Dart LS Next ....aluminum version

[214Chevy]

What do you guys think? What have y'all heard?

http://www.dartheads.com/dart-news/l...k-coming-soon/

[Ron in SoCal]

You know my opinion

[57hemicuda]

What is your opinion Ron, have you heard anything about these, I see ARE has a deep pan for the next gen block. I saw the iron version at the PRI show, looked like a stout piece. Kinda heavy though.

[Che70velle]

I've had my hands in a lot of engines, and I prefer the LS style main caps over the conventional Sbc style caps that this block has. I understand the windage issue, but I'll trade it for strength any day. That's my two cents...

[will69camaro]

I'm waiting to hear pricing on it. Friend just picked up the iron block for his 1500rwhp 4th gen trans am project. I'm liking the sound of 108lbs less than the iron verson for this. Should put it in the low 100s for a bare block...

We'll see what the cost is!

[Al Moreno]

I can't remember the exact amount but it was $5,000 plus is what I heard at PRI.

[GregWeld]

Dart doesn't make any junk....


And yeah --- $5K is typical for most aluminum blocks.

[57hemicuda]

Was hoping it wasn't going to be that high, the iron version is just over $2100. At 5k, unless you have some huge power adder making stupid horsepower, your better off with the $2700 LS7 block.

[Ron in SoCal]

Originally Posted by 57hemicuda

What is your opinion Ron, have you heard anything about these, I see ARE has a deep pan for the next gen block. I saw the iron version at the PRI show, looked like a stout piece. Kinda heavy though.

My opinion is there are alot of advantages, and a few downside this block. I've been on it since it was announced some time ago at SEMA and waiting for the AL version. A free 30-40 HP, longer barrels for stock cubes (less piston rock = less rebuilds cycles) and raised cam version for the bigger stuff. Oiling is everything for us and this block seems to have that down. Dart has been very careful in R&D and release to the market, even pulling back a couple of times. For our market the HP and therefore stress we put on the block (less than 1000hp) this should be a no-brainer, and they even have their own metalurgy compound - which may be marketing babble - but it may also show they thought about it down to that level. The Iron version is made for the big HP drag boys. And if you want more, they'll even make a compacted graphite version (CGI) for max effort strength (2000 hp), but it'll weigh no less than the standard Iron block.

It takes the std LS2 front and rear covers and requires an oil pan adapter at a minimum. I do not know anyone that has personally built one, but Richard told me they make an adapter ring for most any SBC oil pan. ARE and Moroso built version specific pans if you want to go that route.

Finally, the AL block isn't even out yet, so no track record has been established. This is just my opinion but so far I like what I see. I could be wrong, but I'm willing to put my money down and will build a big incher soon.

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Dart doesn't make any junk....

And yeah --- $5K is typical for most aluminum blocks.

Yessir Greg. There are few that have better block programs than Dart.

[Ron in SoCal]

Originally Posted by 57hemicuda

Was hoping it wasn't going to be that high, the iron version is just over $2100. At 5k, unless you have some huge power adder making stupid horsepower, your better off with the $2700 LS7 block.

I agree on that point Ron. If you're going 427ci or less the GM block would do just fine.