Dart LS Next ....aluminum version

[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

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.

[Ron Sutton]

Later this year, I'm developing LS based engines for mean street & track duties.

The 410" track only engine will make 850+ hp. The 454" engine is going to come in several versions from 700 hp to over 900 hp. Everything in these engines will be top notch for long life & durability.

I could use any block I want ... and after in-depth evaluation ... I chose the Dart LS Next aluminum block.

On another note, IMHO Dick Maskin is one of the sharpest engine designers/builders in the game. He put everything he learned into this block and it shows.

[214Chevy]

Originally Posted by Ron Sutton

Later this year, I'm developing LS based engines for mean street & track duties.

The 410" track only engine will make 850+ hp. The 454" engine is going to come in several versions from 700 hp to over 900 hp. Everything in these engines will be top notch for long life & durability.

I could use any block I want ... and after in-depth evaluation ... I chose the Dart LS Next aluminum block.

On another note, IMHO Dick Maskin is one of the sharpest engine designers/builders in the game. He put everything he learned into this block and it shows.

Ron, the only reason I said I'd stick with the RHS is because with the LS Next aluminum not being released yet, I'd figure many guys would be familiar with building it or how to build it or being familiar with it. I'd love to talk to you about possible building me an engine. From your posts, you seem very knowledgeable and experienced. Can you pm me a contact cell # so I can discuss my engine goals with you. I strictly want a street car....no racing for me.

[Ron Sutton]

Originally Posted by 214Chevelle

Ron, the only reason I said I'd stick with the RHS is because with the LS Next aluminum not being released yet, I'd figure many guys would be familiar with building it or how to build it or being familiar with it. I'd love to talk to you about possible building me an engine. From your posts, you seem very knowledgeable and experienced. Can you pm me a contact cell # so I can discuss my engine goals with you. I strictly want a street car....no racing for me.

Yup, yup! I'll pm you.

Guys ... just to be sure I didn't mis-state anything ... I think the RHS block is a good piece. For that matter, several of the factory GM LS blocks are good too, depending on how much power you're building, how hard it's being used and how much running it sees.

I think choosing engine blocks is a little like shopping for a welder. Sure a $1500 mig welder can weld 1/4" steel plate, but with a duty cycle of 30%, you would not want to put it on a production line trying to weld 1/4" plate all day. That $1500 welder can weld 1/4" plate often ... just not all the time. It's going to need a rest. If we're going to weld 1/4" plate all the time, we need a production line welder ($6,000) with a much higher duty cycle.

Blocks are similar. if you're going to drive them hard occassionally, you can get away with a lighter duty block. If you're gonna drive her hard all the time, you need a strong block foundation.

Scenario #1:
If we're Autocrossing a car 10-15 laps a weekend, 8-12 weekends a year & running 10 lap runs at a time, three times a day over five road course track days a year ... running an engine 10-20% over it's rated power capacity ... the block should last many years.

Scenario #2:
But if it were seeing serious road course action, 100 laps a day, 3-day events, 30 events a season, the life of that block ... would be shortened considerably.

For most guys scenario #1 is realistic & acceptable, so they don't need as strong a block. For more hardcore guys that want to run their car hard & often, if they don't have a strong block as a foundation, they'll have issues with the block and everything else too.

That's my experience anyway.

[Vegas69]

Originally Posted by 214Chevelle

Ron, the only reason I said I'd stick with the RHS is because with the LS Next aluminum not being released yet, I'd figure many guys would be familiar with building it or how to build it or being familiar with it. I'd love to talk to you about possible building me an engine. From your posts, you seem very knowledgeable and experienced. Can you pm me a contact cell # so I can discuss my engine goals with you. I strictly want a street car....no racing for me.

Elite engine builders can build anything and make it live. The key is to make sure the engine builder is on a similar level to the block.

With your circumstances, this block is extremely overkill as Ron pointed out.

[214Chevy]

Originally Posted by Vegas69

Elite engine builders can build anything and make it live. The key is to make sure the engine builder is on a similar level to the block.

With your circumstances, this block is extremely overkill as Ron pointed out.

But, if I was gonna buy an RHS, this block isn't that much more expensive. Will I be racing the crap out of it...nope. But, it's what I want and I know how I am and I won't be happy unless I get what I want. Crazy, I know, huh?

Originally Posted by 214Chevelle

Could be wrong, but I heard $2500-ish.

....and boy was I wrong. LO!! Not even close! By they way Todd, I'd love to wait a year from now and get one these LS Next aluminum blocks from some guy who's abandoning his project.

[Trackman]

Any of these engines out in the wild yet?