THE RAVAGES OF TIME

I have noticed of late that I am getting a little fragile around the edges but it seems I am not the only sufferer.  A friend decided to clean a 1949 Mark VI cylinder block using the services of Redi-Strip in Sydney.  http://www.redistrip.com.au/  They did an excellent job it seems guaranteeing that no original metal would be removed or damaged by their process.  All rust however departs .  My friend, idly tapping around the block in the manner of the old railway fettler who used to tap railway wheels, noticed a rather dull response from the front of the block – normally covered by the the timing case cover.   There was a slight crack in the area evidenced by some residual cleaning solution leaching out .  A bit harder tapping produced the following.

He actually broke open the hole you see in the picture which revealed that the casting thickness had been reduced by corrosion to 1-2 mm!  Originally they would have been 4-5mm of metal. 

The other matter of interest was the amount of casting sand which had remained in the block after 57 years!