Unforgiven Project

I agree that a Dart block is better, and I DO plan on purchasing one this fall. But it is just not in my budget at the moment.
So... I am doing everything I can to give this O.E.M. block the best chance I can, until I can save for the Dart block.
Now I Understand that most people would have an additional cost in machining, and that would put them very close to the cost of a Dart block... I am fortunate enough to have a few friends
in my circle that virtually eliminate this factor for me. That is another reason to go forward
with my project.

With all the talk about these aftermarket blocks that basically just came on the scene in the early 2000's
I have to wonder , how the heck did anybody ever build anything before this time.

How did Tom McEwen and Don Prudhomme and even Shirley Muldowney ever do anything!
 
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keep in mind that the VAST majority of guys that say they have a 500 hp plus SBC are bragging about,
either an engine that really makes considerably less true power ,OR, in many case's its an engine that dyno
tested at 500-hp-550 hp spinning at 6500 rpm , but its driven the vast majority of the time , when its driven,
probably on week ends or at car club meets ,
at most a few hundred miles a month, or in most cases a a few hundred miles a year.
and the majority of that time the engines driven at rpm and load levels FAR lower than required to access the full 500-hp-550 hp
one of the guys I helped build a serious 428 pontiac engine for , in his 1967 firebird
, has a dyno slip showing it made a bit over 600 hp, its certainly impressive,
but keep in mind he has a 250 wet nitrous plate on the car,
and in the 25 plus years hes owned the car with that engine hes done a few burn-outs,
attend a few car club meets, and by his admission puts under 500-1000 miles on the car a year at most.
I helped a local guy build a 377 SBC that dynoed at about 515 hp N/A, hes had the engine in a 1968 camaro for decades ,
he will pull out the dyno test results on a seconds notice,
I doubt hes driven the car more than 50-100 miles a year in the last 20 years,
its a well waxed and carefully cleaned, (damn impressive) garage queen.
the guys that BEAT on those O.E.M. engines every few weekends at the drag strip,
tend to find out, about the results of the component durability,
rather quickly and about CUMULATIVE STRESS.
while we all know guys that have built impressive SBC car engines, using O.E.M. blocks
how many of those guys seriously race the cars for years without issues?

http://garage.grumpysperformance.com/index.php?threads/block-choice.10472/
 
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Free is always good if done correctly.

Older people had more common sense when they didn't have money and figured things out without a college education and NEW math.
 
"How did Tom McEwen and Don Prudhomme and even Shirley Muldowney ever do anything!"

quick answer... CHRYSLER HEMI'S
really deep financial pockets,
and engines based on the CHRYSLER 392-426 engines,
and sponsors with deep pockets,
once they could bring a paying crowd to the strip,
to see them run the cars.
now guys like JENKINS , PENSKE, YUNICK, DONOHUE,
could certainly have the mechanics on their teams,
build an impressive SBC,
but those engines get refreshed and replaced on a very regular basis
 
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Yes, all it takes is money and lots of it to have what they do. I'm out of their league. I'm broke, busted and disgusted. since I can't physically do much work anymore. Who cares as long as I'm still alive and having fun.
 
Grumpy said:
"How did Tom McEwen and Don Prudhomme and even Shirley Muldowney ever do anything!"

quick answer... CHRYSLER HEMI
Click to expand...

I think a lot of that backing is gone forever as we will all be going electric if the Dems have their way.

What has always amazed me is when Petty drove to Florida and bought a Superbird off the Show Room floor and won the Daytona 500 with a STOCK FACTORY MADE CAR.

Nothing as to what is being done now with R/D in an ICE which may be a dinosaur before too long.
 
I so much miss the days of yester years.

Yes Grumpy , those we're all great men!
What I was alluding to was the fact that these men back then made these O.E.M blocks work.
I understand that THEIR blocks did not come from a junkyard but it was the fact that they figured out hot to modifiy the blocks of their day to make tremendous power.
My earlier statement about Tom, Don ,and Shirley we're prolly not a good representation of what I wanted to get across. Yes, they had sponsers.
But, They we're and still are some of my hero's today.

By the way I am not trying to stir the pot or upset anyone... I have respect for everyone here and have been hummbled by some of the things I "thought I knew" but have been re-educated.
I just thought this was a good discussion .
 
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yeah! me too! the days of finding lots of decent reasonable cost salvageable muscle cars ,
and reasonable cost salvageable muscle cars, drive trains,
in local used car lots and junk yards, is long gone!
 
Wow.
See you guys have been busy with Grumpy.
Always happens SBC.
Think 3 have used Dart SHP blocks so far here.
Zero Dart Little M .

If it's a Big Chevy or Pontiac V8 or Chrysler Hemi or Ford Big Block stock block is Ok with Grump.
 
I am going to bragg about my 210hp sbc to alot of guys!! And hopfully take their money. If everything works out well..
I believe my SBC will have a steady diet of BBC's, :D


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Unforgiven said:
I am going to bragg about my 210hp sbc to alot of guys!! And hopfully take their money. If everything works out well..
I believe my SBC will have a steady diet of BBC's, :D
Gotta make it last.
Improvised.
Grumpy hates that word....not in an Engineers vocabulary Improvise.

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Unforgiven said:
Also, my motor is being PURPOSE built and will never see pavement or a stop light.
Click to expand...

You put that thang in 4wlr and go stop light to stop light with OPEN headers and see how much fun you have . Probably never get over the speed limit, but might get a ticket for exhaust and possibly wreck-less driving. It was fun when I use to do it, but I had cutouts as mine was a daily driver.
 
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