Aluminium Block Question
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 441
Likes: 2
From: San Antonio TX
Aluminium Block Question
If GM can sell one of these for $ 1400
http://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfor...parts/12621769
why are the most common SBC & BBC ones selling for up to 5K or more ?
Seems like the older style should be easier to cast ??
or is it simply supply and demand !
http://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfor...parts/12621769
why are the most common SBC & BBC ones selling for up to 5K or more ?
Seems like the older style should be easier to cast ??
or is it simply supply and demand !
Team Owner
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 21,953
Likes: 1,445
From: Reno Nevada
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist- Modified
If GM can sell one of these for $ 1400
http://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfor...parts/12621769
why are the most common SBC & BBC ones selling for up to 5K or more ?
Seems like the older style should be easier to cast ??
or is it simply supply and demand !
http://sdparts.com/details/gm-perfor...parts/12621769
why are the most common SBC & BBC ones selling for up to 5K or more ?
Seems like the older style should be easier to cast ??
or is it simply supply and demand !
If I was racing I would use an aftermarket aluminum block, but they are made for massive amounts of hp
Last edited by gkull; Dec 7, 2009 at 04:20 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
Mass production of GM parts vs. low-volume for other aluminum blocks. With any 'luck', the lower cost of the GM alum. blocks will drive the [excessive] price down on the other aftermarket blocks.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
My experience has been that the (non-LSx) aluminum engines are cast and/or machined by outside shops. My guess is that there are not as many automated machining processes done at the small shops (meaning higher final costs), versus the high volume (and lower cost) machining capability of the GM engine plants.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 12,142
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From: Taylor Michigan
My experience has been that the (non-LSx) aluminum engines are cast and/or machined by outside shops. My guess is that there are not as many automated machining processes done at the small shops (meaning higher final costs), versus the high volume (and lower cost) machining capability of the GM engine plants.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
Point is that the Lsx block is now affordable and plenty strong enough for a 'stout' street engine. At that price and the GM block's availability, that will cut into the other block builder's pocketbooks. If their sales drop because of it, they will have to cut price to stay in business. All good news for the consumer.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 17,676
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From: Who says "Nothing is impossible" ? I've been doing nothing for years.
My buddy has a big pile of these aluminum LSx blocks in the corner of his shop. As Gkull said they can handle up to about 500HP past that it's a crap shoot ( I don't give a rats azz if you have a 600hP LS motor in your C5 and it hasn't blown up.....yet ) . They put blowers and nitrous on them and they blow up.
The aluminum Gen 1 blocks are made for more HP so they cost more
The aluminum Gen 1 blocks are made for more HP so they cost more
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,905
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From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
Actually quite a bit more machining. The aftermarket big inches and racing engines are built to handle superchargers and Nitro loads that hydrometer up to 100%...and they live.... some have massive girdles keeping the cranks inside the blocks...producing horsepower that is almost off the scales to go as fast as they do..[ie] 320 mph and 4 seconds for only 1000 feet.....there almost bullet proof
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
You are absolutely correct. And your point is....that their costs/expenses are higher? Which means their product costs more? Which means they are not as competitive with "the low-priced spread".
Folks can talk about the [actual] differences in block design and strength all day long. The fact is that people buy less expensive products to save money over something that they perceive is a similar product. Why else would C3 owners buy inexpensive Chinese junk to put on their vehicle rather than high-quality [and higher cost] goods that are made well? Ans: Because they don't see any difference...hence, there is no difference. Buyers buy what they buy for lots of reasons, and a BIG one is MONEY!
Folks can talk about the [actual] differences in block design and strength all day long. The fact is that people buy less expensive products to save money over something that they perceive is a similar product. Why else would C3 owners buy inexpensive Chinese junk to put on their vehicle rather than high-quality [and higher cost] goods that are made well? Ans: Because they don't see any difference...hence, there is no difference. Buyers buy what they buy for lots of reasons, and a BIG one is MONEY!
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
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From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
http://www.gmpartsdirect.com/perform...CATID=628.html
These can be had for under $5000. They are rated to 800 HP, 5-4bolt caps, (accepts factory oil pan?), pre 1986 2 pc rear main, priority main oiling, dry sump capability, accept factory roller and spyder, accepts 3.75 crank, can be bored to 4.150 and all Gen 1 parts are a bolt on. If you machine your old block and buy a Retro roller you are about 1/2 way toward buying one of these and it won't take 800 HP. They weigh 90 Lbs. I want one. They don't produce many of these and they are not an aluminum copy of a standard 350. A lot of extra engineering and design to make this 800HP capable. This costs money. The LS blocks are mass produced.
These can be had for under $5000. They are rated to 800 HP, 5-4bolt caps, (accepts factory oil pan?), pre 1986 2 pc rear main, priority main oiling, dry sump capability, accept factory roller and spyder, accepts 3.75 crank, can be bored to 4.150 and all Gen 1 parts are a bolt on. If you machine your old block and buy a Retro roller you are about 1/2 way toward buying one of these and it won't take 800 HP. They weigh 90 Lbs. I want one. They don't produce many of these and they are not an aluminum copy of a standard 350. A lot of extra engineering and design to make this 800HP capable. This costs money. The LS blocks are mass produced.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
I spent 40 years in the manufacturing arena for GM and have seen lots of block/housing machining systems. The block you see there is not machined by hand; it is finished on a CNC machine...by one guy...at one time; probably very similar to the GM block. Your block's casting cost is higher...mostly due to volume efficiency and some added cost due to the grade of material used. But....even the ineffiency of the manufacturing system doesn't account for the cost overage for those "high-priced" blocks. The reason they are so expensive is that there was demand for lightweight, high-strength, engine blocks that were available to individual buyers; but there was no availability of them. Those businesses answered that demand [good for them] and they priced their products to suck as much money as the market would bear [the American way]. Now, if the price of those 'specialty' blocks goes down over the next year or so, the evidence of good ol' competition will speak.