ok so here's the story....
my 12a block is assembled and as i'm going to put the oil pump back on i notice that on my front housing where the shaft of the oil pump goes in there is a chip in the metal of the housing. it's on the oustside of where the o-ring sits so i'm thinking i could get away with it, but then i'm also thinking i don't want to risk it. i honestly have no idea how it happened (maybe when the housings were being lapped) anyways do you guys thing i could somehow jb weld it up and grind it down so the oil pump would still function properly? if i did leave it would it f**k up my oil pressure? i don't have the time or the money to replace my front housing so i'm open to any suggestions. thanks guys.
-joe


ps- ive never worked with jb weld before so i don't know if it would be the best solution let me know if you have suggestions for a better solution. thanks again.

 

Is it possible to post a pic of it? Or description of the size of the damage?

 

Could you snap a pic so we can see it? Need to see the location/size of the chip.

-Marques

 

ooh you got me by 30 seconds carl

 

 

i'll see if i can get my dad to snap a pic( i'm in riverside ant the cars in la jolla) but basically its a quarter inch or so chip. hmm i really do need a pic ok i'll call my dad and see what i can pull together.

 

ok here is the first pic...the chip is rather obvious.

 

and the second one from another angle...

 

Ouch..

 

jb weld will work. (not highly reccomended though) it will sand fine and it will hold. just make sure the surface you are working with is clean and sanded. you know, just like laying bondo. at any rate, i suggest 2 or 3 layers. do them one at a time and sand each one flush. it has worked for me on an oil cooler i had. it held pressuer fine. i found that one coat was not enough however. just make sure it is clean. if you need a new housing, i am sure someone here has one, or is willing to trade something for it. bargain you know. i have a whole motor. it has locked due to bad rotor bearings. i have no idea of the housing condition. if i get it apart this wednesday, and the housing looks good, i will give it to you for free. you pay shiping. if you are interested, i can be reached at 419-868-1987 after 11pm or before 2pm or at blasto007@hotmail.com.

 

Get the nwe housing from mazdaverx713b
I wouldn't trust the JB, but that's just me. It amy work but if it doesn't..

 

Might be repairable with jb. Youd have to build it up into the hole so it has some strength. Yes, it MUST be perfectly clean so it sticks.

 

ok guys thanks for the suggestions. my dad is really good at fixing this kind of thing so i told him to give it a try. ( i wish i could be there to do it but i have finals this week) anyways we'll see what he can do.mazdaverx713b you might here from me soon depending on how things go.

 

oh yeah one more thing is there any way to just take off the front plate? or do i have to take the whole damn thing apart again? not that i couldnt i just dont want to.

 

No way, you'd have to disassemble the engine.