Welding a cracked block?

I agree with the comments that said the proper way to weld cast iron is to heat it in an oven, weld it, and then put it back in the oven for a controlled cool down. That said, I am aware of tractor engines that cracked and all that was done is to clean the surface and arc weld it. That is not the textbook procedure, but I have seen it work more than once. It is worth a try if you are going to otherwise throw away the block. What is the downside risk, trashing it anyway?

Here is one for sale cheap. It might be worth the cost to have it shipped.
http://rebsamcandjeep.proboards.com/thread/395/amc-199-trans?page=1&scrollTo=4786

Photon440 wrote: If you're not familiar with the 'row of threaded plugs' repair, this is what it's all about: http://www.r-f.com/lock_n_stitch_repair.asp

Somebody's going to start laughing but I saw this done to a 2nd generation Mopar Hemi that threw a rod and took out a chunk of the pan rail.  The owner cut a repair piece out of a RB block and fitted the chunk into the hole.  V'd out the gap on both sides, preheated the area with a rosebud and then brazed the chunk in with brass brazing rod on both sides.  Worked.  I wonder if something like that would work here?

I have three 427 ford engine blocks two built now one 447 cu in stroker that was a perfect bock and the one i am building now that was cast welded on the deck only from rot by the water outlets on the head matting surface. The third block i have had a wrist pin let loose and took a chunk out between the cross bolt mains and someone bolted it and braised it in place when i got it. I took it to JB welding in trout dale oregon and he cut it back out and cast welded it and you couldn't see were he welded it but because he didn't weld were the pan mounts you can see that but won't be noticed when pan is installed. Jim was very talented by since then has passed away. He charged $500.00 like 10 years ago. It is standard bore and will need one sleeve and bored .017 over but it is hard to find undamaged 427 ford block and standard even harder to find. If you want to be in that block a bunch of money then do the same but i bet you could find a block for $100.00 or less. I threw one away last year because no one wanted it. Face it they are common and should be lazy to find and as someone said if its cracked like that on the outside i bet there is additional damage inside. Dog.