Nathan

I've toyed with the idea of adding a couple of plates to strengthen an aluminum block. To do it you would need to machine the outside of the cylinders smooth (water jacket side) and inside of the block face, then machine some 1/4 inch thick plates to precisely fit inside the water jacket and around the cylinders. Then tack weld them into place on the edges of the block. with the top one about 3/4 inch down from the top, and a second one an inch lower, they should significantly strengthen the cylinders while still providing room for water to flow and cool the block. The plates would look similar to the plastic part of Ramset powder loads, but with the cylinders in the place of the powder loads. The gaps in the sides of the strips would leave room for water flow through the block Ramset powder strip loads HEY, as lond as we are thinking, we might as well be inventive. :D