just curious of how many are running aftermarket blocks? If so what are you running? is anyone using an aluminum block on the street?
I am looking at building something a bit different than what I have seen out there and looking to go all aluminum.
Thanks for any replies

 

Might as well just go with a modern LS motor. Has the aluminum block and heads, as well as roller cam and dozen of other improvements, not to mention lower cost.

 

I don't think you'll get good return on this investment. Aluminum blocks give up power, they flex a good bit more unless you're talking about a $10K dry race block.

 

Actually looking at putting a Rodeck aluminum block in. its a bit different than the belly button swaps with the LS. Not that there is anything wrong with it but thinking it may be kind of cool.Not quite sure of how the Rodeck will be on the street for cooling. 434ci

 

I was reading about aluminum blocks since some of the newer corvettes had them. And you could get a big block at small block weights. What was a bummer was the fact that they are sleaved and could only be bored a small amount so finding one in good shape used was a crap shoot.

I wish there was an abundance of gen 1 BBC aluminum blocks. That would be cool

 

Wouldn't it shed heat faster like the aluminum heads. I would think that the F1 guys use them for the weight and cooling benefits

 

Scott I know the Rodeck works good in a race application and on Methanol for circle track Midgets. Not sure how well it would be on the street for the cooling passages.

 

Been wanting one forever I could care less about theoretical power losses...if it was that bad OEM wouldnt be making them.
Big block cant even imagine!

 

Rodeck 350+ is where I am looking to go. weighs around 90lbs. already at 434ci. just needs to be freshened up its been sitting for a few years.

 

F1 for the weight but they could care less about the longevity.

 

Wouldn't it be getting really hot on the track at constant high rpm of a circle track. I would think it would be even better cooling at the relatively low rpms of the local roads and the limited speed we are supposed to be driving at.

Call Greg Hekemian. He could probably tell you

 

In a methanol application the engine may actually run cooler by richening the fuel mixture. A leaner engine will make more power and run hotter.
That said I don't think I have ever seen a Rodeck block run on the street. Quite possibly why you don't run aluminum rods on the street. I have seen plenty at the races but again I am not sure if the coolant passages would be sufficient enough for a street engine. I know Boosted GT ran one for a while in a street car

 

I think the cooling would be just as good if not better with the aluminum block Rodeck. In circle track you are running constant big rpm's without issue so running cool on the street would be much easier in my mind. It does sound like a pretty cool project!

 

I think it's the approximately 5K price of a new Rodeck, Donovan, Brodix, or Dart block that keeps them out of "street" cars. That's a lots of $$ for just a block if your not trying to race it and make some money. Racing & making money, is that even possible?

 

wanna be different? Polimotor
https://www.enginebuildermag.com/201...ngines-future/

Decades ago, saw a Camel GT car w/ Polimotor power.

 

I understand if you had to spend 5k on a block it may not be worth it too you. If a block is hanging around then it may be feasible. When I built my car I used a lot of parts I had laying around that were still useable. The only thing new was a set of pistons and a cam. That original engine ate the cam on the dyno after a failed Morel roller lifter. I installed a new cam and lifters and its been running fine since 2017. Still pushes my junk 12.9@107.
Now I am looking to keep weight down I have a built 496 but I don't want to give up the handling so I am thinking of slapping in the Rodeck. I do have a bunch of left over parts that could work on the street
If I was interested in chasing the dollar I would go back and run Funny cars again.

 

making money racing. kind of like making money restoring and reselling vettes...

 

SHP block and aluminum heads , 4" Stroke 4.155 bore. A SBC is 500 lbs with cast heads . I just upgraded my 427 too 434 .. This is a street car/Strip . Cam closely resembles a LS motors cam .. For my Sequential fuel injection.

 

I can't offer much as to the wisdom of running an aluminum race block on the street, but we do use Dart blocks in the 65 Corvette vintage racer I work on. The rules allow us to use aftermarket blocks and heads, but they have to be cast iron. We're currently having a new 331 built using a Dart wide pan block, that we expect will produce around 600 hp. This engine is going to have a dry sump, but our previous engines in the 65 didn't.

Our races can be anywhere from 20 to 90 minutes long, feature numerous shifts per lap, and constant trips through the rev band, to over 7000 rpm. We don't use an engine mounted fan, but with a modern aluminum radiator, the only time we usually need the electric fan, is to aid cool down after a race. We had been running the same Dart block for about 8 years, with very good luck, through many rebuilds. It's only being replaced because of a catastrophic failure. Our milder (350ish horse) spare motor, uses a Dart block that's about 12 years old It would be hard to give one the abuse on the street, that we give them on the track.

Actually longevity is a big issue to modern F1 engine builders. The current rules only allow the use of three engines over the course of a 19 race season. Each power unit used over the three limit, earns the car a 5 place grid penalty at the start of the race, which is a big deal considering how hard it is to pass in F1.

 

That's not a problem. With an aluminum engine you end up with a lighter car. You don't need the same horsepower to get the same vehicle power to weight ratio. And that lighter weight comes in handy in the corners. The additional horsepower of a heavy iron engine isn't particularly useful during braking and cornering.

There's a reason Greenwood and the Can-Am guys ditched iron engines as quickly as they could.