiator hoses and they're the biggest coolant passages there are.

I found this:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/car-...-397925268.htm

That's kind of what I was afraid someone might offer up... ACK! :outahere:

damnit, thats exactly what it looks like. well, i wish the machine shop had noticed that and took them out. guess it wont technically hurt anything, but now they are in there till that motor gets torn apart again...

yea, they look like they were stuffed through the freeze plugs. i guess i could take the freeze plugs out and redo it, but i think ill just let it be.

:dunno:

aside from that, the motors pretty much done, ill post some pics, thanks for the help guys! at least its not a piece of the block. check my album for new pics, lemme know what you think!

Wow... I guess they didn't read the instructions... you're supposed to crumble them up and pour the stuff into the radiator... it's like compressed alumaseal. Personally, I wouldn't leave it... especially not in big pieces. Could break up and clog the radiator, thermostat and possibly chew up the water pump impeller. Can you break them up with a screw driver and wash them out? A bypass filter on the TB's coolant line could be employed to filter out any unwanted remnants over time.

unfortunately, id have to remove the cylinder head and/or take the freeze plugs out, either of which i want to do over...but, i was already planning on using a coolant filter, and i could put one on both hoses....

idk, i might just take the freeze plugs out. i guess that would be the easiest way to remove them. like you said, crush em up with a screwdriver, then vacuum em out.

ugh...i hate that sheeet...

figured out what they are. went down to the shop, and asked them what the hell they put in my block.

they showed me their box, and it is very similar to the above product. they are called REBUILDER CUBES. original, neh? but they are actually designed to disintegrate on their own. i asked about possible obstruction or damage to the water pump, and they said there would be none and they put them in all their motors. i also recieved a nice piece of paper that guarenteed against damage, high five!

so, no worries...but i still have to take the head back off....I FORGOT THE DAMN RTV ON THE REAR TIMING COVER....i do have it completely gaskacinched, but i dont wanna take any chances with it so...piss..

Good idea. That rarely works well with these cars

exactly. as much of a pain as it is to take the head off, preventative maintenance...

heard too many horror stories about small aspects missed, then catastrophe ensuing.