I had some time to look over the old stock again. Looks like the crack starts from the top bolt hole, both sides of the hole, and goes on an angle to the right side of the forend. It's about 3" not 2" and fades into the side of the stock. They have a floating pillar in the back end, the tang and the hole are fine, and some putty in the barrel lug, but that's about it.
I'll look at dealing with the crack first so it can sit a few days before trying the bedding. I can use my fingers and thumb to open the crack when my hand is in the action/trigger group hole so wedging it open, a least a bit, is possible. However it looks like it could expand the crack further so maybe a reverse wood clamp might help here. I have good glue already so I should be able to get to this next week.
For the bedding my LGS don't carry bedding compounds. Cabela's is the only one who lists a bedding kit and it doesn't seem all that great. At least I can get JB Weld easily at any CT. I've heard/read it works well but I have no experience either way. We'll see what I can find over the next few weeks while I deal with the crack.
Now that I can see the crack, and how it goes through the bolt hole, I'm planning to do the pillar bedding first.
I did find a couple of good examples for bedding the rifle here;
1.
CZ 527 17 HORNET Glass bedding the pillers
2.
CZ 527 GLASS BEDDING 17 HORNET
So, for now, I'll clean out the inside of the stock and make open the crack with a dremel tool. My wife can get the medical tubing from work. And I have a wood vice and/or wood "F" clamps I can use if needed.
Thanks for the feedback and suggestions. I'll take some pics as I go in case anyone cares down the road.
Zen