Any word 82CFI ..

 

As of this moment, no reply. I submitted my 2 questions to Bill Mitchell Products (BMP) this past Saturday, 3/15. The notification blurb did say "give us 2-4 business days to respond" so hopefully in the next couple of days or so.

I just submitted the same 2 questions to PBM Performance Products the owners of the World Products cast-iron aftermarket division AND Erson cams. Same notification blurb popped up about 2-4 business days needed to respond. Will post answers as soon as they come in.

Read this Tech5 article http://www.enginelabs.com/features/e...iron-from-pbm/ from EngineLabs that gave me the name PBM.

BTW since PBM owns Erson, cams for this Hybrid is available from there too: http://www.pbmperformance.com/store....691&parent=327. Erson cams priced around $410 for the Hybrid so cheaper than Comp Cams.

 

So World did close up but was bought out and this block looks to be recently reissued and improved with a raised cam and LS cam bores for a bigger stroke. Looks like a great option.

 

No, Bill Mitchell's World did not close up. PBM purchased Bill Mitchell's World Cast-Iron division (only this division) and moved the foundry to their facilities in Kentucky. Bill Mitchell (World Castings/Products & BMP) continue to manufacturer all the aluminum alloy blocks, heads, intakes, etc.

PBM now calls this improved block the Gen II Motown LS. Bill Mitchell's World Products is a distributor of the PBM Gen II Motown LS block so you can buy it directly from them.

 

OK, I heard something was going on with them. Good to see.

 

diehrd, you mentioned that you will be using the FAST EZ-EFI if you build this Hybrid. Last night, I watched this video on the Edelbrock E-Street EFI which looks really similar to the FAST unit. Rebranded maybe?
Video: What's cool about this unit is the 7" screen WIRELESS handheld. Too bad the unit will not work with engines over 600 HP. Maybe, FAST will be engineering their handhelds into wireless units like Edelbrock with 7" or 8" screens. Imagining how it will look in our C3s by getting a custom console topside fascia to recess mount the touch screen (built-in) which replaces the cluster of round gauges AND no wires to hookup except for maybe a 12V power lead to replace the battery in the screen. Don't need our traditional gauges anymore because the screen can show all that info (even more) on one single screen AND it's a touch screen to boot.

 

The features are the same .. That screen hand held is cooler looking .. But if you want it in a Hybird and like the look as I do the 650hp fast should handle the HP .

 

diehrd, no answer from BMP yet but received answers from Ryan @ PBM. My 2 questions to them and Ryan's answers in bold:

"Interested in the World Motown LS block. The hybrid SBC block that mounts LS heads. 2 questions:"
"1) Does this combination place the exhaust ports in the same exact location as a LS or LSx engine? Want to know because of exhaust header availability for a swap into my C3 Corvette?"
Ryan: "No they will not be in the exact same spot."

"2) Will the plumbing fitting for the coolant outflow on the front of the LS heads using the coolant adapter interfere with the A/C compressor and alternator when using the available front-runner serpentine belt accessory systems available from Vintange Air, Billet Specialties or Concept One?" "Asking because that would be my preferred accessory mounting option on this Hyprid engine."
Ryan: "All the new blocks will have the coolant exit out the sides of the block. A remote mount thermostat will need to be used."


Replied back to Ryan asking if he could clarify his answer to #2 because from what we know the coolant should be exiting the front of the LS heads using the Motown LS Cylinder Head coolant Adapter Kit (Part #703848K).
Ryan: "We have changed that on all the new blocks. The new blocks will have pipe thread for the water outlet on the sides. It will need to be plumbed up to a remote mounted thermostat. The front accessory brackets for SBC will need to be used, but shimming will be required for proper pull alignment."

Replied back to Ryan to clarify again. PBM engineering changed coolant flow path to: Radiator Bottom Outlet (cold) > Block (SBC water pump) > Heads > Block > Radiator Top Inlet (hot) seems a little strange to me but what the heck do I know because I ain't no engineer. If they've changed the coolant flow path to what I describe above then I sure would be interested in how they got the coolant to flow back down to the block internally to those NPT exits.

Ryan and others at PBM-Erson have been quite responsive to my inquiries so kudos to them. Nice to see this kind of customer relations effort during our current business environment.

EDIT: While waiting for Ryan's answer, I've been thinking about this new coolant flow path. Could it be that PBM is adding the "side-of-block" NPT coolant exits so that we can do reverse coolant flow like with the LT1? New path would be Radiator Bottom (cold) > external electric WP (i.e. Davies Craig EWP 150) > front inlets of the LS1 heads > down through out the block > out the new side NPT block outlets > Radiator Top (hot). If so then WOW that would be interesting. Interesting because allowing the outflow at the middle sides of the block rather than the front (where the water pump holes are) could prevent the need for the added complexities like steam vent lines and closed (pressurized) coolant recovery reservoir (i.e. LT1) AND cooling the heads first sure opens up a way to run 11:1 compression ratio (or more) with aggressive timing on pump gas. Hmmmm

 

I think nothing has changed ,, the block always needed a remote thermostat housing coming off the heads. So it cools like a normal sbc .

 

That's true BUT if you're like me and interested in mounting the aftermarket serpentine belt systems from Concept One or Billet Specialties then the front-of-the-head right angle fittings will be in the way.

Anyway, I just got Ryan's reply on how the coolant flows in the new design of the Hybrid and why they added the side-of-the-block coolant outlet NPT holes.
Ryan: "It has a passage in the front that goes up to the cylinder head; this is similar to how an original LS1 was designed. The coolant then goes though the cylinder head out into the rest of the block. The exit on the sides of the block is approximately in the same spot as the center freeze plug on a stock 400 Chevrolet engine block. We changed to this style because on anything other than a race engine accessory mounting was a problem with the front of the cylinder head exit location. A thermostat with the bypass hole will need to be used in the remote mount thermostat housing to allow the water pump to constantly flow some coolant to reduce cavitation."

Until Ryan explained it, I forgot that the front passage of an LS head is used to return the hot coolant back down to the front of an LS block and then out to the radiator. I just took a 2nd look at an LSx coolant flow diagram and that is what's shown.

Guessing that you will use the Motown LS head front coolant exit to a remote thermostat housing because you intend to stay with the stock accessory drive brackets & pulleys with the A/C compressor and Alternator situated outboard of the heads.

Now for me, since I would use the new middle-of-the-block coolant exits, I can go with a different brand of LS1 heads (i.e. GM, AFR, etc.) instead of just sticking with the Motowns with the needed adapter plates. I guess you could too if you were willing to drill and tap (for 3/4" NPT) the front of a GM/AFR LS1 head in the same position where the Motown LS head has the freeze plug.

 

I would tap the heads because I would not use the warlocks unless there reasonable priced but keep the flow the same because I am anti A/C lol .

As long as the tops are off I don't need A/C ..

 

Where I live, I need the A/C.

 

Ok rub it in ......... I can drive sustained distances ,, Were even LMAO

 

I lived on the Mainland for 9 years and that's what I missed the most ... just hopping in and driving 120 miles or more. Also, a time when I bought my new '70 454 Vert ... so I know what you mean about the "tops are off." I envy you on that one and where you live is some of most beautiful countryside of this great land especially in the Spring and Fall for that "tops are off" cruising. Winter time? ...Meh

 

Been a few weeks and not much response from anyone that I contacted about the Motown Ls. The dealers that were listed in my area had never sold one so they had no real insight. I'm going to start putting an engine together in the next month but it won't be a Motown Ls. Cool concept just would have preferred to talk with a few ppl who have actually run them in their cars vs reading sales/mktg info.