Gen 1 aluminum blocks move around a lot--like a boneless chicken. That means inferior ring seal that could cause minor smoking and cylinder wall washing. Not a problem for race cars but annoying on a true street car such as the application you described. Sux to be sitting in traffic with 15lbs oil pressure at idle because the engine is hot and clearances have opened up. It's not the end of the world, just be prepared for some embarrassing blue smoke and more frequent rebuilds. That's why GM never offered OE aluminum blocks in vettes until the LS stuff arrived. It took a total redesign to achieve a warranty ready aluminum block.

If you absolutely gotta have an aluminum block, go LSx or pick the block that has the most reinforcing ribs and the thickest bulkheads. Then build the motor tight as Rocket stated--That will cost you some power, but you'll be happier in the long run.

And there's no sense price shopping a Dart block since you'll spend extra for the one off parts. Just bite the bullet and hand your wallet to your engine builder.

And there's no sense price shopping a Dart block since you'll spend extra for the one off parts. Just bite the bullet and hand your wallet to your engine builder.[/QUOTE]

I am the engine builder. This will be my 11th. So far the 406's have been the fastest.

I ran a alumunim big block 632 on the street and raced for 5 years,I freshened it yearly with now problems,ran 8's in the 1/4 and drive to the track.Then ran a 710 on the street for about 4 months(sold the car)with no problems.

I built it tight gave up a little race preformance,but never had a street problem.An aluminum block move's around alittle,but there's several tricks to using.always let it warm up alittle bit,if you dry sump it,you need to pre oil it before everytime you start it.

They are alittle more pain,but they live well.

I have not driven the car with that motor yet.I am taking it on the power tour and im not to worried about it.

I am the engine builder. This will be my 11th. So far the 406's have been the fastest.[/QUOTE]

Well that helps. So what blocks did you use for the other 10 engines?

The Mule has a aluminum smallblock and has had no problems with low oil pressure, smoking etc that I have ever noticed and it has over 10,000 miles on it. Red Witch has a aluminum big block with over 20,000 miles with no problems either.

Well that helps. So what blocks did you use for the other 10 engines?[/QUOTE]

They were all stock blocks. 5 350's Chevys, 1 460 Ford, 2 406's Chevy's, 1 Pontiac 350, and a Pontiac 1.8L.

They were all stock blocks. 5 350's Chevys, 1 460 Ford, 2 406's Chevy's, 1 Pontiac 350, and a Pontiac 1.8L.[/QUOTE]


Take your time,doing an aluminum block is differnet than doing a steel block,rememeber tight clearance's.do alot a research on prepping the block.you don't want to mess up a 4k block

Take your time,doing an aluminum block is differnet than doing a steel block,rememeber tight clearance's.do alot a research on prepping the block.you don't want to mess up a 4k block[/QUOTE]


Thanks Rocketman I will. I am still kind of thinking about just doing a iron block.

Look up RickW on our car sites..

Clill, you wanna adopt me??

He, He!!

pdq67

I'm with you, it sure would give you a lot of options.

Didn't know that the new LSX Steel or whatever it is GM block could bore to 4.5" b/c if it is still on the same bore centers as the old SB I like, the bore centers should be 4.40"!!

How are they getting it to bore to 4.5" or have they changed the bore centers and are now creating an LSX BB engine that will eventually make the Mark and Gen. BB's obsolete??

pdq67

There's two versions,a tall deck and short deck.the lsx engine are totally differnet from the gen 1 stuff

Rocketman:

Could you elaborate on the WP, "Junk"? I have heard this from time to time, but I would think that with a two year warrentee they would be out of business if they were putting out, "Junk".

Please be specific, and anyone else who has some good first hand or real reliable info, please jump in.

I also was looking at the Warlock, but all these comments really throw up a red flag.

Who are they selling their engines to? With a bad reputation I would think they wouldn't be selling many.

I'm not questioning the validity of your comments as much as I would like to understand the specifics enough to make a good educated decision or suggestion.

Thanks,

tyoneal

Well they dont sell them like they used to,and they dont insure them a seprate insureance company does,the have block shift problem and the quality is crap,sub standard material,google world products complaints

Rocketman:

I did as you recommended.

google, "world products complaints"

I got nothing.

By this are you saying (indirectly) that the products are good?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

or

Did I screw up the search?

Thanks,

tyoneal

Dart. Hands down. My real choice would be a bowtie. Someday i will actually finish it...

In my mind when you say streetable (reliable) and aluminium block there is only one solution, GM genIII or genIV (ls1/ls2) period.

If you are actual insane enough to shell out $3000+ for a chunk of metal (more $ than I have in my entire drivetrain) I would wait for the GM LSX block coming out this march, it only cost $2500. The specs on this block are scary, 511 ci possibility, 40lbs boost no problem, easily make 1500hp all day. Thats what I would buy.

In regards to the Warhawk, it's an amazing piece of work, same with the warhawk heads. Some of the nicest looking parts I have seen up close. I am not talking about the 1st sample either. The new parts from a different foundry that WP is now using.

well, I'll chime in with a bit of first hand knowledge, I put a 2500+ miles on mine since I got it in July (world block'd aluminum 427) and have had no issues. We beat it vigorously on the dyno on 2 occasions. I haven't had ring seal issues or anything out of the ordinary. It was nice that the off the shelf pan, timing covers, etc all fit it too, and since it wasn't a tall deck it still fit under an SS hood even with a super-victor intake (barely.) Headers still fit too, although they did sit a bit higher than on my old motor. -Dan

We have been selcted by World Products to build one of the first production blocks. We have one of the first Warhawks on the way. We will be giving it a full anal probe and measure. Stay tuned.

with that said, keep us posted:unibrow: