Alloy small block
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
BJ if you want aluminum for cheap you have to go to the dark side....an LS2 bare block is $1125@Summit a LS3 about $150 more. Either block can withstand 500HP if naturally aspirated.....I bought my LS3 dry sump motor from Racing Junk for $5000 delivered but, now I'm in the build about $8.5K. Those LS blocks are practically " free " when you compare them to a GenI aluminum assembly, heads too....bare LS3 heads are under $300 for 320CFM of airflow, pretty hard to do that with a 23/18 degree GenI head.
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
For what ever it is worth I bought my GMPP Block on e-bay some 5-6 years ago for $2500 new in the Box. I figured I paid 1 k more than a new Iron Block. The person who sold it said that his Engine builder wouldn't use it because he wouldn't trust it compared to one of the other brands of blocks that he had used before. It was to be built for Sprint Car. When my Engine builder built it he said that it was the best Aluminum Block he had ever used, the first one that didn't need grinding and clearance work to make it work. The Block itself is not made by GM. If I remember correctly it was made by March Performance, possibly the same who make the Belt setup's ? I'm going to move the Car tomorrow, I can look if interested.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
For what ever it is worth I bought my GMPP Block on e-bay some 5-6 years ago for $2500 new in the Box. I figured I paid 1 k more than a new Iron Block. The person who sold it said that his Engine builder wouldn't use it because he wouldn't trust it compared to one of the other brands of blocks that he had used before. It was to be built for Sprint Car. When my Engine builder built it he said that it was the best Aluminum Block he had ever used, the first one that didn't need grinding and clearance work to make it work. The Block itself is not made by GM. If I remember correctly it was made by March Performance, possibly the same who make the Belt setup's ? I'm going to move the Car tomorrow, I can look if interested.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
BJ be careful when shopping for a used GenI alloy block make sure about things like cam bearing type, cam location, deck height, main bearing size, bore centers, lifter bore diameter, bellhousing mount, oil pump requirements, fuel pump boss ( if your planning on running a mechanical pump ) and other things. There are many variations on the theme, the one in that Ebay auction has expensive requirements for lifters and camshaft type....sometimes it might be better to buy a new part with all the features you need. Dart aluminum blocks are reasonably priced as are Brodix, around $4500 for a new block....the Ebay one is $3500 but, then you have to buy expensive lifters or get lifter bores reworked.....around $400-500 a special expensive cam core for the 55mm needle bearing cam requirement, then think about how long a needle bearing cam might last in a street motor....suddenly a used bargin turns into an expensive nightmare! You might want to look on Racing Junk for parts but, buyer beware! Most alloy blocks were run in Sprint Cars and lead a hard life if they are for sale, it might be because they have been welded up and patched together too many times.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,325
Likes: 1,588
From: Western NY
Way back when, when I was involved in oval tracking, there used to be a newspaper called 'The National Parts Peddler', that had all sorts of new/used/overstock performance parts that were for sale. It might still be published....
Racer
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 258
Likes: 1
From: Gippsland, VIC Australia
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 241
From: Niles, MI
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,717
Likes: 551
From: Seattle Washington
SWARTZ MACHINE COMPANY is the Tag on the Block. The Tag is on the Drivers side Bellhousing area where we would expect the casting Number.
One thing of interest on these Blocks that is good to know is that they do not use a standard SBC Oil Pan Gasket. We all know that SBC's use a Thick or a Thin Pan Seal, but there is actually a 3rd Seal that is a Medium Thickness. It was used on some Blocks during the transition. I have a 1972 010 Block that uses it. Don't expect to run down to the local Auto Parts store and ask for the medium one. I do understand that the Oldsmobile Rocket Block uses the Medium and that's where to get it. This is on my to do list this winter. Last time I checked there wasn't a one piece Gasket available.
One thing of interest on these Blocks that is good to know is that they do not use a standard SBC Oil Pan Gasket. We all know that SBC's use a Thick or a Thin Pan Seal, but there is actually a 3rd Seal that is a Medium Thickness. It was used on some Blocks during the transition. I have a 1972 010 Block that uses it. Don't expect to run down to the local Auto Parts store and ask for the medium one. I do understand that the Oldsmobile Rocket Block uses the Medium and that's where to get it. This is on my to do list this winter. Last time I checked there wasn't a one piece Gasket available.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 124
From: Lubbock TX
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,325
Likes: 1,588
From: Western NY
Dart SBC 400 Aluminum Race Series Engine Block Chevy GM Drag Car Hot Street Rod | eBay
I would rebush the lifter bores.
I would rebush the lifter bores.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,961
Likes: 573
From: Lompoc, CA. Santa Barbara County
Bee Jay
Last edited by Bee Jay; Jan 21, 2015 at 02:04 PM.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
I seen that. Not a real big deal. 55MM roller bearing is pretty common. Different cam core is all. Rebushing the lifter bores is a bigger deal though. I would pass on that and the Chinese block. You want an aluminum block, spend the money and buy a new Brodix or Dart, 400 bore, 350 mains, raised cam bore if your building a 427. Do it right, do it once, NOT the place to cheap out.
Last edited by 63mako; Jan 21, 2015 at 03:35 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
BJ! dont be a " beta tester " for a Chinese alloy engine block! Here is the guy off Racing Junk with some of the best pricing on alloy blocks
Link: http://www.raceengineparts.net/engin...-small-blocks/
Link: http://www.raceengineparts.net/engin...-small-blocks/
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRODIX-SMALL...-/290976062993
350 main, 4.125 bore, raised cam, standard cam bearing for $4400 brand new Brodix is how I would go. I don't like small base circle cams.
can build a 427 with 4" stroke, standard 4.125 bore and standard base circle cam.
350 main, 4.125 bore, raised cam, standard cam bearing for $4400 brand new Brodix is how I would go. I don't like small base circle cams.
can build a 427 with 4" stroke, standard 4.125 bore and standard base circle cam.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 20,857
Likes: 959
From: I tend to be leery of any guy who doesn't own a chainsaw or a handgun.
BJ! dont be a " beta tester " for a Chinese alloy engine block! Here is the guy off Racing Junk with some of the best pricing on alloy blocks
Link: http://www.raceengineparts.net/engin...-small-blocks/
Link: http://www.raceengineparts.net/engin...-small-blocks/
I am curious about the 112# weight stated for one of the blocks. That's two pounds more than my BB block.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,802
Likes: 241
From: Niles, MI
Hot Damn! Unless you guys think otherwise I'm going to take a chance and put $1000 down for a machined block. I have no problem with "Chinese" parts. It is World Products, I think a reputable company. I really wanted a complete short block. Maybe someone here, in Cali. hopefully, will be willing to assemble one for me. Gkul, my brother from another mother. Want to build an alloy 427?
Bee Jay
Bee Jay
He's been on racingjunk.com for 12 years. I'd give him a call.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 122
From: Millington Illinois
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
Here's the info on the seller: murray Member Since: 12/31/2002
He's been on racingjunk.com for 12 years. I'd give him a call.
He's been on racingjunk.com for 12 years. I'd give him a call.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,727
Likes: 38
From: Fremont CA
Here is what I know as a World block made by Bill Mitchell, looks nothing like the block in the RJ ad
Link: http://www.theengineshop.com/product...num-block.html
