Block Choices
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '08
Block Choices
Gang - I'm already looking forward to building another motor for my C5 D/D ( yes, I'm driving my tuner nuts because I haven't even gotten my F1-R'ed 383 back on the road yet!! 
) so I'm looking into my options. Looking through the Scoggin-Dickey website I see a HUGE ( $2500+ 
) difference between the cast iron LSx block vs an aluminum Warhawk block. Obviously the aluminum block will be roughly half the weight of the cast iron one but won't the extra rigidity of the C/I block ( thus allowing more boost & the resulting additional power ) offset the extra weight or am I missing something? 
Both blocks have the 6 bolt head provisions so I don't see a problem w/head lift with either setup. 
Also, both can be stroked out to the mid 400 cid displacement range. I plan on putting the F1-R on the new motor & also the small ( 50 hp ) nitrous shot that I have on my current engine, BTW.
I'm just having trouble justifying the extra $2500 to save 150# or so in a daily driver. Now if there are MORE benefits that I've overlooked then please help me see it!!
Thanks, guys!! 
Gene
) so I'm looking into my options. Looking through the Scoggin-Dickey website I see a HUGE ( $2500+ ) difference between the cast iron LSx block vs an aluminum Warhawk block. Obviously the aluminum block will be roughly half the weight of the cast iron one but won't the extra rigidity of the C/I block ( thus allowing more boost & the resulting additional power ) offset the extra weight or am I missing something? Both blocks have the 6 bolt head provisions so I don't see a problem w/head lift with either setup. Also, both can be stroked out to the mid 400 cid displacement range. I plan on putting the F1-R on the new motor & also the small ( 50 hp ) nitrous shot that I have on my current engine, BTW. I'm just having trouble justifying the extra $2500 to save 150# or so in a daily driver. Now if there are MORE benefits that I've overlooked then please help me see it!!
Thanks, guys!! Gene
Last edited by Mean Gene55; Jan 13, 2008 at 10:42 PM. Reason: Add comment
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '08
Thanks!!
Thanks, Red!! I was kinda leaning that way since I won't ever autocross the car & even if I do I have a set of Pfadt coilovers I'm waiting to install so I could probably adjust those to compensate for the extra nose weight. 
Gene
I was kinda leaning that way since I won't ever autocross the car & even if I do I have a set of Pfadt coilovers I'm waiting to install so I could probably adjust those to compensate for the extra nose weight. Gene
Last edited by Mean Gene55; Jan 14, 2008 at 07:07 PM. Reason: Punctuation correction
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
LSx Iron block is only about 100 lbs more and since the motor is set back it's not that much of a difference.
The placement of the blower causes more weight over the nose than the heavier block.
Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
Well if you're like me and switched from an auto to six-speed you would be able to take the 100 lbs no problem.
Heck with all of the missing body panels on my car, I bet I got one of the lightest vettes around.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 322
Likes: 0
From: Alexandria Louisiana
St. Jude Donor '08
Plans??
Man, I wish we'd met earlier because I'm contemplating a switch to an
A4 from my M6.
:o Gene
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Race Director
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 15,960
Likes: 21
From: West Norriton PA
St. Jude Donor '08
over the last couple of years. Should be headed back to ACP later this week to drop off the car and aboat load of parts to complete the conversion from Coupe to FRC and then the wide body work.
You win a date with the paint shop.
BTW, where is that sample paint panel you promised ?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,197
Likes: 2
From: Niagara Falls NY
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
The 100#s will cost you 1/10 in the 1/4 or 1 car length on the street.If you run a FI setup and blow a head gasket you may torch the block if it is aluminum.If the block is steel you are more likely to torch the heads if they are aluminum which is a much easier fix then pulling the block.
Take care.
Take care.